ALLY

Faces of Energy: African American Women Shifting the Industry

Written by ALLY | Feb 25, 2019 12:00:00 AM

Pink Petro believes in two things: women and energy. We are putting a spotlight on the workforce that keeps our coffee hot, IPADs charged, pacemakers beating, and lights on. Virtually everything we experience in modern life today is thanks to energy.

And at Pink Petro we know there are plenty of unsung heroes in this journey. Women traditionally lack the visibility, access to role models and platforms to use their voices. Diversity of our workforce is absolutely critical if we are going to solve big challenges around energy security, economic progress for all, energy poverty, lowering emissions and climate change.

In spite of well-publicized diversity campaigns and outreach efforts by the industry's largest companies and trade groups, black and African-American workers last year held only 9 percent of the jobs in oil and gas extraction, according to the Labor Department. 

OP-ED: It's Time Black Women Get Their Fair Share/ August '18

And in an industry that lags, second to last to construction, the representation of black women in energy leadership is appalling.

Pink Petro salutes these accomplished African American women in energy and all the things they are doing to shift our industry.

President and CEO , American Association of Blacks in Energy: Paula R. Glover

Paula R. Glover is President and CEO for the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), a national energy trade association that represents all sectors of the energy industry. Mrs. Glover leads a 2000-member association with 40 chapters nationwide. The association’s focus is to represent the voice of African Americans and other minorities on energy policy, regulation, and environmental issues. In March 2014 Paula was appointed to the National Petroleum Council by U.S. Secretary of Energy, Dr. Ernest Moniz. In June of 2017 she was voted onto the Board of Directors for the Alliance to Save Energy. She also recently participated as a judge for the Experience Energy GRIT Awards.

CEO of LG Chem Power Inc and 'Battery Czar': Denise Gray

Meet Denise Gray, CEO of LG Chem Power Inc, and also well known for her insider title of "Battery Czar". Denise comes from a long family history in the automotive industry. During her tenure at General Motors, Gray had global responsibility and oversight of GM’s hybrid battery development, testing, quality assurance and deployment for electric vehicles. LG Chem is one of the world’s largest maker and suppliers of automotive battery for electric vehicles, so when Denise was tapped for the C-suite, it was no surprise. Denise won the 2017 Technologist of the Year award given by Women of Color Magazine . She received her MS in Engineering Management of Technology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and earned a BS in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University.

Vicky Bailey, Chairman of The United States Energy Association, former FERC Commissioner

Vicky A. Bailey has over thirty years of high level, national and international, corporate executive and governmental expertise in energy and regulated industries. Ms. Bailey started her career as a Commissioner, at the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission appointed by Governor Robert Orr and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission appointed by President Bill Clinton, and as President/CEO, member of the Board of Directors, of PSI Energy, Inc., Indiana’s largest electric utility, now Duke Indiana. She was appointed by President George W. Bush to be the leading international official at the United States Department of Energy (2001-2004) as the first Assistant Secretary for both International Affairs and Domestic Policy. During her appointment, Ms. Bailey served as Vice Chair of the International Energy Agency (IEA) headquartered in Paris, France and post Sept. 11th, she was chair of several bilateral international working groups among energy producing nations. Currently, Vicky serves on the boards of EQT Corporation(2004-present) and Cheniere Energy(2005-present).  Vicky also was a speaker at the 2017 installment of the HERWorld Energy Forum.

SVP of Tax, Halliburton: Myrtle Jones

Myrtle Jones is Halliburton’s Senior Vice President of Tax based in Houston, Texas. She is responsible for managing global tax affairs in over 80 countries. In addition to her tax management responsibilities she serves as the Executive Sponsor of Halliburton’s African American Network Forum, an executive advisory board member of their Women’s Sharing Excellence affinity group and chairs the Finance Department’s Mentoring Committee. Myrtle is Chairman of the Board for Genesys Works and the Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce.

Hear a recent interview with Myrtle and Bloomberg on how diversity can drive company innovation.