Our “Spirit of the Oilfield” awards, now in its third year, has become an important part of our annual energy summit. We know there are so many unsung heroes working in the energy industry who commit themselves daily to safety. Many of these outstanding men and women also volunteer themselves and are focused on those in need. This year, our committee selected four “Spirit of the Oilfield” recipients.
One selection was Jessica Jameson, the Office Manager and Human Resources Director for A.R. Foreman Construction, LLC. She was nominated by Steve Cummings, who writes that Jessica will go beyond her normal duties to fix payroll if there is any issue at all. She has been active in the horse rescue program and has rescued two horses at her own expense.
Ricco Martinez is an Operation Specialist with Sendero Midstream who was nominated by Travis Combs. Ricco often works long hours to complete a turnaround at the plant. He has also volunteered countless hours for the Boys & Girls Club and United Way of Eddy County. He recently implemented bilingual contractor orientation and safety programs for Sendero.
Ramiro Pacheco works for BHI, where he is a Project Manager. He was nominated by Ashlie Pacheco, who said he has the biggest heart of anyone he knows and will regularly check up on his co-workers to make sure they are OK. As an example of his sense of generosity, Ramiro recently loaned his own spare tire to a stranger with a flat to make sure the individual could get home.
Billy Bryan is the Operations Manager for Axip Energy Service. He was nominated by Andrew Treleaven, who says Billy began working in the oilfields of Eddy County in the late 1980s. Billy has funded a permanent fund at the Carlsbad Community Foundation training scholarships for students who are passionate about the trades. Recently, he was responsible for implementing tougher COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safety of his workers.
We also had four honorable mentions we want to mention and thank for their service.
Honorable mentions this year include Edwin Brown Jr., who is a Construction Foreman for XTO. He was nominated by Enmanuel Ortiz, who shared a story of a time that Edwin tracked down diapers for a co-worker’s family during the middle of the COVID-19 shortage.
Rachel Hudson is a Technical Service Professional with ChampionX. Rachel was nominated by Stephen Medvigy, who writes that she remained a dedicated worker even while she was seven months pregnant. She remains active in charity and church activities. As a field chemist, she contributes to the reduction of hazardous waste.
Shaun Peacock, who is a Senior Directional Drilling Supervisor with ProDirectional. Shaun was nominated by Mia Vasquez, his stepdaughter, who says he is always willing to help volunteer with band boosters, swim club, golf club and other organizations. He has sometimes volunteered to cook Thanksgiving for all of the members of his rig who didn’t have families.
Finally, Kain Fierro is a Pipeline Operator for Lucid Energy who was nominated by his father, Anthony, who said Kain started on the bottom and has worked his way up through hard working and dedication. In his spare time, he helps to coach JV Baseball and runs a men’s ministry at his church.
Congratulations to all of our “Spirit of the Oilfield” recipients and honorable mentions, and thank you to to members of our selection committee.
Sincerely, Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway