PESA's Board has approved a merger with the Association of Energy Service Companies (AESC) to form a new organization, the Energy Workforce & Technology Council.

The combined organization will represent more than 600 member companies in energy services, supply, manufacturing and drilling, and will focus on enabling our members to safely, profitably and sustainably produce the energy needed to meet rising demand around the world. We will continue to deliver industry-recognized workforce development opportunities through trainings, certifications, best-practice sharing and standards development. Building on the legacies of PESA and AESC, the Council will elevate and foster the vital role the OFS sector plays in the economy, the innovative technology it develops and deploys, and its leading role in achieving a lower carbon energy future.

Current PESA Chair Rod Larson, President & CEO, Oceaneering, and current AESC Chair Gay Wathen, Vice President Rig, NOV Inc., will serve as the Council’s Co-Chairs. I will serve as CEO, and the headquarters will continue to be located in Houston. Former AESC Executive Director Kenny Jordan will serve as the Council’s Vice President.

OFS companies are driving the innovation that will shape our industry, and the Council will be an important voice to connect, educate and advocate for energy companies and their workers — today, and in the future. As we have done as PESA through the years, we will continue to look ahead to what’s next and seek at every turn to elevate our industry with government, partners and communities around the globe.

PESA’s long-term partnership with the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce to train foreign service officers in industry technology will continue. Our industry-leading certification programs in Leadership Development, Inclusion, Diversity & Equity, and ESG will now be complemented by AESC’s collaboration with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Combining these two organizations will enable greater focus on the core values of innovation and visionary collaboration.

As part of the merger, Andy Knapp, former Senior Director, U.S. Federal Government Affairs, Upstream, BP America, Inc., will join the Council as Senior Advisor Sustainability and ESG. In this role, Andy will oversee our ESG Training and Certification programs, cross-industry best practice sharing, award-winning ESG Center of Excellence, and ESG committee work.

Tim Tarpley, SVP Government Affairs & Counsel, will continue to lead all domestic and international policy issues for the group. As COO, Molly Determan will oversee daily operations, including the Council’s certification, standards and training programs.

Leslie Beyer, CEO, Energy Workforce & Technology Council

"This is an exciting moment for our organizations and for the OFS sector. The combination of PESA and AESC will strengthen our sector’s voice with policymakers, media and communities, and help us bring attention and resources to the innovative and essential work you’re doing. The merger helps position us as leaders in what’s next for the energy industry.

Please feel free to contact me or any of the Council staff with questions or if you want to get more involved with any of our activities.

On behalf of the entire team, thank you for your continued support and trust in what we do to elevate and support the sector."

Energy Industry Directory: Energy Workforce & Technology Council