American Gas - December 2010 - (Page 2)

PresiDent’s message a Fond Farewell After 13 years as AGA president and Ceo, Dave Parker is now looking toward a new life chapter. As I wrote in this space many years back, DAviD n. PArker President and ceO dparker@aga.org the only constant in life is change, and after 13 years of working with the most dedicated and committed staff team and membership I have ever known, it is time to change directions and start another chapter in my life. I leave AGA at the end of December. I also leave AGA with the deepest appreciation for everyone who has been so instrumental to this association’s success, from the members of the AGA Board of Directors—especially the 13 board chairmen who have led this association so skillfully during my tenure—to the members of AGA’s many committees, to the employees at AGA’s member companies, to the many sister organizations that AGA has partnered with on so many issues, to the many public officials in the regulatory and legislative arenas who oversee our industry with the utmost professionalism. And, of course, to my fellow staff team members I owe the greatest debt of gratitude, not just for AGA’s success but for mine as well. Yet if our one constant is change, at AGA it seems the one constant is change for the better. I leave this association in excellent hands as new leaders assume the mantle of guiding AGA and our industry into a more prosperous future. Chief among those leaders is John Somerhalder of AGL Resources, who graces this month’s cover and who will serve as AGA’s chairman for 2011. John is one of the brightest people in our industry and his vision for AGA embraces change. As John notes in his cover story starting on p. 20, AGA is prepared to meet our challenges, but our chief focus is—as it should be—on the many opportunities that await this industry. When this issue of American Gas went to press, my successor had not been formally endorsed by the board, but whoever it turns out to be, he or she can be assured of my full support, and if I can ever be of service, it would be my pleasure and honor to help out in any way I can. As I reflect on my past 13 years, I realize that in one way our industry has had a fundamental paradigm shift. Back in 1997, among our biggest challenges was ensuring adequate supplies of natural gas. As I leave AGA, supplies of clean-burning, domestic natural gas are plentiful, and prices are both moderate and stable. Our chief challenge today is downstream—it is how to grow demand. Then again, some things never change. When I first joined AGA, I quickly learned that our industry’s highest priority was our reputation for the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to the hundreds of millions of Americans who depend on it every day. As I leave AGA, that is still our highest priority, and it is one that the outstanding people in this industry will work tirelessly to maintain. On that note, a fond farewell and my heartfelt thanks to all of you, including AGA’s Bruce Kauffmann, who has ably assisted me in penning these president’s messages for 13 years. 2 December 2010/January 2011 AmericAn GAs

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - December 2010

American Gas - December 2010
Contents
President’s Message: A Fond Farewell
Industry News
Safety First: Going All-in on Safety
To Be the Best: For the Record
Opportunity Knocks
Workforce 2020: Beyond the Boomers
Places to Be
Noteworthies
Jobline
Marketplace
Advertisers’ Index
Facts on Gas

American Gas - December 2010