American Gas - December 2010 - (Page 20)

Opportunity 2011 AGA Chairman John Somerhalder sees a bright future for natural gas, with the transportation market, better end-use products, direct use and “renewable” natural gas all offering great growth opportunities. n conversation, John Somerhalder, the chairman, president and CEO of AGL Resources Inc. and the incoming AGA chairman, comes across as a combination of rational practicality and “glass-is-really-half-full” optimism. He is well aware of the many challenges that AGA and the natural gas industry face, but he much prefers to talk about the opportunities. He is also a strategic thinker of the first order, which, interestingly, has reinforced his intuitive wariness about radical change. Indeed, as he puts it, his management approach is most often to make “incremental changes, incremental ways to improve what we do. That usually works out better than wiping the slate clean and starting from scratch.” Somerhalder believes that talking things through, developing a plan, making adjustments where necessary in accordance with that plan, and making gradual but steady progress is the right approach not only in terms of the natural gas industry, but also in terms of his chairmanship of AGA, the first chairmanship in 13 years in which David Parker will not be the association’s president and CEO. Sitting in his office on the 19th floor of AGL Resources’ headquarters in midtown Atlanta, Somerhalder smiles ruefully at the thought. “The good news is that Dave has obviously done a great job making sure that AGA is a really solid and stable association,” he says, “which we can build on during my year as chairman. I foresee a smooth transition, especially since, as I say, my philosophy is not to come in and make big changes in how an organization functions. I will put my own stamp on things, but there is no need to turn AGA 180 degrees, or even 90 degrees. AGA has first-rate leadership and a first-rate staff. I plan on taking full advantage of it.” 20 deCember 2010/JAnuAry 2011 AmericAn GAs Photo by Stan Kaady PhotograPhy

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