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| In an effort to highly educate and promote a skilled workforce in the oil and gas industry, regionally, nationally and globally, LSU and Shell Exploration & Production Company have formed a unique partnership today, creating the Center for Petroleum Workforce Development. Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco announced the collaboration during opening remarks made at the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development. The two parties signed a document establishing the framework principles of the center and its location in Robert, La. The CPWD will offer education and training tailored to maintain top-level producing operations, drilling and support workforce to meet the growing needs of the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, onshore United States and globally. Currently the average age of industry workers is the late 40’s and this group is experiencing steady attrition rates though retirements. CPWD will help create a new talented workforce to meet both current and future operations capabilities. LSU through its Division of Continuing Education brings to the program a portfolio of course offerings in: Management and Leadership, Computer Training and Incident Command, while Shell brings industry-specific courses already taught at the Robert facility. The combining of education and industry courses creates a dynamic curriculum tailored to support five distinct career ladder positions with salaries ranging from entry-levels of $35 - $40,000 to higher positions of more than $100,000 per year. The CPWD also provides a unique opportunity for Louisiana and the New Orleans region to maintain and leverage its position as an oil and gas producing operation and service company hub for the world. Commenting on the creation of the center, Gov. Blanco said, “The oil and gas industry is such an important part of Louisiana’s economy. This new training program will help us support, sustain and grow the industry for the future.” Representing LSU, Chancellor Sean O’Keefe said, “LSU’s National Flagship Agenda includes supporting the needs of business and industry with the outcome of driving economic development. The university is proud to be a key player in this dynamic partnership that brings together the best resources from all parties to establish a world-class program. This is just another example of how LSU can work with business and industry to be an economic engine for the state.” On behalf of Shell, Dwight Johnston, Operations Services Manager for the Americas Region said, “This is a proverbial win-win-win. Shell and industry get a needed talented and trained workforce embracing the principles of safety, operational excellence and good old-fashioned hard work; the citizens of Louisiana get good, stable jobs in an industry that has changed a lot from the early images of roustabouts; and the city, region and state re-establish themselves as the leaders in providing skilled operations, drilling and support talent worldwide.” An advisory committee to the Center for Petroleum Workforce Development will be established, consisting of key contributors to the initiative, namely: the Louisiana Economic Development; the City of New Orleans and its Office of Economic Development; GNO Inc.; the Louisiana Technical and Community College System; Career Builders; and Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. For more information about the Center for Petroleum Workforce Development call 225-578-6273 or e-mail the center at CPWD.INFO@doce.lsu.edu. -30- |
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