OSU-Okmulgee's gas compression instructors are a valuable asset

Sunday, November 5, 2006

The “can do” attitude of two Oklahoma State University faculty members is helping their program keep pace with industry demand for Gas Compression Field Service Technicians. 

Gary Hobbie and Charlie Whitley built their own lab equipment, solicited equipment and scholarships, and scoured a five-state region to recruit students. Their success has quadrupled the enrollment and is drawing industry recognition for producing quality technical professionals to help service the approximately 213,000 miles of interstate natural gas pipelines that can deliver natural gas throughout North America for homes and industries.

“Our industry advisors tell us that OSU-Okmulgee has the only comprehensive gas compression program in the U.S.,” said Roy Achemire, program chair for the Heavy Equipment and Vehicle Institute.  

Achemire said a consortium of gas compression companies recently came from Colorado and asked if he could grow the program to at least 100 students yearly to meet their needs.  

“They say there’s nothing else like it, and it really took off when we brought Gary and Charlie on board,” he said.

Whitley said he and Hobbie recruit most of their students from rural areas where natural gas compression facilities are located.  

“Most students want to return to their rural hometowns, so a career in this field allows them to return to their rural areas and earn a good living, have a benefits package and the use of a company truck rigged with equipment,” Whitley said. “There are good, high-paying jobs for anyone who wants to get into the business, including women. We have three women in the program who will be graduating this summer. The companies want people who are willing to work — they need high-quality people. The same with OSU-Okmulgee — anyone who comes here wanting an education, we’re going to work with them.”

Student James Ross of Wetumka, Oklahoma, said he knew little about gas compression until an OG&E worker recommended OSU-Okmulgee. 

“I was in construction for five years — always moving. My wife and I wanted to stay in one place so our daughter could stay in the same school. I decided on a career change and enrolled in this program at OSU-Okmulgee. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” Ross said. “You won’t find anyone smarter in electrical than Mr. Hobbie, and Mr. Whitley is great at teaching the mechanical side of everything. I really enjoy the people in my classes, too.”  

Ross plans on working for BP America in Wilburton, Oklahoma.

Hobbie and Whitley have spent many hours building all the hands-on lab equipment for students to study subjects ranging from DC/AC Circuit Analysis to Engine Electrical and Pneumatic Systems to Programmable Logic Controllers.  

“The quality and success of our students is driven by the quality of their hands-on experiences in the classroom,” Hobbie said. “For every class I teach, I’ve had to build several trainers, starting with the basic electricity. There are no training aids that are available for the things I teach. So, for every class, I develop training aids based on the specific equipment the students will use in the field. This is very important to the success of our program because we’re a hands-on bunch.  Students must have their hands on this equipment to really understand it and be able to use it.”

Also helping guide curriculum development are representatives from the natural gas compression companies that serve on OSU-Okmulgee’s advisory board. Many companies provide scholarships and sponsorships in addition to paid internships so students get on-the-job training, applying what they learn in the classroom. Jerry Schnelle, Houston-based program manager for Hanover Field Service Technicians, keeps tabs on the students his company sponsors by checking on them both during internships and in the classroom. 

“According to college reports and conversations with students, our sponsored students are doing well. We’re pretty happy with what we see so far,” Schnelle said. “We’re looking for people who show up every day, who participate in class, who pass their course. Showing up every day is probably the most important quality.”

Achemire said a dealer or service provider must be a member of the Gas Processors Association or the Gas Processors Suppliers Association to place a student in the program.  

“Last year, GPA gave us $10,000 to give as scholarships to gas compression students,” Achemire said. “About half of our students are sponsored by a company providing them scholarships to pay all their tuition and fees. Then, the student signs an agreement to work for the company for two years after graduation.” 

Achemire said Hobbie and Whitley often meet with natural gas company representatives to talk about the program’s needs for equipment and supplies, recruiting assistance and scholarship donations.  

“The companies help them recruit, especially in the areas that are quite a distance from us, such as Texas and New Mexico,” Achemire said. “They also go out with some industry representatives to the SkillsUSA contests and FFA state and national conventions. They set up booths and we will attend to recruit, along with the companies. The students we talk to at the national conventions are top students because they have excelled in FFA or SkillsUSA. The counselors and advisors we meet will refer students to us once they understand the quality of the education they’ll get here and the quality of jobs they’ll get with a gas compression program degree.” 

Steve Doede, division chair of OSU-Okmulgee’s Automotive Division and Heavy Equipment & Vehicle Institute, said the two instructors are excellent examples of the work ethic they teach. 

“Gary Hobbie and Charlie Whitley perform their faculty instructional duties and go above and beyond to do whatever it takes to assure the success of the natural gas compression program,” Doede said. “They are aggressive recruiters, great fundraisers and excellent program developers.”

Recent scholarship and equipment donations to the natural gas compression program have come from the Mid-Continent Chapter of Gas Processors Association, the North Texas Chapter of Gas Processors Association, Hanover, Energy Transfer, Universal, CSI Compressor Systems Inc., F.W. Murphy, Duke Energy Field Services, Miratech, Chevron – Texaco, Western Filter/IPP Co., Western Gas Resources Inc. and Microwave Data Systems Inc.

Schnelle said he is thrilled at the OSU-Okmulgee faculty's job as a partner with Hanover.  

“The students who graduate from OSU-Okmulgee are very well received by the field,” Schnelle said. “When they graduate, they are ready to contribute to the job right out of the gate. The graduates we have brought to the Hanover team have done very, very well and have exceeded our expectations.”