Vice President And Senior Petroleum Engineer, Union Bank
Bate, vice president and senior petroleum engineer at Union Bank is experienced in the oil field and the corporate office. With more than 12 years in the oil and gas industry, Bate has a solid grasp on reserve estimation and reporting as well as field operations. He credits his time at the Jindal School as refining his understanding of organizational behavior and management, lessons he continues to utilize today.
Tell us the highlights of your professional career. What are your proudest achievements?
I began my career as a field engineer for Schlumberger, a technology and integrated-project management provider for companies in the oil and gas industry. I was based in the Rocky Mountain region and was eventually transferred offshore to Port Harcourt, Nigeria. During that time I decided to attend graduate school, relocated to North Texas and enrolled in the Full-Time MBA program at the Jindal School. While taking graduate classes I interned at Halliburton Investor Relations (HIR) and was an instrumental part of the team that took Dave & Buster’s, Inc. (among other companies) public. After graduation, I joined Remington Oil and Gas Corporation, a Dallas-based company with offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. At Remington, I began as a reserves and economics engineer and then moved on to more challenging roles. As one of two reservoir engineers at Remington, I was part of the team that would locate and then develop reserves at low cost. Remington eventually grew from a few properties to a $1.4 billion dollar company prior to its acquisition by Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. [HLX] in July 2006. After five years of experience at Remington, I opted for a change and accepted the position of vice president and senior petroleum engineer at Union Bank. In this role I help construct client loans; assist clients with new-product development, acquisitions and mergers; and appraise technical and management abilities to determine the potential for project success. My portfolio includes companies in the oil and gas industry, and my professional judgment and conclusions are key factors in the bank’s lending decisions.
What brought you to UT Dallas?
I decided to attend UT Dallas to pursue a MBA because it was extremely reasonably priced. The quality education I received at the Jindal School helped me advance my career and strengthened my business skills.
What is your favorite UT Dallas memory?
My favorite UT Dallas memories involve discussing and developing new ideas with classmates, working on group projects and gaining fresh insights from others’ views. I also enjoyed the opportunity that finance simulation game in the Capstone Business Game class (MKT 6351) gave me. My portfolio of stocks returned a handsome profit, even though it wasn’t real money, the experience provided a good understanding of investing.
Who was your favorite professor and/or what was your favorite class and why?
I enjoyed many of the classes but would say one of my favorites was Organizational Behavior (OB 6301) with Dr. Joseph Picken, professor of entrepreneurship and director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programs. I liked the class because the case studies discussed adequately simulated real-world organizations and employee interactions. On a daily basis I utilize many of the skills I leaned in that class.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy mentoring aspiring professionals and students, and I participate in community outreach activities in my faith community. I am a member of the Baha’i faith and am involved in study sessions about spiritual growth. My wife and I just welcomed a new baby girl and have a very active 2-year-old son, and between reading and playing with him and visiting the neighborhood pool and local parks, there is not much free time left. I do enjoy watching movies when I have free time.
What advice do you have for current students hoping to succeed in the business world?
As you pursue your education, work hard but get involved in campus and community activities. Remember to finish the projects you start, no matter how challenging. Patience and persistence will be invaluable skills that will set you apart from your peers. The business world needs determined individuals with the capacity to think clearly under extreme pressure. To improve these skill sets, be an active participant in the classroom and get involved with community projects and never doubt that your contributions to the world community are valuable.
What makes an effective leader?
A person who is able to set clear goals and marshal the support and resources to accomplish them. In some instances, that may mean leading by example, and in other instances, it requires attracting the necessary talent to assist in execution.
