Bakken conference to inform public of impact an oil boom could have on South Dakota
Posted: Saturday, April 28, 2012 6:00 am
By Heather Murschel Black Hills Pioneer
SPEARFISH —When it comes to a possible oil boom in South Dakota, it's not a matter of if; it's a matter of when.
That's the theory behind the organizers of the Black Hills Bakken Conference, organized to educate entrepreneurs, government officials and investors on what to expect. The event will be held May 2-3 at the Spearfish Holiday Inn and Convention Center, and a total of 150 people from throughout South Dakota and the surrounding region are expected to attend.
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“We'll have speakers who will discuss a wide variety of different topics, and I really think people will walk away from this conference more aware of the impact oil development can make on a community,” said Branden Bestgen, one of the main organizers of the conference. “We often hear people say that they don't believe the oil industry is going to make its way to South Dakota, but we don't believe that is the case.”
For the last year, he said, oil companies have been actively researching landowner information at the Butte County Courthouse, which is the very first step in the process. When oil development does come to South Dakota - it's important that everyone is prepared.
“When it comes to the oil business, things move quickly,” Bestgen said.
The North Dakota oil boom started to gain momentum two years ago, but it wasn't until this past year that it has garnered national attention. Today, private companies are investing $2 billion per month in the project, which is in addition to government funds.
“I've been to North Dakota several times, and I just tell people that you have to see it to believe it … it's just staggering what is going on up there due in large part because they didn't have time to prepare, and now they're in the midst of the largest economic development project in the United States,” Bestgen said.
Other speakers include Lance Astrella, a Colorado-based attorney who practiced oil and gas law for 38 years; Dean Dovolis, president of Annabelle Homes, a development company established with a team of experienced investors and developers; Daryl Dukart, Dunn County Commissioner and an active member of the Dunn County Energy Development Organization; Laura Erickson, owner of Plains Energy Technical Resources, LLC; Jenette Hilton, the Rocky Mountain Technology Manager for Superior Well Service; Deric Iles, South Dakota state geologist; Sue Konstant, president and owner of PACE Stretegic Development which serves energy related businesses and organizations; Dennis Lindahl, a Stanley, N.D. councilman and president of Dakota Public Relations; Kathy Neset, president of Neset Consulting Service, Inc. which provides well site and geologic services to the oil industry; Tony Petres, president of Inyan Kara Group; Dean Purcelli, a strategic marketing advisor for Encana Natural Gas, Inc.; Dean Rasmuson, director of municipal services for Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson, a municipal engineering and land planning agency; Forest 'Buzz' Skrettebert, a retired Superior Oil Co. and Exxon employee; Benjamin L. Snow, president of Rapid City Economic Development Partnership; Vicky Steiner, executive director for North Dakota Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties and a North Dakota House of Representative; Veronica Strickland-Birkenstock, president of Practical Employee Solutions; Mike Sweeney, president of Summit Energy Services; Terry Thiel, executive director for the Dickinson Convention and Visitor's Bureau; Shawn Wenko, assistant director of the Williston Economic Development Office, Stephen J. Wesolick, an attorney with Wesolick Law Firm and Jeff Zarling, president of DAWA Solutions Group, LLC.
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