In August Stuart Edmondson retired after 46 years in the Oil and Gas business. We are so proud to have been part of his journey. In this post, we ask Stuart a few questions about his career…

How did you get started in this business?
I got a summer job in 1974 after high school at Shell and got hired after.

What was your first job?
I was hired as a maintenance c roustabout with Shell.

What skills are you most proud of?
My ability to work with others and be a mentor to the younger guys.

What were the greatest challenges you faced at work? How did they help you grow as an individual? What advice would you have for other employees facing similar challenges?
Shut-ins, they helped me be calm in a critical situation. Don’t panic when something happens. Think about what is going on and go from there.

What were you working at when you most enjoyed work? What was the work environment like then?
When I was operating at GI 22L was the most enjoyable job. It was the best group of guys who worked well together, which created a great environment.

What was your best work memory?
It was a bonding experience when we stayed for a hurricane and maintained the generator and caring for ourselves. We really created a bond.

Is there a colleague from work that has inspired you in your life?
Andrew Carr the lead at GI 22L. He was the most inspiring person I worked with. His people skills and calm manner and patience as he assisted with problems and showing you the right way to do things.

What do you regret most in your tenure?
I regret that I never really got the hang of pneumatics and troubleshooting panel problems.

Who and what will you miss most?
I will miss all the guys at GI 22L. They were all a great group of guys especially the young guys I was working with.

What was the best thing and worst thing about this industry?
The best is you only work 1/2 a year. The worst thing is you miss your family and important family events. It’s important that you get along with those you work with because that’s your other family.

What’s the most valuable lesson you have learned from your co-workers?
My co-workers at GI 22L showed me that if everyone works together the work atmosphere is better, which leaves everyone with a better attitude and work is easier, less stressful and safer because you are focused on the job at hand.

Can you describe your career in one word?
Gratifying.

What were some of the unexpected challenges that you faced in your current position, and how did you overcome them?
The shut-ins because it involved so many components. I overcame them with the help of the lead operator. I slowly learned the steps to get it back online.

and

Did you really expect your supervisor to be so awesome?
The two foremen were great, they never barked even had hands-on when things went south. I enjoyed working for Eric Jester and Grant Guinn, two great guys. Megan Hebert was always there for any need and always responded quickly. I also enjoyed working with her.