Pilko & Associates | Colette Glencross

A Strategic Partner Who Makes a Difference

Colette Glencross

Position: Senior Advisor
Office: New Smyrna Beach, FL
Email: colette@pilko.com
Phone: 386-314-1087
Fax: 713-357-0990

Biography

"One of the most rewarding benefits I have had in my career is being able to genuinely affect lasting and positive change.” Colette has amassed her experience from many venues – as a Washington lobbyist with the American Petroleum Institute, an EHS Manager for a major integrated oil company, a Director for a global energy services company and as a small business owner. Her on-the-ground experience spans the globe: Angola, China, Europe, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Middle East, Nigeria, Venezuela, as well as Canada and the U.S.

“Across the globe, the extremes in attitudes and awareness towards operational integrity, risk management and EHS are very divergent compared to the U.S.,” she says. “In Kazakhstan, we worked for a consortium that consisted of the Kazakh government, and Russian, British, Italian, and U.S. companies. Trying to navigate the diversity in business principles that existed in that project was a challenging and enlightening experience!” In the year-long Kazakh project, Colette was EHS Manager/Deputy Director for what was at the time the world’s largest construction project, bringing an abandoned Russian oil field back into production. Challenges ranged from creating and implementing a unified Risk and EHS Management System for all the partners and national staff; developing and managing an environmental protection zone to handle the reservoir’s elevated hydrogen sulfide levels; managing social impacts and relocation of local communities; addressing excessive abandoned equipment left by the prior field operators; managing residual radioactivity due to the practice of storing nuclear waste in the salt caverns abutting the field; and, environmental remediation due to a legacy catastrophic blowout – not to mention the challenges of working in winter temperatures of -50ºF. These along with the typical operational, EHS, social and regulatory conditions ensured there were numerous avenues and opportunities to make a difference.

In her work with a major U.S. oil company in Nigeria, Colette saw another side of operations in developing countries: “We dealt with extensive social unrest and a takeover of a platform or drill ship on almost a monthly basis,” she says. “Managing hostage situations was an issue of negotiation. It took an understanding of the culture and what was of value to the parties we were dealing with, plus an abundant amount of patience to reach a compromise that would ensure the safety of personnel, the environment and equipment.”

Colette's role in working with clients has focused on organizational effectiveness and operational excellence. “One of my strengths is having the capacity to act as a visionary and as a strategist,” she says “looking at a situation from the 10,000-foot perspective, seeing where the opportunities are, and developing a process to move forward. I am a good listener, and I aspire to be a partner, collaborator and contributor to solutions. I like to affect progressive and lasting change!” Her international experience also makes her a force in global transactions, where her ability to understand challenges from both a social and regulatory perspective helps businesses get up and running quickly and effectively.

Client Experiences
Colette has developed and implemented strategies for a domestic and international client base focused on improving productivity, mitigating risk, resolving issues and optimizing cost savings. She has engaged with clients in all areas of strategic and project planning: application and process development, integration, implementation, risk management, testing, documentation, training and evaluation. Some of her work has included:

Houston, Texas – Led due diligence effort of 600 million dollar investment in privately held oil gas services company. Following purchase, served as executive coach to CEO and senior leadership team. Facilitating organization and culture change within company to achieve world class performance and preparation for intended transformation from a privately to publicly held company.

Calgary, Alberta – Advisor to the CEO and executive leadership of a 16 billion dollar independent international oil and gas exploration and production company on leadership, corporate social responsibility, and operational performance.

San Antonio, Texas – Developed and conducted assessment of effectiveness of process safety practices of largest U.S. oil refiner. Facilitated the development of an Operational Excellence culture including the development of program and process improvements to integrate systems into operations and improve performance.

Salt Lake City, Utah – Championed development and implementation of safe operating standards in oil refining operations.

Aksai, Kazakhstan - Managed 300+ HSE workforce for multi-billion dollar construction and oil producing project. Developed comprehensive management system for new and existing project. Managed all aspects of HSE Directorate inclusive of $16 million annual budget, personnel, government relations, security compliance and technical training for 19,000 multi-national workforce.

Shekou, China – Developed and delivered process for integrating technical
skills/knowledge into all components of exploration and production onshore and offshore operations.

Duri, Indonesia - Developed and delivered hazard assessment analysis for management and national field staff of exploration and production onshore operation.

Denver, Colorado - Developed technical competency based program for Fortune 100 integrated oil company for worldwide implementation.

Houston, Texas – Directed department of international HSE professionals and facilitated compliance with health, safety and environmental laws and regulations for global oilfield service provider. Developed and directed programs for oilfield health and safety; explosives manufacture, security and use; radiological source storage, security and use; and domestic and international hazardous material transport.

Professional Affiliations:
Society of Petroleum Engineers
American Industrial Hygiene Association
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

Publications:
Maintaining Professional Ethics in an Unethical Political and Regulatory Environment. J. Jack Hinton. Rick A. Bui. Colette M. Glencross. Wayne J. Skocypec; American Industrial Hygiene Exposition; 2006.

Developing an EHS Advantage for International Operations. Thomas L. Wills, SPE and Colette M. Glencross, Texaco International Production; Don Farrell, Woodward-Clyde International. Society of Petroleum Engineers; 1998.

Colette has a M.S.P.H. in Environmental and Occupational Health, and a B.S. in Biology. She is a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer - Master of Steam, Motor or Auxiliary Sail Vessels (50 Tons) and enjoys her time off on or near the water or in a plane.