Pilko & Associates

"Setting the framework by which
companies can succeed"

Bill Flis

Position: Executive Associate
Office: Colorado Springs, CO
Email: wtflis@me.com
Phone: 719-332-3970
Fax: 719-264-0752

Biography
In a career spanning more than 30 years, Bill worked at top corporate levels both in the US and globally to make the seemingly impossible happen. His experience is in line operations management, EHS management, procurement, and public affairs. As leader of the Pilko Governance practice, Bill understands the importance of leadership, organizational competency, role clarity, and integration of EHS into the overall business plan.

“We give companies a way to rethink their governance process,” Bill says. “I’ve played competitive basketball from grade school through college, and that’s given me a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration. Wherever I work, I focus on building an effective team that can make 2+2=5. I enjoy doing things that people say are impossible.”

One of his early projects was the rescue of a new procurement system. Multi-millions had been spent, but users flatly rejected it, and Bill was brought in to manage the 70 professionals working on the project. “We had to take a new look,” he says. “We worked hard to listen to the users and adapt the system to meet the way they actually did the work. One hard-nosed operator who hated the original system later stood up in a meeting and said that the revamped version was saving him time and money. That’s progress.” The revamping effort captured value and cost just 1% of the original system cost.

Bill put his leadership and experience to work internationally to develop a corporate relationship-building process that the company has used worldwide. “We brought together NGO leaders with senior executives, and we spent two days getting to know each other,” he says. “It has been very successful. We improved mutual understanding and corporate reputation. The process has worked in diverse settings from the United States to Europe, Africa, and Asia.”

The merger of Exxon and Mobil is by any measure one of the world’s most successful. As Downstream SHE Planning and Issues Manager, Bill’s group took on global responsibilities with the merger, operating across five continents. The matrix organization presented its own set of challenges. “It was an eye-opener. I learned a lot about the strengths and weaknesses of matrix organizations and how to communicate across large distances and significant cultural barriers.”

More recently, Bill has worked on behalf of The Congress of Racial Equality to create the African Economic Development Initiative. It works to recognize sustainable business achievement and provide mentoring support to small and medium-size businesses across Africa.

Experience & Projects

EHS organizational change and governance projects with an array of chemical, pipeline, metals, and energy companies with a focus on organizations in transition and in need of making a step change in EHS governance.
Managed downstream manufacturing, utilities and distribution: Bill managed the electric power utility at the Exxon Baytown Refinery – which produced enough electricity to run a town of 300,000 – plus the environmental group there and all supply and distribution systems: pipeline, gasoline blending, ship, rail, etc. About one-fourth of the Baytown operations employees reported to him.
Led a multi-stakeholder initiative of the Greater Houston Partnership: Ten years ago Houston’s compliance with the Clean Air Act was a hot topic. Bill led the initial GHP effort in bringing together Houston business leaders and NGOs to ensure that the state-mandated implementation plan would be both environmentally and economically sound. The resulting plan continues to meet the test.
Organized and led an international industry effort to complete the removal of lead from gasoline in Africa: This was one of the major projects undertaken as Chair of an IPIECA (International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association) committee working on sustainability and social responsibility. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to go beyond the boundaries of EHS. We made significant strides for a more sustainable future in Africa, and today the governments there are completing the work.”
Championed a first-of-its kind approach to environmental remediation: It started with participation in an Aspen Institute workgroup designing the elements of what became the EPA’s Project XL, a program to find new ways to move environmental improvement forward cheaper, smarter, and faster. After Project XL came into use, Bill championed the first petroleum industry application in Fairmont, WV. Bill worked with internal remediation experts and energized community leaders to develop a plan that would clean up the waste and get the property back on the tax roles. “We had a signing ceremony at the site,” Bill says, “and it was really satisfying to see the community leaders stand up in support of this partnership between the EPA, business, and the community.”
Led global refining and marketing issues management team: Bill was responsible for a team of experts interfacing with regulators and legislators on EHS issues worldwide and working to influence the course of regulation and legislation for both upstream and downstream operations. “That was a lot of fun,” he says, “because of the ties to the political process. The other aspect that fascinated me – and I learned a lot from it – was interfacing with NGOs and environmental groups. There aren’t too many people that can get that insight and translate it into positive results for their company.”
Turned a Wyoming prairie into wildlife habitat: “My former colleagues affectionately call this Lake Flis, but I simply helped them make something out of a glimmer in their eyes,” says Bill. Through collaboration with the Wildlife Habitat Council, Trout Unlimited and the Boy Scouts, twenty acres of buffer land was turned into a habitat pond. With corporate funding, local employees did the construction work on their own time and were rewarded with the personal satisfaction and recognition from the Governor of Wyoming, who attended the dedication. “I have learned that corporate reputation is not a matter of chance,” Bill says. “You can build it systematically by design. This is just a small example.”

Education

B.S. degree in chemical engineering, Lafayette College
MBA and MS in chemical engineering, Lehigh University

Community Outreach

Advisor to Wildlife Habitat Council
Advisor to Harvard Kids Risk Project
Committee Chair of social responsibility and sustainability issues, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Assn (IPIECA)
Committee Chair of SHE, American Petroleum Institute