In honor of the hard work that Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation’s External Affairs Department is doing to prepare for the third annual Cabot Community Picnic, we’ve decided to feature the team this Monday. We spoke with George Stark, Director of External Affairs, as well as Brittany Thomas and Bill desRosiers, both External Affairs Coordinators, to learn about their experiences with Cabot.Q: For how long have you worked with Cabot Oil & Gas in this capacity? Brittany: I first started with Cabot in May of last year as a contractor and then moved to full time in September 2011.Bill: Two months, but I have about two years of industry experience.George: I started as the Director of External Affairs in April of 2010.Q: What is your favorite duty within your job description?Brittany: I’m a huge fan of social media so being able Tweet, post and blog for a living is pretty much a dream come true.Bill: I feel that “seeing is believing,” especially for those who are unsure about the natural gas industry – so I really enjoy giving site tours.George: My favorite part about my job is helping to build a community plan.Q: What is the most difficult or tedious job within the Department of External Affairs? Brittany: I can truly say that the only tedious part of my job comes when reading & responding to the same misinformation over and over again when individuals have no desire to get the real story.Bill: Much is being said about Cabot and natural gas development as whole; in the news, through the internet, and by word of mouth. The work involved in answering everybody’s questions and, when necessary, engaging with those who wrongly advertise about this industry, can be quite difficult.George: It can be difficult dealing with people who are not willing to accept a scientific answer and who have their minds made up based on misinformation.Q: Why did you decide to pursue External Affairs as a career?Brittany: In college I realized that I was the “planner” of my group of friends about everything from brunch to study groups so I recognized it as one of my strengths and found a career where I could really use it on a daily basis.Bill: I didn’t, it found me. I learned on the job and as things happened. I was fortunate enough to be around Cabot during the whole process and I learned about the industry in a short time.George: I’ve always liked dealing with public policy issues. I enjoy presenting to various audiences and receiving buy-in and feedback.Q: If you didn’t LOVE working for Cabot, what would you be? Brittany: I’d own a farm and adopt animals from shelters to create my own mini-farm. Yep, I’d be the crazy animal lady.Bill: I’d definitely be a chef; I love to cook.George: I’d like to own and operate a bed and breakfast in the Williamsburg, Va., area.Q: What is one thing that you wish people knew about your job? Brittany: That external affairs & public relations in general is not about lying, spinning the truth or blatantly ignoring the facts. What we do is based on trust and transparency, not falsehoods.Bill: It’s more difficult than people imagine.George: It’s a very rewarding and personally satisfying job. I feel lucky to do what I’m doing because I get to see the impact of my work.Q: If you had to work in any other position at Cabot for a day, whose or what would it be and why? Brittany: Completions, even though I’m sure trying to learn everything in a day is completely impossible.Bill: It would be interesting to be a marketer because I’d like to negotiate where Cabot’s gas is going downstream.George: Geology interests me because I find the science of it fascinating.Q: What is your favorite part about working for Cabot?Brittany: I really enjoy coming into work every day because there is always a new challenge or project to tackle and often they are things that no one has done before.Bill: While natural gas development is serious business, the office here in Dimock, Pa., is laid back and pretty friendly.George: My favorite part is the family atmosphere here and the way in which everyone assists you with your efforts.Thanks for all that you do, External Affairs team. Next Monday, we’ll speak with George Stark about his specific duties as a Cabot Crew member.
Bill serves as an External Affairs Coordinator for Coterra Energy. He is focused on building community knowledge and support for the organization and industry at large.
Before his time with Coterra Energy, Bill was the original Field Director for Energy in Depth’s Northeast Marcellus campaign. Within this two-year position, Bill worked to engage, educate, and mobilize supporters of Marcellus Shale development across New York and Pennsylvania. Bill received his B.S. in Management, a B.A. in History, and an MBA from Misericordia University.