OWENSBORO, A LEADER IN THE ENERGY INDUSTRY

BY MEGHANN RICHARDSON

Owensboro is a leader in one of the top 10 industries in the world. Several locals have risen through the ranks to lead some of the largest energy companies in the U.S. Atmos, Boardwalk and Southern Star all do business across the country and have major key players connected to Daviess County.

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP provides transportation and storage of natural gas and liquids. The company owns and operates interconnected natural gas pipelines and serves customers across the U.S.

Jamie Buskill, a Daviess County native and Daviess County High School graduate, has been the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since Boardwalk’s inception in 2005 and served in the same capacity for its predecessor since May 2003. He was named Senior Vice President, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer in July 2012 and was elected to the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Audit Council in 2018.

Boardwalk came out of the acquisition of Texas Gas Transmission in 2003 by the Loews Corporation, and in 2004 they purchased Gulf South Pipeline. In 2005, these companies joined together to form Boardwalk.

Back then they had just under $3 billion in assets and they have seen that grow to more than $9 billion today.

“It has been exciting and challenging to watch all the changes and growth that has occurred during that time frame,” he said. “The key to the success of the company continues to be the employees. We have been blessed to have great employees that reside in communities up and down our systems as well as our offices in Houston and Owensboro.”

He said the employees work hard every day toward the success of the company and it is an honor to be part of the team.

“Owensboro has been a great city for both Boardwalk and for me personally,” he said. “My wife Ann and I enjoy what Owensboro has to offer and it is a great environment and community to raise a family.”

Buskill also talked about the positive secondary education options that Owensboro has to offer with Brescia University, Kentucky Wesleyan and Owensboro Community & Technical College. He said many of the employees in the Owensboro office attended one of these institutions.

“It has been great watching the revitalization of downtown Owensboro and being a part of that as well,” Buskill said. “A couple of weeks ago Boardwalk had its quarterly board meeting in Owensboro. Some of those in attendance had never been to Owensboro and they were impressed with what the city has to offer with the Bluegrass Museum, the Convention Center and the whole downtown area.”

Kevin Akers, who was named president and chief executive officer of Atmos Energy in October 2019, is another Owensboro native who is has become a key player in the energy industry.

Akers served as executive vice president from November 2018 to October 2019 and prior to this role, he served as Senior Vice President, Safety and Enterprise Services.

Kim Cocklin, another former Owensboroan, also serves as executive chairman of the Atmos board.

Candance Castlen Brake, president of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, said, "Kevin's appointment to president of Atmos demonstrates the importance the Greater Owensboro region continues to be in developing talent in one of the most important economic sectors in our country. We wish him much success and we continue to be grateful for Atmos's commitment to Owensboro."

While some leaders leave Owensboro to run these companies, Southern Star is headquartered locally.

They are a leading transporter of natural gas to America’s heartland, with approximately 5,800 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline in the Midwest and Mid-Continent regions of the United States.

The pipeline system, facilities and employees are located in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Texas, with headquarters in Owensboro.

President and CEO Jimmy Staton said that while Southern Star’s headquarters location may not have been intended (it came about as a result of acquisitions in the pipeline industry), it “set us up for our future. The only reason to leave is if we can’t attract people, and we’ve got a phenomenal team. We’ve been able to maintain a stable cost structure and a great community feel. We see no reason to move out of Owensboro.”

“THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO BE THE EMPLOYEES. WE

HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE GREAT EMPLOYEES THAT

RESIDE IN COMMUNITIES UP

AND DOWN OUR SYSTEMS AS WELL AS OUR OFFICES IN

HOUSTON AND OWENSBORO.” -Jamie Buskill