BY MATT HUGHES
mhughes@timesleader.com
James Jones didn’t look for his first job in the natural gas industry; it found him. A decade ago, the then 20-year-old Jones, now a senior operator for fracturing-fluid management contractor Rockwater Energy Solutions, was bagging groceries for a market in Carthage, Texas when a customer asked if he liked what he was doing. “I’m 6-feet, 2-inches and 225 pounds,” Jones said, “and this guy said, ‘I can use you in the oil fields.’ I was making like $750 a month in income, and this guy promised me I could triple that if I come work with him. That kick-started it all.” Jones started his career at the bottom – his official title was helper – and learned most of his skills on the job. A slowdown in Texas drilling brought him to Pennsylvania three years ago. Several years and companies later, Jones is now a senior operator See JAMES, Page 20
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