Global CEO Excellence 2017

40 CEO MONTHLY / GLOBAL CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2017 , Blue Spark Energy is a technology start-up in the oil & gas space. We invited Todd Parker, CEO, to tell us more about the success of the firm. Best Oil & Gas CEO 2017 - Canada Bringing a new approach to remediation of oil wells, Blue Spark Energy are demonstrating a safe and effective technology for the repair of the accumulation of debris in a wellbore that might be impeding safe or economic production. This technology is both small in footprint and environmental impact but big on financial return for operators. Whilst explaining what the firm does and the clients serves, Todd also tells us about his previous roles and how he came to achieve his position as CEO. “Prior to my role here at Blue Spark Energy, I served in leadership roles in large organizations Including multi-service and product multi-national companies, but the opportunity to launch a new technology was exciting enough to cause me to step out and start my own organization. Understanding the frameworks of large organizations, especially in serving international markets, while simultaneously being nimble as a small company has allowed us to be opportunistic in identifying and following through on opportunities.” To ensure excellence for clients, the firm’s relationship with them is important to the firm, and the safety of personnel and environment has been the driving force behind Todd’s approach to new clients. He feels reaching an agreement with clients on new project goals is essential in order for the firm to undertake the project. The technology which the firm uses is as environmentally friendly as possible, which Todd outlines below. “From the outset, safety of personnel and environment has been a tremendous personal driver to me. Our technology has one of the lowest environmental impacts you can deploy into a wellbore for production remediation. That is only satisfying for all involved if it is deployed safely and ultimately if it is effective. Communication and agreement on these goals is critical at the outset of a project and if they cannot be met, then it is the wrong project for us.” Being environmentally friendly is also vital to the firm, which prides itself on helping to preserve the ecosystem for future generations. The company’s ongoing strategy for producing good results includes embracing every single project which meets the firm’s criteria, whilst also being able to travel globally in order to incorporate clients’ and achieve the goals the company has set, resulting in team members eager to seek the next project, which Todd discusses. “As we continue to refine the technology to suit today’s commodity environment, we also continue to seek opportunities globally where safety, environmental governance and project economics are critical for our customer’s success. As we can deploy quickly to anywhere in the world, no project which meets our criterion is overlooked. Every successful project we deliver boosts the team’s appetite to seek out the next one.” As a CEO, part of Todd’s role involves keeping the staff within the company happy and well equipped to meet surpass its client’s needs and demands. It is important to Todd that all team members are pulling in the same direction, so Todd encourages staff to speak up and have an opinion in order to choose the right path. “The benefit, I have learned, from a small organization is the ability to touch all parts of it easily and quickly. I’ve always been curious and questioning of all aspects of the business as it impacts my groups results in large organizations but in a small organisation you can be part of the real-time communication and delivery of solutions. In all of my teams I emphasise the need to speak up and dissenting opinions matter, but ultimately as a group we need to choose a single path forward.” Regarding the future aspirations for the business, Todd states that he hopes to grow Blue Spark globally as an alternative to technologies which are not economically and environmentally friendly. “The world will continue to require hydrocarbons for the future and technologies that help produce it in an economic and environmentally responsible way are vital. We will continue to grow Blue spark globally as an alternative that will fulfil those needs. Concerning his own career and aspirations, Todd measures his own success through the success of his team, as proved by his desire to make all of them successful in their own roles. This is satisfactory for Todd and validates his ability to lead as CEO. “My own success is measured through the success of my team – making each of them successful in their roles (sales, marketing, operations, safety) is both satisfying and validating of my ability to successfully lead.” Company: Blue Spark Energy Inc Contact: Todd Parker Contact Email: [email protected] Address: 300-903 8 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0P7, Canada Phone: 001 403 719-9011 Website: bluesparkenergy.com