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From Classroom to Corporate: Ashley Colquitt on Energy Education and Community Impact

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What if the skills you honed in one career could lead you to unprecedented success in an entirely different field? Join us as we sit down with Ashley Colquitt, who transitioned from a fulfilling 16-year career in education to becoming a Corporate Affairs Representative for Diamondback Energy. Ashley shares the pivotal moments that sparked her career shift and explains how her background in education has been instrumental in her new role. Her story is one of adaptability and the power of leveraging past experiences to create a broader influence, particularly through promoting energy education and preparing the next generation for future careers.

How can a simple coffee service program transform lives and corporate culture? In this episode, we spotlight a unique initiative that integrates students with developmental disabilities from Legacy High and Midland High into the workforce through a partnership with Scooters coffee shop. These students not only acquire essential work readiness and social skills but also enrich the environment at Diamondback Energy by engaging with employees and boosting company morale. Recognized by the school board and educational conferences, this initiative underscores the importance of soft skills and demonstrates how inclusive programs can break barriers and provide purpose-driven opportunities.

We also explore the myriad ways Diamondback Energy is investing in the community beyond financial contributions. From the Diamondback Rolling Baristas program to the innovative "Diamondback Career Connections" mentorship initiative, we discuss the significance of meaningful community partnerships and hands-on involvement. Ashley sheds light on the new mentorship program that uses virtual reality experiences to help students navigate post-high school challenges, fostering passion and interest in various fields. Tune in for valuable advice on making impactful career pivots and learn how you can contribute to creating opportunities for the next generation.

Speaker 1:

And and welcome to a new Energy Crew podcast. My name is JP Warren, I'm your host today and we are starting off these news type of Energy Crew podcasts. We're bringing people in, we're bringing industry leaders in, we're bringing interesting achievers in to kind of ask them hot seat, rapid fire questions about leadership and their experiences and any information, intel or insights they want to provide us, the audience. But before we begin I want to say that Energy Crew is brought to you by Exec Crew. Exec Crew is our personal growth development branch of the crew community. We do onsite workshops, we do one-on-one training course development and what we're going to do we want to provide you with kind of the lesson skillset mindset for you to get out of your way and kind of achieve the goals that you set out for yourself. So check out execfrucom. There's going to be a lot of exciting training opportunity. I don't even like the word training, development opportunities or growth opportunities. We're not training anyone. We're not dogs out there, we're human beings. So we want to provide growth opportunities for you.

Speaker 1:

I'm excited about today's guest. All right, I'm not going to play a commercial. Just check out execcrewcom. And that's crew like Motley Crue C-R-U-Ecom. I'm excited about our guest today. This is a guest I've been trying to get on for several months right now but due to schedules and just her schedule, what she's doing in the community has been nothing short of inspirational, not just for me but also for the next generation. Her name is Ashley Colquitt. I'm going to bring her on a little bit but I want to kind of tell you my side of the story, my perception on how I know her.

Speaker 1:

Several months back, augie, a mutual friend that works at Dimeback Energy, augie invited Ashley to join a crew club event which is kind of our E&P operator focused network of events where we kind of bring up industry topics. And Ashley came and she was so pivotal in getting kids crew involved in the Midland community. Ashley's role at Diamondback I'm going to have her introduce herself is nothing short. I mean, she might have a title but she is out there in the community just enhancing the next generation's understanding of energy, how to conduct yourself in business meetings, the real diamondback. She's really taken the reins on promoting um just the, just the just how to provide students with springboards to help their careers in the next generation. So my experience with ashley I just see arbor linkedin crushing it, reaching out to schools, communities, high schools, middle schools, whatever they're doing, they're building robots there during the summer for their kids. It's unbelievable stuff. I want to bring Ashley on, who's doing such a great job. I'm so happy to have her finally with Schedule the Line and Ashley, I know that that's my introduction.

Speaker 2:

That's my perception, but you're so much more to you, so, hey, this, this is hot seat questions, so, hey, I'm not gonna spend too much time. What's, what's your l? Who are you? Who am I? The question? Uh, no, I'm. I am ashley colquitt. I am corporate affairs representative for diamondback energy. Really proud of that.

Speaker 2:

Uh, prior to being corporate affairs representative which I know, we'll kind of talk more about what that was- like for Diamondback, but I was an educator for 16 years and had the honor to serve students in the classroom as well as campus leaders, administrators, as a district administrator and then campus administrators. So a long time in education and I never expected my career. I always anticipated it would be linear right.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Teacher principal.

Speaker 1:

Superintendent.

Speaker 2:

Superintendent. I actually, god bless, I actually went and got my superintendency teacher principal superintendent superintendent I actually, god bless, I actually took the uh, went and got my superintendency and then, at you know, life kind of changed and took a turn and um, yeah, this is, this is where I landed and I'm going to tell you I couldn't be happier.

Speaker 1:

I want to talk about that. I want to real quick. This is off the top. Hey, this is a hot seat question. So this I think this is important too, because oftentimes in life and I'm going to kind of phrase, oftentimes in life, we think we go by a plan, we think this is what I want to do, this is the direction I want to go, this is the career path I want to take. However, when opportunities whether it's an opportunity, whether it's life changing or whether it's something different aligning inside you you decide to change career paths and it might not align with your previous dreams, dreams, visions or whatever, how did you? Let me ask you a question how did you interpret that and what was the motivator for you to be okay with this pivot?

Speaker 2:

So it really happened to where there was a fork in the road where I could take the linear path. Uh, where of my next move? In education? I prepared, I planned, I continued to tell myself, you know, this is your path. Like you have worked extremely hard, there's been a lot of blood, sweat and tears from not only you but your family and what you're wanting to accomplish, and that's that's. You know, your goal is to move through that, the linear position. You know go, I guess you know Walker, you know through the ladder, through the ladder of success professionally, and how this opportunity came to me. And I really had to think okay, you know what this path is going to be. Pretty much you have an idea. You've heard people talk, you've seen it, you've experienced some things. And then you have this opportunity to create and potentially have a bigger stage to create positive change. Okay, are you willing to do that? And I will also say this another big, I guess, factor in deciding to take this path was really doing my research on leadership.

Speaker 1:

Okay, dive into that a little bit. Dive into that a little bit.

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So when I got a call from Diamondback Energy, I was like, okay, who is this Diamondback Energy? And I started Googling Travis Stice, his executive team you know Travis Stice, his executive team, the board members and what I was able to find was a podcast that Travis Stice had done no Neutral Moments where he really discussed his leadership during. You know what that looked like during COVID, okay, and so through that I was able to see this is a company that stands on three foundational principles Do your best, do the right thing, treat others the way you want to be treated. That there is a sense of humility in this leader and there was this understanding that they care about people.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and so when you come across a group of leaders or professionals that really embrace that mindset, that's one that I gravitate to and want to be a part of. That's one that I gravitate to and want to be a part of. That was that was really the deciding factor in, in, in making that decision is that I? I believe in what you're talking about. I believe foundationally in the principles and what character should be as a leader, and I can work for you.

Speaker 1:

So stepping into? So how about some advice now, advice, hot seat time. Stepping into a role, a new industry, kind of new responsibilities? Look, it's a bigger platform, it's more opportunity to actually you're right making an impact. I'm not whatever, I'm not taking away anything from the educational system. I'm saying this is a different opportunity, different opportunity.

Speaker 2:

Make an impact Absolutely.

Speaker 1:

What advice do you have to step in a role? Because it seems my listen I've always known the diamond back cares. I've always known the diamond back steps out. However, I do see an increase in intensity once you've gotten into your position. How does someone successfully step in a new role whether it's a new company, new industry, whatever it is and make such aggressive impact and I say aggressive in a positive way, aggressive, positive impact in such a short time?

Speaker 2:

You go out, you listen to people, you see what the gaps are, and I've heard you talk about this, jp, and it resonates with me. I've actually even have it posted. It's a post-it. I have post-its on my wall, but it says be courageous enough to be uncomfortable. And another way to say that is be comfortable on being uncomfortable.

Speaker 1:

We went over that yesterday with the workshop.

Speaker 2:

Did you really? You know, that is just. You've got to be able to once you've identified the need. For example, you know we had a. I had a proposal. It was one of my first big proposals. A year ago, we had a little over a year, a little over a year, and I was asking leadership in this company to be brave enough to do something that I don't know if they've ever done before. Um, I don't, and I don't know of another oil and gas company that's done this way that that hasn't happened. Um, but I had to be willing to take a chance and you have to be willing to hear the notes. Um, fortunately, uh for my team, uh, they're willing to dream big with me and they're always looking for a way to say yes, Um, it sometimes works in your favor. Uh, when you learn, you know how to, how to navigate that and you just have to push, you just have to start, and then you know continue to continue to move forward, knowing that you have a vision.

Speaker 1:

So what do you do? What's your what do you do? What's what describe your current role in one sense, for everyone out there, if, you had to oh god, um what?

Speaker 2:

what would you? Let's go, let's go, um connector okay, okay.

Speaker 1:

Who do you connect? Who do you connect and why?

Speaker 2:

so one of my big roles in uh, this position, is to help to develop partnerships.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

Develop those relationships out in the community but also develop those partnerships. Essentially, what we want is to create something bigger and to help support our community, invest in our community and essentially for us it's our future leaders, right, so that education and workforce for us are big priorities. So what do I do? A lot of project management, a lot of herding cats, a lot of creating processes and protocols so that we can create these programs. And let me kind of give you an example of what we've done, because that's far-fetched in in in what I'm saying. So my first idea was bring in students from both high schools, so we have a legacy high and a Midland high Okay, and once a week maybe. And these are kids that have developmental disabilities Okay. And so when we talk about workforce, what's a group that we potentially miss? A lot of times the development challenge.

Speaker 2:

Yes, yeah, and so I a lot of times, people that I think a lot of times so development, development, challenge.

Speaker 1:

I mean again I'm sorry, is this, is this, is this is sorry, is this autistic people that are challenged with maybe dyslexia a little bit?

Speaker 2:

Yeah. So these are kids that may not necessarily gain, or always have the opportunity to gain, those work readiness skills, social skills that are needed when we talk about soft skills, working to develop those out and really feel empowered that they can. They can do something after high school. That's beyond just sitting on a couch and collecting a check, that they have a lot to contribute. So how do we bring them in to our diamond back family and help to empower them? So the power came from a cup of coffee and we developed a partnership with a local coffee shop.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

And it is now Scooters who is phenomenal, and we get coffee and refreshments at cost. These kids come in, they stock the carts, they determine their roles, their responsibilities, they get everything ready and then they go out to the various floors that we've scheduled for that day and they engage with the employees.

Speaker 2:

That is so awesome and they engage with employees and so we have a card that stays on the first floor in the lobby to welcome everyone that enters the Faskin Towers. And then we have another group that travels and they walk from office to office doors that are open and ask if that employee wants a cup of coffee, and you know, or a breakfast item.

Speaker 1:

So so they're actually breaking the ice to engage in these conversations that normally it's pretty challenging and uncomfortable to do.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. And so what we've seen is it's not only benefited, significantly benefited these kids to have the confidence to speak, to use their voice, to know that, even though they may, for instance, struggle with their fine motor skills yeah or have issues with speech or feel socially awkward. One of our kids has a device where she communicates, utilizing the device.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

And she works to greet our people that enter the Fasken Towers. Not only are they gaining something. What we have seen is that culture and climate has significantly changed.

Speaker 1:

At Diamondback.

Speaker 2:

And that our employees. We are constantly told this is the best part of my week. I need them to come to my office.

Speaker 1:

How does that I mean to have such an impact on? Just you know, listen, the company culture aside, first off, you can change a company culture. I mean that's. I mean that's, that's high ticket item right there, but the fact you're doing that is impressive. How, I mean, how does that feel for you on on a personal level? I mean just kind of the, the impact you have just for like these, these people, these, these challenging skills, um, and also just incorporating that again, changing the helping, improve. Listen, I'm not saying I'm not bad culture, I'm just saying like, obviously this is just icing on the cake, it's just additional goodwill, great culture addition, I assume. So how does it make you feel on a personal level, I guess, uh, watching such an implementing such an impactful program like this?

Speaker 2:

you know I I just always feel like I'm just a vessel, you know, working to create positive change best I can. It warms my heart to get the emails. You know that when an employee hears from one of our kids, hey look, thank you so much. I am so proud to be and they really do, they are part of our Diamondback family. You know, I'm so proud to be a Diamondbacker and these employees are like man, you know. You know this is the best part to hear that we are providing purpose. But what these kids are doing really essentially are providing purpose for us. What these kids are doing really essentially are providing purpose for us, and so it has been amazing. From this we have a hundred. I'm sorry we have 48 students that participated in this program this year 48?.

Speaker 2:

They have had the opportunity, they've been recognized by the school board, they have presented in front of educational conferences. Oh, yes, wow, podcast, they just keep on going. So with that, we have actually hired. We partnered with Texas Workforce Solutions. This where she's doing data cleanup. She is working with spreadsheets, she's sending emails, handling expense reports and they're getting paid.

Speaker 1:

That's so purpose-driven. I love that individual impact to these students. Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And you know, going back to kind of what we were talking about earlier and the work that you've really started engaging in and what we see a huge need in supporting with interns that are coming up as engineers or working in the oil and gas industry is their soft skills. And when we I think it was one time, our first time I was like okay, what did you learn from this experience? Talking to the kids, and you know it was we have to work as a team. Okay, we have to speak to one another. And then you know what was the coolest thing that happened during your first experience? And the kids said we got to do it all by ourselves. Okay, so you know, really feeling, you know, for a population where independence there is a ceiling that's placed on them. We're hoping, through the small actions that we're taking, that we're able to break some of those glass ceilings.

Speaker 1:

I love that. I think, when it comes to soft skills, the ability to communicate, it is becoming more crucial, but it's also becoming the importance of stuff like that. It's such an intangible thing, but it's such a tangible results. So, whether it's having a cup of coffee and starting a program, or whether it's being introduced and then getting a lot, having your career pivot, you know. So that's what it is. I want to ask, I want to ask you your career pivot, you know. So that's what it is.

Speaker 1:

I want to ask, I want to ask you so you're doing so much um impact, you're doing so much positive good uh, just for the anyway you're doing, what strategies would, would, would, could companies, uh, yeah, let's, let's start at the company level, because let's start with that. You can talk about individual. What strategies could companies take to kind of take a, a page out of y'all's playbook on starting these programs, or or, or, reaching out to the communities, or providing such great uh fundamentals and resources to the, to these uh, to the communities that we operate in. What strategy do you have, uh that would be successful? Um, and then, I guess, getting to this, overcoming this challenge yeah.

Speaker 2:

So I think a significance or I mean I'm probably gonna list a few yeah, um, one is you've got to have a point person that's in the community and truly listening to the needs of the community so where?

Speaker 1:

where do you? Okay, I'm gonna pause you right there. What does that? So where do you? Okay, I'm going to pause you right there. What does that mean when?

Speaker 2:

do you find it? Yeah, yeah, you know you got to find that person that's going to. You know you're going to have to have that position, whether that's in corporate affairs or public relations.

Speaker 1:

Okay, okay, okay.

Speaker 2:

You know where they're going out and they're truly understanding. Right, okay, yeah, where they're going out and they're truly understanding. You know what are the gaps. We know that. You know when we talk about investing in the community, investing in people, it's listening and allowing them to be heard. And then you've got to be able to create true partnerships and invite people at the table. You know to have a voice and ownership. The other part of that, with this leadership that I've experienced. I've experienced various types of leadership in my career and I always think that leadership, in a lot of ways, can be universal. This team is always looking for innovation, so I think you have to have a let's think outside the box mindset. And then, instead of being quick to say no, they're always saying, actually, we're looking for ways to be able to say yes.

Speaker 1:

That's motivation.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it is, it is and to have it. I mean, we have a think tank. We have, you know, we have that those opportunities where we really take time to reflect and see what does impact mean. I think, as a company, when you're talking about investing in the community or where you operate, you need to look at something that goes beyond just providing what we call the diamond dollar, what is a true presence. So that's time.

Speaker 1:

Yep.

Speaker 2:

That's resources that may be funding, but it goes beyond just cutting a check.

Speaker 1:

Yes, I love that. I love that. I think. I think there's such a lot of places to cut, checks to place. However, it's the impact, it's the influence that you have in the community. You cut and checked.

Speaker 2:

And regardless of how we connect with other humans, it's all about human connection. It's about investing time. Um, I know with you know some of the things that you're doing and what I'm doing. It's about mentorship and it's about growing others, building their capacity, and you, you might be able to accomplish that with just cutting a check, but, um, yeah, but there's so much power in conversations, there's so much power and connections.

Speaker 1:

I think I listen, I think I think, if you cut a check, that's the top, that's the tip of the iceberg. I think the good stuff, the juice, is in the 90. That's below the surface. That's the, the hands-on, the conversation, the communication, the uh, the guidance that you provide. Um, so I want to, so, uh, when you're talking about community. So I'm looking at this list right here, all right, and don't go yes, people, I have a list in front of me, all right, just because there's so much to talk about. You know, one of the questions I wanted to ask you is it was the impact to the community since you joined and you listed six, and I'm glad you put these things down, because you only listed one thing, just uh, previously about um, the, the coffee, and can you what's the coffee shop? Again, just for those that are out there in.

Speaker 2:

Midland, so our program's called the Diamondback Rolling Baristas.

Speaker 1:

Love that, and where can people support this?

Speaker 2:

Well, you know, for us it's, you know, going coming meeting us at the Baskin Towers Wednesday and. Thursday Kids will be there.

Speaker 1:

So reading buddies. Reading buddies what's that all about? No, no, no. I'm asking like oh, there's six things Listen. I want you to go and real briefly touch on what you've done.

Speaker 2:

Right. So we know literacy. The foundation of everything is literacy. So we've decided to partner with one of our local elementaries. It's a Title I campus here, okc, so Oklahoma City. They have also partnered with a Title I campus. I will say Title I. They're kind of they're in that bracket.

Speaker 1:

Close it up.

Speaker 2:

There's a huge need. These schools have identified those struggling readers and we go in and we work to help to build a safe space where these kids can enjoy reading and being read to, enjoy reading and being read to. So it's really just instilling that passion and how reading can be fun. What's cool about it is that we not only have employees that are English speakers, we also have employees that go to read that are Spanish speakers have employees that go to read that are spanish speakers.

Speaker 2:

So our bilingual or emergent um yeah, where english is a second language and they go in and we're able to to read in spanish. This happens every other week for us.

Speaker 1:

We go in, we read to these kiddos I think I think that's so powerful just because it's like you know as a kid, you're trying to learn something new, whether it's reading. If you're struggling reading, like it's so easy to get frustrated and just stop. I just not want to pursue it. Just because, whether it's the internal dialogue with having yourself like I can't get this, like my classes are, or this is too hard, it's like frustrated myself and that's it's real demoralizing.

Speaker 2:

So the fact you're getting in there and kind of and then providing that like that's hats off. So moving, moving, moving down the list. Robotics talk to me. This is our second year to do this. We have partnered with midland high school and their robotics team um their leading robotics team, junk the junkyard dogs love it and uh, cory calloway is their teacher, their coach. Uh, we go in every tuesday.

Speaker 2:

We've partnered with a service company, the wide group and they bring in food and we bring in our engineers um and my happy little self and we go into tutor. So we tutor math, uh, upper level math science.

Speaker 1:

Okay.

Speaker 2:

And we also have a group that is stationed in the back that uh works to problem solve. Uh support with just robotics and our team made it to state this year Very excited.

Speaker 1:

Was that the second year? And you made it to state yeah, we excited. Was that the second year? You made it to state yeah, we're so proud.

Speaker 2:

So this happens. What we've seen, though, is that a lot of these kids that may participate or engage or take upper-level math and science, these are kids that are still struggling with what happens after life, after high school. How do I fill a FAFSA? How do I? You know what's the significance of SAT ACT? How do I fill out this? How do I fill out these forms? You know what about financial aid? What am I supposed to do? These are all things that, even though we come in and we really try to provide that content expertise, it is all about the relationships, so we're talking more to them about next steps, because their families may not have the opportunity to really guide them in their next steps after high school, to really guide them in their next steps after high school, and this is where we can help and support in filling that need. You know, a lot of these kids come from poverty, and so they're working to break a cycle of poverty by even dreaming that they could go to college.

Speaker 1:

I think, the power of dreaming, but also just having that knowledge. You're talking about stuff that I don't even have the answers. If someone came to me at 18 years old, I don't even know that it doesn't matter where you're from. I think learning this over the Pythagorean theorem sometimes might be beneficial to the next generation. All right, hey, I'm moving down the list. Diamondback STEM Lab Talk to me.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so Diamondback STEM Lab. It is powered by a company called SideGlass. What we've done is we've taken anatomy and physiology. We've partnered with Legacy High School. In this class A&P, we have created an opportunity where students access the curriculum through virtual reality. So even though we have a teacher that instructs and she is well-versed, she is an amazing A&P teacher. She also provides part of that content, or that instruction is putting on the headset and during that time, what's so cool about this VR program is that these students now have access to professors at various universities Berkeley, mit, nyu, ohio State. These professors go in and teach synchronous and asynchronous lessons, and through that I mean like, let's say, a professor comes in and they're showing something in regards to the heart. These students are able to blow up the heart as big as the room.

Speaker 1:

Virtual blow up the heart, not go out and murder.

Speaker 2:

No, don't do that.

Speaker 1:

Blow up real hearts, virtual hearts is okay.

Speaker 2:

I mean expand the image, expand the image To really experience what this looks like. In return, these professors provide data, data sets, live data. These students analyze that, report their findings and submit their findings to the university. So these students are engaged in research and development work at a collegiate level, as a high school student level. As a high school student, what we've also been able to do with this, with the STEM lab, is we're now able to create, make it a dual credit course to where now students are getting college credit for AMP. It's. This is something that the district really struggled to get, been trying to get this for 10 10 years and through our technology and what we're doing with the STEM lab, they're now able to provide that to the community. We've also opened up that Young Women's Leadership Academy, the STEM lab, and we are offering not only A&P but neuroscience as well we are offering not only ANP, but neuroscience as well.

Speaker 1:

Look at, okay, okay. And, by the way, we're halfway through the list from everyone out there listening and, mind you, this is cool. This is cool. You talked about the power of a person. You talk about the power of the person and connections and the. I mean this is in the short time. How long have you been a Dimebag? Less than two years.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, august 18th it'll be two years okay.

Speaker 1:

So everyone out there, we're filled. Well, this is july 2nd, now we're recording, so less than two years. These are the, the impact that through ashley, through inspiration, through influence, through connections, through your network, was has been able to to, to launch, to instill, to impact all these lives. And the best part is, ashley, I'm digging this because you're not even two years in. Let's see where else you go the next two years. So let's go down to four. Anyway, that's my little observation, which is the four. On the STEM thing, we had STEM Camp coming out. What's going on with that?

Speaker 2:

So I think, with STEM Camp, what's super cool about this and we have a lot of, I mean, we're looking to really grow this out is that it is a STEM camp for students and that are part of Opportunity Tribe. They are a 501c3, where they really work to mentor students that are at risk, identified as low socioeconomic and really come in with trauma. Okay, so we're bringing in kids that may not have ever experienced robotics, may not have ever experienced the technology that we're showing them.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And we're providing a safe space where they can explore where they can engage where they can problem solve, and we are to do that. It is meant working with our volunteers, which are Diamondback employees, to learn how to build relationships with kids that have experienced trauma, wow. And so we have a group, venture Robotics, that really helps us on the science side. And then we have a group that comes in, ben Wall from Opportunity Tribe, where he does training with our employees on just kids that have built up walls, and so that's something that we've done this past year.

Speaker 2:

We've created another component called our teacher facilitator component. We've hired teachers in the community to come in. They engaged in a 3d. When we talk about professional growth, it was not just hey, look, you go do our STEM camp and build that out. It was really important that we built their capacity, and so they went through a professional development in 10 to 3 days. We paid them, which most teachers don't get paid for a professional.

Speaker 1:

I love that because you're showing the reality behind. Hey, you put some work. Yeah, I love that because they're showing the reality behind.

Speaker 2:

hey, you put some work. This, yeah, I love, that, yeah, and you know how do you apply the learning and put it into your classroom. So, even though our space was small, we struggle with space. How do we impact more than the 70 kids that are showing up?

Speaker 2:

Yes, and the way we do that is we make the connection with the teacher in the classroom, because if they learn high level research based strategies, we are able to impact the strategies that we've taught and implementing them into the classroom. So they did that and then, on the STEM camp side, they really worked on coaching our volunteers on how to truly engage our kids in the learning.

Speaker 1:

So we didn't want Send those notes over this way please, because I'm going to need that to deal with my daughter. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2:

Well, I'm kidding, I get it. I get it. It may be a little difficult with a parent, but yes.

Speaker 1:

I think that's so powerful. I mean, listen, I can only imagine that teachers I've never been in educational system you have. I can only imagine that and I'm just just going from kind of what I don't know, maybe way off base, but I would feel that the teacher lifestyle is probably pretty isolating. It's like you're dumping everything here. You want me to do all this stuff without the support of anyone else, but yet you're telling me how to do this and no support. Okay, yeah, the fact is now it's like no, there's actually. This is your. We're part of something bigger than coming into class nine to three or eight to whatever it is. This is something bigger than he's involved in and these are real world training, help, guidance, development or whatever you want to call it that. So, anyway, I think that's such a cool channel.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean, it really is. I mean, things that we focused on were how do you be a collaborator? What does it mean to be a true innovator of learning? How do you work as a team?

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

And then how do you reflect to determine where you are as a contributing team member? And so those are high-performing teams and I think we talked about this early on is that rising tides raise all ships High-performing teams. When they're successful, you're going to see success in other areas as well, with other teams. So, um, that was a big thing that, uh, we stressed and the work that we did and excited about that.

Speaker 1:

I love it. So we got, we had two more. We already covered one, the rolling baristas, which I think is so awesome. And then, uh, the last one is Diamondback Career Connections. Everyone out there, this has been six huge, whether it's programs, influence, drives, waves, impactful progress, whatever you want to call it, these are six things that have been really blowing and going in the last two years. And it's just so, it's. It's inspirational, see. I mean there's another company, uh, cnx, uh resources, that Nick the Ellis uh mispronounced the last name all the time, but he's CEO, that he is very involved in investing in the next generation too. So, so inspirational to see the operators that really kind of grab the bull by the horns and want to drive change, lasting change for those kids, for the next generation.

Speaker 1:

That doesn't have the opportunities a lot of people do. So that's so awesome. And, speaking of opportunity, a lot of people do. We're talking about the diamond back career connections after it has connections in it. I'm all about that. That's my, that's my highlight word. I love the word connections. Connections lead to conversations, lead to opportunity.

Speaker 2:

So diamond back career connections. What's up with that? Yeah, so we are just now building this out. I'm very excited about this. It's a different form of mentorship. So when I talk to you just about the gaps that we were seeing and just, you know, kids struggling with life after high school how do you do college? Or how do you do career, what am I? You know all of these questions, along with industry questions, it's like how do we, how do we create opportunities to meet that need and truly engage our kids? And so we're doing that through virtual reality. Again. Legacy High has created a course where they have a teacher, they will have students enroll in this course and that these students will have an opportunity to to access our Ridge portfolio of expertise, not only in geoscience and engineering, production, engineering, facilities, engineering. I'm trying to get drilling on board.

Speaker 2:

Hey, I know a lot of people you might know a person or two that can help us with this. Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 1:

I'm sorry you picked that up. I didn't know this was on. I know it's a hot mic.

Speaker 2:

He's going to do it. But also we know in the oil and gas industry that there are other careers or professionals that are needed to make this work happen, and that is, for instance, our legal team, our human resources, communications, public relations. You know, there are all these groups 100%.

Speaker 2:

So these we've got volunteers from various departments. They'll come in to a group with a group of kids into a multiplayer game room. We're doing micro scans that are supported by a company named SideGlass where they will scan data like core samples I say a pump jack, you know just all equipment, whatever that is some sort of physical asset, and bring it into the multiplayer room for students to experience and really talk about. You know what? This is the purpose of it, how to read the data. Yeah, we also for communications. We look to have Aaron and you know, into this virtual reality setting that looks like a broadcasting room with Diamondback, and these kids have the opportunity to feel it and experience this knowledge in a way that we could just bring to them and just have a textbook, like you said.

Speaker 1:

What you're doing, what y'all are doing, what you're doing is accelerated learning. I think that is so. I remember, I think before we started. Maybe I'm recording, but I remember reading books when I started off in Noble Drilling, like 2006, 2007, 2005. It was like these old school 70s books this is a Kelly rig, this is a Derek, this is a monkey board and I was like I have no idea what this stuff is. Once I got to the rig, five years later, it started clicking. That was five years Stepping into this. It just propels learning a lot faster, but not only that. I can only imagine that kind of might spark some passion or dawn some interest in one of these students, literally like, oh my gosh, this is a pump jack, that's what it does, that's so cool. I've only seen to do this, I don't know did this, and that might spurn some sort of uh inspiration in them. So I think that's, I think that's cool as hell.

Speaker 1:

Thank you, thank you so much it's got. It's got riz for the kids.

Speaker 2:

Yeah Well, we'll have to. We'll have to develop your own avatar and have you go in sometime.

Speaker 1:

A hundred percent. I'm, I got the medical. I'm in, I got. I can do that from here. My daughter and I play VR all the time. So, all right, wrapping this up, we're coming up in 45 minutes. I want to hear I want to hear Ashley's advice to either your younger self or to other people out there, looking to whether it's pivot careers or whether it's to provide impact and listen. Listening to this. If I was listening to this, I'm trying to do small things here and I'm thinking this is like what y'all are doing. It's like for me, it's kind of like it's motivating, but it's also like I'm not even making a dent in comparing what y'all are doing. What advice do you have out there for people that either want to pivot in their career or want to have an impact to people out there?

Speaker 2:

So I think the biggest thing is your plans in life may not be the best plans for your life, so you need to be, you need. I guess the biggest thing I've had to learn is adaptability, okay, and being ready and willing to pivot.

Speaker 1:

Okay, now what about Really?

Speaker 2:

I mean, I truly believe that's what you need in order to be successful.

Speaker 1:

And what about impact in the community? What advice or guidance would you have for people that want to have more of an impact on other people's lives in the way that y'all do? That you do?

Speaker 2:

I think yeah, y'all do than you do.

Speaker 1:

I think, yeah, it's, yeah it, it really is just being willing to um be comfortable and being uncomfortable and just asking for help yourself out there and saying what do you think about this idea?

Speaker 2:

you know what?

Speaker 1:

else. I've learned too, they're asking for help. Not a lot of people ask for help anymore. It's like we want to do this at this community. Can you help us out? I think the simple asking is lost.

Speaker 2:

Ask for help and develop partnerships, which a second thing I really think is important is that, once you've established your vision, you find a mentor or you find multiple mentors.

Speaker 1:

That's big.

Speaker 2:

None of this work is done alone. It is not done by one person, but it is done by multiple people, which are needed to bring this vision into fruition, and so I am so grateful for our leadership, for their willingness to dream big. I have mentors there. I have mentors that have adopted me in philanthropy. But don't ever hesitate. If you've got a vision, if you've got a dream, if you've got a career path that you're passionate about, that you're wanting to pursue, find mentors, ask them to be your mentor, and then do not feel bad reaching out to them and asking them questions.

Speaker 1:

Thank you, you're not bugging anybody. People, first off, like mentoring, second off, people like talking about themselves and their experiences, like they do. At the end of the day, ashley, you're so right. No, so You're so right. I mean, there was an example. It's like somebody sent the invite out. So we have these intern, uh, emp mixers, and someone sent it out to like 15 of their interns and and he was like I didn't hear any response back and he, when he approached him, he's like hey, I sent you an invite. Like they're like oh well, we didn't want to disturb you. He's like disturb me, you should be disturbing me. It's like ask me questions. How did I get here? What advice do you have? Like that's what we're here for. So ask questions. So, ashley, how can people help out? And how can people, I guess, find you? If you want to be found, linkedin is a good place. But how can people help? I guess, either support or kind of do what you're emulating.

Speaker 2:

Ask questions.

Speaker 1:

So if someone reached out to you, hey, I see what you're doing there. I want to do the same Ask questions. You doing how?

Speaker 2:

are you doing that? I mean that only approves our plans and helps us to grow, and we only grow, you know, through and with one another. And so LinkedIn is great to reach out my email and then you know if you, if you want to participate, engage, comment on LinkedIn. We always appreciate that, we always appreciate those likes. That's huge for us to know we're doing something.

Speaker 1:

Spread the word. Yes, spread the word.

Speaker 2:

And then let's just ask questions on how this might be a blueprint for what you're trying to do in your community. I love it. This might be a blueprint for what you're trying to do in your community.

Speaker 1:

I love it. I feel like in this 49 minutes I've been talking to Ashley. She probably could have helped about 800 students in the local community. So I want to thank you for your time. Seriously, I think, just from an observer, kind of outside, looking in, being part of this industry, I see what y'all are doing. I see the impact. It's really really cool to watch.

Speaker 1:

It's inspirational because a lot of times industries, corporations, not just energy space, only gas space, but a lot of times different spaces there's a lot of like oh, lip service, oh, we should be doing more, we got to be doing it. But the fact that y'all are actually doing something, not even something, the fact you're doing a lot of things and continue to do a lot of things is so impressive, it's so inspirational. So hats off to you for doing what you do, hats off to the team and thank you to Ashley's mentors for giving her the ability to say y'all, to say yes to the ideas. But anyway, ashley, I'll see you next time in Midlands. Thank you so much for your time and I'm going to let you get back to driving the change that is needed in the community. So anything else for us Is that it.

Speaker 2:

No, this has been an honor. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share.

Speaker 1:

Well, thank you. So thank you everyone out there for tuning in to Energy Crew Again. Ashley Colco with Diamondback Energy, thank you for all that you do and we'll see you soon on Energy Crew. Put your energy in the right direction. Help others out, build, connect and grow and learn from each other through constructive conversations. All right, y'all, we dig it and we'll see y'all soon, thank you.