Education/training
College training fuels energy exec's riseAs the executive director of a $400 million oil and natural gas trust, and an overall impressive 27-year industry track record that includes founding what's now a $2.5 billion oil and gas exploration company, Calgary, Alta.-based Jeff Boyce is among the most powerful movers and shakers in his industry. |
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 [ 2007-06-13 ] |
Jeff Boyce is among the most powerful movers and shakers in his industry.
As a graduate of Durham College's business program in marketing, he's also a shining example of the power of a college education.
In 1978, an interest in business drew the 19-year-old Oshawa native to the two-year business marketing program at nearby Durham College. Throughout the program, he gained a general overview of how marketing is integrated with all aspects of business planning and implementation.
Study in strategic planning and management, product development, market research, advertising and sales, international marketing, retailing and direct marketing provided a sufficient general understanding of business and marketing processes.
"I thought the curriculum was quite good. It had a well-rounded portfolio that included financial accounting, marketing, computers and economics," says Boyce, now 48.
The thorough course content was made relevant by professional, industry-experienced teachers, Boyce says, including one who left an indelible impression.
"One teacher who really struck me was my marketing teacher -- he was a real passionate type of individual who came from business, was very practical and believed in learning by doing, which is the way I do things," he says.
Upon graduating in 1980, Boyce, then also an accomplished athlete and highly sought after fastball pitcher, was hired by Dome Petroleum, a former petroleum producer in Calgary, to play for its corporate fastball team. He discovered Alberta's booming energy industry and began thinking about a possible career within it.
In 1981, he completed a Dome training program to become a petroleum landman, which involves securing oil and gas leases before drilling begins, and in 1992, he achieved professional landman accreditation.
For 14 years, he worked in exploration scouting and land and business development for four different energy companies before partnering with two colleagues to form Vermilion Resources Ltd. in 1994.
Over nine years, Boyce, as president, CEO and director, evolved Vermilion into a $1 billion TSX-listed oil and gas exploration company with operations in Canada, France and Trinidad. Known today as Vermilion Energy Trust, the company is now worth $2.5 billion.
Having discovered a knack for starting and successfully growing new energy businesses, Boyce left Vermilion in 2003 to start Clear Energy Inc. Last year, he merged the company with a new entity, Sound Energy Trust, now worth $400 million, and today runs an offshoot of the company called Sure Energy Inc., a high-growth junior exploration company worth $30 million.
"I like creating new things, developing young talent -- and making our shareholders, as well as our employees, money," he says.
Recently, Boyce received an Ontario Premier's Award, which celebrates the outstanding achievement of this province's college graduates.
"My college education was a good starting point," Boyce says. "It provided a base of academic and business skills, helped me build my confidence and energized me to move forward in business."
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