Colorado Petroleum Council Holds "Women Rocking the Rockies" Event in Denver to Encourage Young Women to Pursue Natural Gas and Oil Careers

DENVER, May 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Colorado Petroleum Council, the regional division of the American Petroleum Institute, hosted over 300 Colorado high school juniors and seniors and college-aged women to help them discover the career opportunities that exist for women in the oil and natural gas industry. "Women Rocking the Rockies" is an event of the Colorado Petroleum Council's "Women in Power" initiative and included a series of informative seminars designed to draw more women to one of Colorado's most dynamic and vital industries.

"The theme of this conference is about empowerment, which means a 'process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life," said keynote speaker API Economic Policy Advisor Rebecca Winkel.

"Women Rocking the Rockies is designed to show Colorado's young women that this field presents limitless opportunity for them," said Tracee Bentley, executive director of the Colorado Petroleum Council. "Women and minorities have pathways to success in the natural gas and oil industry and we want to give them the tools they need to thrive in this growing field."

The American Petroleum Institute commissioned a study, "Attitudes and Perceptions of Women about Seeking Employment in the Oil & Natural Gas Industry." The study's authors, Democratic strategist Celinda Lake and Republican strategist Linda DiVall, found that women seeking employment have bypassed the industry because of a systemic lack of knowledge about the opportunities available. The Women in Power initiative, spearheaded by Bentley, was created to change that paradigm.

"Women Rocking the Rockies aims to introduce the attendees to new opportunities," said Bentley. "I believe that today some of these young women realized that their unique interests and skills are compatible with a career in natural gas and oil."

Partnering organizations that helped make this event possible include: Alliance of Choice in Education, Alpha Kappa Alpha, American Association of Blacks in Energy, Camp Experience, College Summit, College Trek, Colorado Association of Career and Technical Administrators,  Colorado Association of Career and Technical Education, Colorado Black Roundtable, Colorado Black Women for Political Action, Colorado League of Charter Schools, Colorado School Counselor Association, Colorado Succeeds, Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Workforce Development Council, Delta Sigma Theta, Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Escuela Tlateloco, Kappa Alpha Psi, McKenna Long Aldridge Women's Initiative, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of Colorado, Rocky Mountain Energy Forum, Rocky Mountain Pipe Trades District 5, StemsCo, TRIO Educational Opportunity Center, and Urban League of Denver.

The Colorado Petroleum Council is a division of API, which represents all segments of America's oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation's energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.

SOURCE Colorado Petroleum Council