John Hoopingarner Named New Director of UT Austin's Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX)

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hoopingarner has been named the new director for the Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX), a component of Continuing and Innovative Education (CIE) at The University of Texas at Austin. In this position, Hoopingarner oversees all operations and activities of PETEX, the trainer of choice for oil and gas industry workers. Hoopingarner will also serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Council for CIE under Dean Judy Ashcroft. Hoopingarner began his appointment on December 13, 2010.

"I am thrilled to welcome John Hoopingarner to Continuing and Innovative Education," stated CIE's Senior Associate Dean Linda Glessner. "His vast experience with developing new business opportunities at the international level makes him an exciting addition to our leadership and to PETEX."

"I'm very excited by the opportunity to lead PETEX," said Hoopingarner. "Having worked in a variety of roles in the oil and gas industry, I am fully aware of PETEX's sterling reputation as a leader in oil and gas industry training. I hope to add my own experience in new business development and operations management to help PETEX scale even greater heights."

Before coming to PETEX, Hoopingarner worked for ten years as Executive Vice President at Emergent Technologies, Inc. (ETI), a company devoted to the development and commercialization of early stage university-based research. Among his many successes at ETI, Hoopingarner was responsible for raising over $12 million in non-dilutive financing by winning state and federal grants for six of the ETI portfolio companies. Additional business development experience was gained from his various domestic and foreign assignments in the oil and gas industry for Dresser Industries and Brown & Root. He also served in several managerial positions around the world for SEDCO Inc. and Sedco Forex-Schlumberger.

Hoopingarner previously served on the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce BioAustin Council and the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation CEO Committee and also served on the contracts committee for the IADC chapter in Aberdeen, Scotland during his tour there with Sedco Forex. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Southern Methodist University.

Photo: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2011-John-Hoopingarner.jpg

About PETEX:

In 1944, the Texas state legislature mandated that The University of Texas at Austin provide training to workers in the oil and gas industry, resulting in the establishment of the Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX), a component of Continuing and Innovative Education. For 67 years, PETEX has earned a strong, industry-wide reputation as the trainer of choice through its quality programs, strong client relationships and access to the educational resources at the university. PETEX trains workers with comprehensive on-site courses, up-to-date publications and Web-based tools all designed to ensure that industry workers are fully trained and highly skilled. For more information about PETEX, please visit http://www.utexas.edu/ce/petex/.  

About Continuing and Innovative Education:

Continuing and Innovative Education (CIE) has a 100-year history of extending the resources of the university to anyone with a desire to learn. CIE provides a wide range of credit and noncredit courses, services and programs that encompass K-16 academics, online college and professional development courses, professional certificate programs and personal enrichment opportunities. CIE is made up of the K-16 Education Center, Petroleum Extension Service, Professional Development Center, Thompson Conference Center, University of Texas-University Charter School and University Extension. For more information about Continuing and Innovative Education, please visit us online at http://www.utexas.edu/cie/stories.  

Contact: Wayne Wenske, Continuing and Innovative Education, 512-232-7392, [email protected]

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SOURCE Continuing and Innovative Education