American Oil and Gas Reporter - September 2016 - 115

edges. "I am patient by nature and fairly
even-keel. My motto is never to get too
high nor too low. I think that has positioned
me well to deal with a lot of difficult situations and personalities in the past."
Cole, meanwhile, says she has been
drawn to association work because she
enjoys helping members feel heard and
valued. "I enjoy talking with members
and want them to feel they can call me
for anything," she relates. "Even if I don't
have the answer, I will do whatever I can
to help them."
In fact, she adds, among the many
things she has thus far learned about
Kentucky's oil and gas industry is the
quality of its people. "I learned very
quickly that so many people in the industry are-to put it simply-good people,"
she reflects. "Their main goal is to build
this industry, get it through this tough
time, and help their fellow members.
When you have that many people working for one goal, it makes you feel
really good about the industry you have
chosen."
Since joining KOGA, Sawyers says
he has learned more about the oil and
gas industry's ordeal with lackluster commodity prices, but has found his impressions about the industry's public policy
challenges largely confirmed. "I lacked
a full appreciation of how difficult the
market environment is for a lot of Kentucky producers," he relates. "I did understand it was a challenging regulatory
environment, and that is where I thought
I could help make some inroads with
contacts and messaging.
"Attending KOGA's annual meeting
confirmed to me that what our members
do creates a vibrant economy and leads
to better lives for everybody," he adds.
"Being in that mix is an exciting opportunity."

Outgoing KOGA President
Rudy Vogt (left) accepts a
token of the association's
appreciation from incoming KOGA President Maurice Royster.

Annual Meeting
According to Royster, KOGA's 2016
convention, held July 19-21 at the Northern
Kentucky Convention Center in Covington,
was a success. Among the oft-cited topics
during both the proceedings and between
sessions was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's emissions initiatives that
include final New Source Performance
Standards for methane, volatile organic
compounds and toxic pollutant emissions,
and the agency's corresponding information request signaling plans to impose
similar standards on existing facilities.
KOGA's agenda also included a session
on courtroom developments and an update
on efforts by the National Energy Education Development project in Kentucky.
A market outlook offered another
prime topic, Royster continues, pointing
to a presentation by analyst Brian
Habacivch with Fellon-McCord.
The annual meeting luncheon included
keynote remarks by W. Terry McBrayer,
longtime lobbyist, former legislator and

Virginia "Gigi" Lazenby (left) accepts KOGA's Alley Award, which
recognizes individual service to
KOGA and Kentucky's oil and gas
industry, from outgoing President
Rudy Vogt. KOGA's 2016 convention, July 19-21 at the Northern
Kentucky Convention Center in
Covington, included a fundraising
auction that followed the dinner
on the convention's ﬁnal day.

head of the Kentucky Democratic Party,
and an attorney at McBrayer, McGinnis,
Leslie & Kirkland.
"He is very colorful and has a political
career that extends more than six decades.
He has worked for more governors than
I can count," Royster characterizes. "He
gave a speech on civility and how we
have come to a point where people on
different sides allow their personal or organizational/political agendas to prevent
them from discussing issues without going
ballistic. It was a well-received talk."
The luncheon also was the occasion
at which KOGA bestowed its Robert
Alley Award for individual service to
KOGA and Kentucky's oil and gas industry on Virginia "Gigi" Lazenby, chief
executive officer of Bretagne LLC. As
he presented the award, Vogt recounted
numerous highlights of Lazenby's oil and
gas career as well as her success raising
horses for thoroughbred racing and steeplechases.
He also mentioned Lazenby's extensive
industry advocacy, which includes serving
as a director for the American Petroleum
Institute, member of the National Petroleum Council, and her status as a former
president of the National Stripper Well
Association and former chairwoman of
the Independent Petroleum Association
of America.
"She is exceptional," Royster affirms.
"We are fortunate to have Gigi on our
Board of Directors, and are excited she
won the award."
The luncheon also saw Vogt pass
KOGA's gavel to Royster and the election
of the board and officers. Vogt assumes
the role of immediate past president, Slone
continues as treasurer, and Mark Hughes
with Hughes Land LLC, is presidentelect. KOGA's "class of 2019" directors
SEE KENTUCKY PAGE 122
SEPTEMBER 2016 115

American Oil and Gas Reporter - September 2016

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