DISTINGUISHED INDUSTRY LEADER

NDPC

DISTINGUISHED INDUSTRY LEADERS

When the federal court system threatened the shutdown of the DAPL pipeline, Geoff and WDEA jumped into the fight. They joined us in a news conference to explain to the public the economic devastation that a DAPL shutdown would cause, and WDEA even contracted with a DC law firm to file an amicus brief with the federal court to share the concerns of western communities about the economic importance of the DAPL pipeline.

Geoff persuaded the board of WDEA to partner with the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation to develop an oil tax distribution report, which documents how oil tax revenue has delivered huge benefits to every county in North Dakota. The report, which is updated every two years by Numbers Guy Brent Bogar, is an important lobbying tool to demonstrate the benefits of oil production to eastern legislators, who we hope in turn will support the industry. The most recent report shows the state has collected $32 billion in oil tax revenue since the Bakken Boom began in 2008.

Delivering accurate information to the public about the oil and gas industry is essential, and no one does it better than Geoff with WDEA’s free weekly newsletter. For those who haven’t subscribed, you should because it’s chock full of the latest energy industry news – local, state and federal. It also has details about the actions of elected leaders and our legislature, and stories about happenings in the cities, counties and school districts in western North Dakota. Geoff also expanded WDEA’s presence in social media with the launch of Facebook and LinkedIn pages, each of which has more than 1,000 followers.

Finally, it’s important to point out that Geoff and his team have been dependable supporters of the fossil fuel industry before the legislature. That includes defending our coal producers to ensure the reliability of the power grid, because we all know the oil industry doesn’t run without electricity. Geoff and WDEA have been at the legislature to back us on workforce recruitment efforts, supporting education funding for our schools with rapidly growing enrollment, opposing tax increases on the industry, supporting repeal of the oil price trigger, advocating for expanded transportation and pipeline infrastructure, and encouraging support for ongoing funding of industry research and development.

Ed Ridl graduated from Dickinson High School in 1972 and enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in secure communications for 2 ½ years in Berlin, Germany, before being honorably discharged in 1975. In 1976, he married Berneta, and they raised 11 children. Today, they have 22 grandchildren and one on the way. Now retired, Ed enjoys time with family and pursuing his hobbies of fishing and singing in the church choir.

2023

DAVE SEARLE

Dave Searle’s career in the oil and gas industry began in 1989 when he started work for Marathon Oil Company. Over the next 25 years, he served in a number of positions with Marathon in engineering and management before becoming the Government Affairs Manager in 2005 and representing Marathon in Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana and Colorado.

When Marathon Oil entered the Bakken in 2006, Dave immediately got engaged. He played an instrumental role in the NDPC’s regulatory, education, and outreach efforts. Dave was one of the leaders in the development of the Oil Can! Program, which has since evolved into the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation. As a pioneer of the program, he was integral in planning the original CookFest and starting many other outreach programs that have become nationally recognized for their value and success. Dave also helped start NDPC’s Regulatory Committee, which now has 350 members and regularly more than 150 participants in calls and meetings. The Regulatory Committee has been instrumental in fighting burdensome regulations and bad policies on the state and federal levels.

Another of Dave’s great leadership successes was his role in initiating contacts and relationships with the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. During the 2007 Legislative Session, the NDPC began discussing the potential of Bakken oil development on the reservation; there had not been a well drilled on the reservation in 23 years. After months of meetings and discussions, and with the support of the Tribal Chairman and a few key tribal leaders, the 2007 Legislature passed the tribal tax agreement, which was then signed by Governor John Hoeven. Today, 3,200 Bakken wells have been drilled on the reservation and nearly a billion barrels of oil have been produced since 2009. His calm diplomacy, great listening skills, and big-picture vision were all critical during some very difficult discussions. These qualities were what set him apart as a leader in his regulatory work and successes in creating partnerships between industry, tribal and state leaders, and stakeholder groups. Dave continued to lend his time and talent to the NDPC in any way he could up to and beyond his retirement in 2015.

Dave was raised in Butte, Montana. Following high school graduation, he attended Western Montana College in Dillon, Montana, earning a BS in Secondary Education. Some years later he attended Montana Tech in Butte, Montana, earning both a BS in Environmental Engineering and an MS in Engineering Science. Dave’s first post-college job was teaching high school chemistry and physics in Stevensville, Montana. After leaving the education field, he worked as a chemist for the Anaconda Mining Company in Anaconda, Montana. In 1982, he moved to Sheridan, Wyoming to start his engineering career working as an Air Quality Engineer for the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. In 1989, he started work for Marathon Oil Company. Over the next 25 years, he served in a number of positions with Marathon in engineering and management in Cody, Wyoming; Findlay, Ohio; Midland, Texas; and Sheridan, Wyoming.  His last 10 years for Marathon Oil before retiring were spent as a Government Affairs Manager representing Marathon in Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado, and Montana. 

He and his wife, Barbara, married in 1982. They have one child, David Knoepke, who lives with his wife Beth and their seven kids in Marysville, Montana. Dave and Barb have settled into a stable life consisting of summers in Wyoming and winters in Arizona. Spending time with the grandchildren is a priority and gets them to Montana frequently. Dave has remained busy by serving on various volunteer boards and enjoying his passion for recreational shooting, golf, pickleball, fishing, and travel. He always looks forward to his annual visits to North Dakota to chase the walleye and shoot pheasants.