Events

Fogelsville, PA — Dec. 12, 2019

Fogelsville, PA – Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute and the Pennsylvania College of Technology hosted a Think About Energy Briefing on Thursday, December 12 at Madeline’s in Fogelsville, Pa.

The briefing featured Representative Pete Schweyer and continued the multi-year series efforts conducted across Pennsylvania since 2013. This was the fourth stop in the Lehigh Valley with the last stop hosted by the Lehigh Career & Technical Institute January 18, 2017.

The briefing provided information to attendees on the supply and availability of natural gas; workforce and education partnerships; legislative updates; impact of natural gas in the Lehigh Valley and much more.

Bill desRosiers, External Affairs Manager at Cabot Oil & Gas, highlighted Pennsylvania’s strong natural gas production, the industry’s sustained focus on education and the impact of lower cost of energy to the Lehigh Valley.

“Pennsylvania is the number two producer of natural gas in the United States. This abundance of natural gas provides benefits outside of production areas through lower cost of energy,” desRosiers said. “”While the last decade was focused on the prolific production of natural gas, the next decade will be focused on the utilization of natural gas in areas such as the Lehigh Valley.”

desRosiers went on to discuss the importance of training the workforce for the next generation. “We saw the need within our industry and are heavily invested in education. Currently we support over 20 career and technical institutions such as the Lehigh Career & Technical Institute,” said desRosiers.

Grace Loeffler, Director of Academic and Special Programs at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute discussed how partnerships such as those with Cabot help provide opportunities for numerous students, from all walks of life.

“The financial scholarships of community partners such as Cabot are instrumental to our success. These partners help to prepare the workforce for tomorrow,” said Loeffler. “These scholarships will help ensure that all students, but especially those from low-income households, have the uniforms and materials they need to succeed in LCTI’s career and technical education programs,” Loeffler said. “Cabot’s gift is an investment in our students’ futures and the Lehigh Valley’s continued economic strength.”

Dr. Brad Webb, Assistant Dean from the School of Industrial Computing & Engineering Technologies from the Pennsylvania College of Technology highlighted how the college continues to evolve to help prepare their students for career opportunities.

“Our partnership with Shell Chemical enables us to prepare students for careers as a direct result of the natural gas industry. The Shell Polymers Rotational Molding Center of Excellence is one of the finest technology centers of its kind in North America featuring new equipment,” said Webb. Dr. Webb went on to discuss how partnerships with career & technical centers across the state help maximize opportunities for students.

Representative Pete Schweyer closed the briefing by discussing how he has taken the time to learn about the industry and get beyond preconceived notions related to the natural gas industry. “We need to get out of our comfort zone and look on how you are going to improve our communities,” said Schweyer. “One of the first things I did as a newly elected official was visit a well site.”

Highlighting how the Lehigh Valley has benefitted from having access to a lower cost energy source Representative Schweyer said, “Air Products announced they are keeping their corporate headquarters here in the Lehigh County in large part because the energy prices are so much less than any of our surrounding states. That is a good thing. That is a win for our state and our community.”

Press Release

Speakers

  • Bill desRosiers
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    Bill desRosiers

    William desRosiers currently serves as External Affairs Manager for Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation in northeast Pennsylvania, building community knowledge and support. William also manages Cabot’s unique education and workforce development strategy in the region. Prior to his current position, William was the original field director for Energy in Depth’s Northeast Marcellus campaign. In this capacity for two years, William worked to engage, educate and mobilize supporters of Marcellus Shale development across New York and Pennsylvania. William desRosiers received his B.S. in Management, B.A.in History and MBA from Misericordia University.

  • Grace Loeffler
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    Grace Loeffler

    Grace Loeffler is the Director of Academic and Special Programs at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute.

  • Dr. Brad Webb
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    Dr. Brad Webb

    Bradley M. Webb is an assistant dean at Pennsylvania College of Technology. Formerly the director of student affairs administration, Webb recently assumed duties as an assistant dean for the School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies.

    Webb had served as director of student affairs administration since 2011. In that role, he facilitated leadership development programs for students and chaired the college’s behavioral intervention team. Webb began his employment at the college in 2009 as coordinator of matriculation and retention in the former School of Business & Computer Technologies.

    A recent graduate of Leadership Lycoming, Webb serves as an adjunct instructor at the college and is a facilitator for the institution’s SAFE Zone program. He also is a volunteer adviser to the Sigma Pi fraternity.

    Prior to coming to Penn College, Webb was coordinator of residence life and judicial affairs at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. He also served as resident director at Marymount and fulfilled graduate assistant and intern roles at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and Saint Francis University, Loretto.

    Webb is completing his doctorate in higher education administration at Penn State. He holds a master’s degree in student affairs in higher education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in history, secondary teaching certification, from Lycoming College.

  • Representative Pete Schweyer
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    Representative Pete Schweyer

    Representative Peter G. Schweyer is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives serving the people of the 22nd Legislative District in Lehigh County. He was first elected to this office in 2014 after being twice elected to City Council in his hometown.

    Born and raised in Allentown, Schweyer is a graduate of Allentown Central Catholic High School and the Pennsylvania State University, State College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Schreyer’s Honors College. He went on to study elementary education at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia at the post-graduate level.

    Prior to his election, Schweyer worked as director of community and government affairs for Sacred Heart Hospital in Center City Allentown, directing the hospital’s community health and community development initiatives.

    Immediately prior to his service with Sacred Heart Hospital, he served as chief of staff to former state Rep. Jennifer L. Mann for eight years. He had also served as legislative assistant for two other members of the PA General Assembly and had been a school teacher in the Philadelphia School District as a cohort member of the Teach Philadelphia program.

    Schweyer’s legislative priorities include protecting and expanding access to health insurance, appropriately funding PA’s public schools and supporting the creation of more family-sustaining jobs in the Lehigh Valley. He supports increasing Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to help lift people out of poverty, continued criminal justice reform, sustainable, alternative energy and a significant investment in support of our veterans.

    He also serves on several community organizations that strive to improve the quality of life in Allentown and surrounding communities. Most notably, Schweyer is a current board member and past chairperson of the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA).

    He and his wife, Jennifer, are the proud parents of Sarah and Erin, who both attend Allentown public schools. They are homeowners in South Allentown. In his spare time, Schweyer enjoys baseball games and cheering for the Penn State Nittany Lions, as well as reading, poorly playing his guitar, boating and watching far too much Netflix and HBO.

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