We're Still Here Podcast

#028: The Best of 2019 with the SherWare, Inc. Team

Today you’ll get to hear from the entire SherWare, Inc. team on their thoughts as we wrap up the year. We chat about the big wins that we’ve had in 2019, including our two new hires, Eric and Aubin. You’ll hear about new updates coming to the SherWare software, how we reached record sales this year and what we’re grateful for. We also look ahead to 2020 and discuss what we have planned for the new year, including the release of Well Profits to the public and our plans for putting together a one-day training event in a city near you, and releasing an integration with QuickBooks Online.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

Big wins that SherWare, Inc. had in 2019
A teaser about a new update coming to the software
What everyone on the SherWare, Inc. team is grateful for this year

“I just want to salute the team for thinking positively. That’s one thing we always try to do at SherWare is to celebrate the wins and to think and remember things we’re grateful for because the human mind always goes to the negative for some reason.”
– Phil Sherwood

Highlights:

2:01 Some of the big wins of SherWare, Inc. in 2019
2:14 Eric’s experience with being apart of the SherWare, Inc. team
3:05 What Abin’s experience has been like since joining SherWare, Inc.
3:38 Anthony’s experience in going to the programming conference and applying that to SherWare, Inc.
4:19 Visiting conferences with Phil and getting to know current clients
5:26 Getting record sales this year and how the team worked together to make it happen
6:48 A new update coming to SherWare software
8:55 The one-day training events that SherWare, Inc. will be putting on in 2020
9:44 News about SherWare Inc. integrating with Quickbooks Online
10:01 Hitting the road in 2020 and what tradeshows they plan to attend
11:15 Rolling out Well Profits to the public in 2020
13:17 What the SherWare, Inc. team is grateful for in 2019

Links Mentioned

SherWare Inc. Wish List

About SherWare, Inc.

If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.

SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform — and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.

Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.

#027: The SherWare, Inc. Experience with Customers, Robert Hutcheson, Cheryl Becker and John Miller

Today on the podcast, Phil interviews three professionals in the oil and gas industry to discuss their experiences of using SherWare, Inc. He chats with each guest one-on-one to hear how they found SherWare, Inc., what they like most about the software, their advice for someone considering making a switch and more. You’ll get to hear from seasoned professionals with many decades of experience in the oil and gas industry about how this software could help to improve your reporting, data, efficiency and save you many hours each month.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

Three interviews with people from the oil and gas industry on their experience using SherWare, Inc.
Why these SherWare, Inc. customers rave about the software
Differences that SherWare, Inc. customers have seen from this software vs. competitors’ software

Highlights:

2:57 John’s experience of selling Alliance Petroleum Corporation and not being ready to leave the oil and gas industry
3:30 Looking for a software for his new company and stumbling upon SherWare, Inc.
4:32 How much time the software has saved John and what he uses it for
7:37 John’s advice for someone in oil and gas looking for software to use for their business
8:39 Cheryl’s position within Buckeye Oil Producing Company
8:52 Why she was searching for a new platform for her distributions
9:53 The biggest differences that they’ve had since using SherWare, Inc.
11:24 Why Cheryl loves the ease of use with the software
11:59 What Robert does as the founder of BoCor Holdings, LLC
13:01 Why Robert decided to use SherWare, Inc. over its competitors
14:17 Robert’s experience with using SherWare, Inc.
15:14 How SherWare, Inc. has evolved its software to fit client’s wants and needs
16:10 The simplicity of the auditing data and reports
17:34 His advice for someone choosing an oil and gas software

About Robert:

Robert Hutcheson received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the John Carroll University in 1990. Upon completion of his undergraduate studies, Robert spent two years with Canton Oil Well Service, Inc. from 1990 to 1992. In 1992, Robert furthered his business studies at the Ohio State University and graduated with his Master’s in Business Administration in 1994. From 1994 through 2000, Robert worked for Accenture (aka Andersen Consulting). Robert returned to Canton Oil Well in 2000 in a consulting capacity. In 2001, Robert became one of the original Members of the newly incorporated entity, BoCor Holdings, L.L.C. Robert’s primary role within BoCor is to manage all administrative aspects of the business, including accounting, finance, legal, and marketing.

Connect with Robert:

Website

About Cheryl:

Cheryl Becker is the office manager for Buckeye Oil Producing Company and has worked for the company for 32 years.

Connect with Cheryl:

Website

About John:

John Miller has over 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He is the former president and CEO of Alliance Petroleum Corporation. After selling that company, he wasn’t ready to get out of the business and with two partners, formed AIM Energy, LLC.

About SherWare, Inc.

If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.

#026: How the Pipeliner’s Club of Oklahoma City Is Connecting the Industry with Clay Scott

In Oklahoma there’s a club connecting people from upstream, midstream and downstream communities. On this episode, Eric Werdin, director of Sales at SherWare, Inc. interviews Clay Scott, founder and the current president of the Pipeliner’s Club of Oklahoma City (PCOC) about how they’ve built an organization that connects all facets of the oil and gas community.

The PCOC was created to help bridge the gap between upstream, midstream and downstream energy communities for the mutual benefit of members and the oil and gas industry. Clay shares what the PCOC is and what services they provide for members. He also dives into their scholarship program and how it has grown over the years.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

How the Pipeliner’s Club of Oklahoma City provides members with networking, education and community
Scholarship initiatives and growth of the PCOC
Events that help to fund their programs and offerings

“Our club is kind of like a pipeline as you could imagine. Our purpose is to connect upstream, midstream and downstream energy communities for the mutual benefit of our members and the industry. ”
– Clay Scott

Highlights:

2:40 What the Pipeliner’s Club of Oklahoma City is
4:58 The services that the PCOC provide
6:10 Their scholarship program that they offer and the history of it
7:30 Events that are coming up for the PCOC
9:21 How to join the PCOC

About Clay Scott:

Clay Scott has spent his entire 33-year professional career in the energy industry with experience in the electrical utility, midstream and E&P sectors. He currently serves as Enable Midstream Partners’ Senior Director of Engineering and Construction Support, where he has worked the past four years. At Enable, Clay has responsibility for Design Engineering, Drafting and Design, GIS and Project Controls.

A registered professional engineer in the state of Oklahoma, Clay was a founding member of the Pipeliners Club of Oklahoma City where he currently serves as president. Clay earned his master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma City University and his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University.

Connect with Clay:

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | [email protected]

About SherWare, Inc.

If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.

#025: Financial Strategies for Oil & Gas Operators with Milan Simic

How do you best set up your oil and gas business for financial success? What about if you want to avoid a personal guarantee loan or are unsure of how to navigate the challenges that come with financing drilling and producing wells?

This week’s podcast guest is Milan Simic, a Strategic Solutions Advisor for a CPA firm who has many years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He shares how he first got into the oil and gas industry and the different positions he’s held over the course of his career. Milan and Phil chat about networking, the financial challenges of small oil and gas operators and strategies for those who want to avoid a personal guarantee loan.

If you want to hear the in’s and out’s of cash management and finances in the oil and gas industry, you’ll want to take a listen to this episode.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

How Milan ended up working in oil and gas
His experiences of working for several oil and gas companies
Why you need to network in any industry – but especially oil and gas
Financial challenges and strategies for oil and gas operators

“Every operator has a different risk profile.”
– Milan Simic

Highlights:

2:48 How Milan initially got started in the oil and gas industry
5:05 Playing basketball while in college and deciding to take a different career path
6:27 Milan’s memories of working for Halliburton and traveling for the job
8:14 Transitioning to working as the President for an Enron family office
10:39 Mentors that made an impact on Milan’s careers
11:48 Why networking is crucial in any industry
13:28 What he does in his position at Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chtd.
17:03 The financial challenges of small oil and gas operators
18:41 How they help those going through a growth process
21:14 Cash management strategies for operators
25:55 Strategies for avoiding a personal guarantee lender
28:03 Milan’s advice for oil and gas operators

About Milan Simic:

In 2001, Simic graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting. He spent five years as an internal auditor at a large oilfield service company and two and a half years as a business risk services consultant with a Big Four accounting firm. Before joining the firm, Milan served as the president of a family office operation. In this role, he was responsible for growing the business, including overseeing seventeen different oil and gas project acquisitions which ranked the family office in the top 300 operators in Texas. Simic lives in Hoisington with his wife Sarah and their three daughters, Sofia, Mila, and Ana.

Connect with Milan:

LinkedIn | Call or text: 281-799-4315

About SherWare, Inc.

If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.

#024: The Importance of Oil & Gas Education with Mindy Stitt

It comes as no surprise that many people aren’t aware of what the oil and gas industry actually does for our communities. Today Eric Warden of SherWare sits down with Mindy Stitt, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB). They discuss the education initiatives of the OERB and what they do to educate people of all ages about the oil and gas industry. She shares how she got started with OERB, what efforts they use to generate public attention and what they do with the Oklahoma Oil & Gas Expo.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

What SOER is and what they do for the oil and gas industry
What the OERB does to educate people about oil and gas
How the OERB gains awareness from the public about their mission
What you can expect at the Oklahoma Oil & Gas Expo

“There are some school districts that get no public funding and the funding is coming from the oil and gas industry.”
– Mindy Stitt

Highlights:

2:21 What SOER is and what the organization does
3:43 What she does now with OERB and what they offer
5:29 The typical person that comes to their workshops
6:28 How the OERB got started
9:53 The education programs that OERB offers
12:28 What public awareness efforts OERB uses to reach the general public
15:48 The impact of oil and gas across the nation
16:03 What the Oklahoma Oil & Gas Expo does

About Mindy Stitt:

Mindy Stitt is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB). Prior to that position, she was Assistant Director, overseeing OERB’s statewide student education programs. Mindy became one of the first employees of the OERB when she joined the organization in 1994. She was previously employed by Brown and Borelli, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas company.

Mindy attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University, majoring in elementary education.

Her efforts in the area of energy education awarded her the Governor’s Commendation for Public Service in 1998. In 2006, Mindy was honored by The Journal Record as one of the top 50 women making a difference in the State of Oklahoma.

She is a member of the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum Board of Directors and is active in the OKC Area Salvation Army.

Connect with Mindy:

OERB | SOER | Oklahoma Oil & Gas Expo

About SherWare, Inc.

If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.

#023: Retiring From Oil & Gas After 40+ Years with Chuck Prickett

Software geek alert! Today’s interview is with Chuck Prickett, an employee with Associated Systems with over 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. Phil and Chuck chat about his career at Associated Systems and the work he’s done with GOALS, an accounting software developed by him and a few other software developers for Associated Systems. They discuss how GOALS has evolved over the years, how clients have helped improve the software and his memories of building relationships with his customers throughout his career.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

Chuck’s experience of working for Associated Systems
Developing the software for GOALS
His favorite memories of customers and the relationships he’s built with them
Why Chuck is retiring from his work after 40+ years

“That was the only thing that really kept me awake some nights was laying in bed knowing that I was the only support that they had for their systems.”
– Chuck Prickett

Highlights:

2:30 How Chuck got started working at Associated Systems
6:02 How the GOALS software has evolved over time
9:28 Doing onsite installations
10:18 Transitioning clients from IBM Systems to PC
11:44 Working on the GOALS side by himself since the ’90s
13:52 How customer updates help them to make changes to the software
17:23 Building relationships with customers over the last 20-30 years
20:21 What Chuck wants to do post-retirement
21:20 The bad side of getting to know your customers

About Chuck Prickett:

Chuck Prickett has worked at Associated Systems since 1978. He was one of the original software developers of the oil and gas accounting system named “GOALS”, and has continued to support GOALS clients since the beginning. He will be retiring at the end of 2019 and is slowly phasing out of his client support work.

Associated Systems, Inc., located in Wichita, Kansas, was founded in 1974 as a software consulting and development enterprise and has a long history of successes. One of those being the longevity of its customer base and its employees. Over the years, ASI has installed over 450 systems nationwide in its vertical markets.

ASI began with its first Oil & Gas customer in 1974, and they remain a customer to this day. The original system was designed and developed for the IBM System 32, and as Systems 34, 36 and AS/400 were introduced, ASI’s software products evolved to take advantage of the increased features and abilities of those systems. With the advent of the PC, the software was re-written and was made accessible and affordable for operations of all sizes. It was named “GOALS” for Gas, Oil And Land Systems and it revolutionized the way the smaller producer managed his business.

Connect with Chuck:

LinkedIn | Associated Systems

About SherWare, Inc.

If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.

#022: New App Disproves Global Warming, Empowers Industry with Gregory Wrightstone

Have you ever had a conversation with someone about the earth and their opinion on global warming? Chances are, you probably have. On this episode, Phil sat down with Gregory Wrightstone, author and creator of Inconvenient Facts, an app and book that helps to disprove a lot of the myths that we hear about our planet and global warming. He shares what we’re not being told and how numbers are manipulated with global warming statistics. He opens up about his hopes for how his book and app will empower those working in the oil and gas industry.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

What Gregory’s goal was for his app, Inconvenient Facts
How getting banned from the app store helped with book sales
How the app will help users, specifically those in oil and gas
How data gets cherry-picked and blown up to look alarming

“I want to empower people with these inconvenient facts that dispute the notion of man made catastrophic warming.”
Gregory Wrightstone

Highlights:

1:17 The release of his app, Inconvenient Facts

2:46 How the app getting banned fueled book sales

5:50 Building his business without paid advertising

6:34 What Gregory hopes his app will do for users

6:47 The effect that CO₂has on warming

9:16 What we’re not being told about the earth

12:43 Not being told the whole story about what’s going on

13:18 The correlation between temperature and civilization

14:38 How numbers are manipulated with global warming statistics

16:56 How those in oil and gas can help disprove myths

About Gregory Wrightstone:

Gregory Wrightstone is a geologist who has been investigating the Earth’s processes for more than 35 years. He received a BS and MS in geology from Waynesburg University & WVU, respectively. Gregory’s debut book Inconvenient Facts – the science that Al Gore doesn’t want you to know has received glowing reviews and has shot up the sales charts, reaching as high as #13 on Amazon best-seller list and #1 in the Environmental Field.

Greg was driven to write this book after a search for climate truth revealed that many of the supposed climate-related predicted catastrophic events were not occurring and that the most likely primary cause of our current climate change is those same forces that have been operating for many millions of years.

His science-based view of ecosystems and humanity prospering due in part to rising temperatures and increasing CO2 has led to multiple radio and TV appearances including Tucker Carlson and Fox & Friends. Gregory is a strong proponent of the scientific process and believes that climate policies should be driven by science and facts, not by a political agenda.

Connect with Gregory:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

About SherWare, Inc.

If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.

#021: Oil & Gas in Kansas with Ed Cross

How do conventional wells look in Kansas right now, what issues are they lobbying for across the state and what’s on the horizon? Today Phil is chatting with Ed Cross, President of the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association (KIOGA) about how he got into the oil and gas industry and how he ended up working for KIOGA. You’ll hear about the state and federal issues that they’re fighting for and what has been going on in Kansas in the oil and gas industry. Ed shares what he’s most excited about and the importance of educating others on the importance of oil and gas.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

How Ed got into the oil and gas industry
An overview of what Ed does at KIOGA
The statewide and federal issues that they’re lobbying for
What Ed is most excited about for the future of oil and gas

Highlights:

2:48 How Ed got into the oil and gas industry
3:21 What Ed does as the President of the association
3:59 What is happening in KIOGA and the oil and gas industry currently
4:58 What they’re fighting for at the state level
5:40 The issues they deal with on the federal level
7:20 The outlook of conventional wells moving forward in Kansas
9:13 Production in Kansas dropping due to financial issues in 2014
10:05 Adjusting technology to be used in Kansas
10:30 What KIOGA will be advocating for in the upcoming months
12:30 What Ed is most excited about for the future of the oil and gas industry

About KIOGA:

Founded in 1937, the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association (KIOGA) is a nonprofit member organization representing independent oil and natural gas producers in Kansas, as well as allied service and supply companies. The purpose of KIOGA as stated in the original articles of incorporation, is “. . . to improve the market for oil and gas produced in Kansas and to promote the welfare of the oil and gas industry in the State of Kansas.”

Independent oil and natural gas producers are nonintegrated companies which receive nearly all their revenue from production at the wellhead. Independents are in the oil and natural gas exploration and production business and are not major integrated companies who also refine and market petroleum end-products. Independents account for 93% of the oil and 63% of the natural gas produced in Kansas. Nationally, independents drill 90% of domestic oil and natural gas wells and produce over 80% of America’s oil and natural gas.

With over 4,200 members, KIOGA is the lead state and national advocate for Kansas independent oil and natural gas producers. We are committed to ensuring that tomorrow’s energy policy will be one in which our members grow and prosper. Our active presence before the Kansas Legislature, U.S. Congress, state and federal regulatory agencies, and other governmental decision-makers means the concerns of Kansas independent oil and natural gas producers are heard in Topeka and Washington.

Links:

KIOGA

Head over to our website to set up a free account with SherWare software. Please make sure to subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts.

#020: The Inside Scoop at SherWare after 25 Years

It’s hard to believe that it has been 25 years since SherWare first started. On today’s episode of the podcast, you’ll hear from the employees of SherWare on what it is that they do with the company, how it’s evolved over the years and the most memorable experiences they have about working for SherWare. They share the biggest changes they’ve noticed and how they transitioned from working in an office to working from home. Phil chats with each team member to get their take on the business and how they feel about working for the company.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

Interviews with the developer and support team for SherWare
How technological advances have changed how SherWare supports clients
Transitioning from having a central office to a fully remote team
An interview with Phil’s kids, Mallory and John about their experience with SherWare
How SherWare’s newest employee, Eric feels about the company

Highlights:

2:05 What Anthony and Austin do at SherWare
3:36 The biggest changes that employees have seen at the company
5:52 How technological advances have helped with customer support
6:57 The most memorable experiences they have with SherWare
9:11 Building relationships with clients
14:01 Being able to provide updates to their software online
15:32 Their move from a central office to a remote office
18:10 Hiring for a remote team
19:38 Brining on their first salesperson after 25 years in the business
23:24 What Mallory and John do at SherWare
26:07 Their perspective on SherWare while growing up
28:20 How Mallory started working at SherWare
28:58 What made John decide to work for SherWare
32:47 How they’ve felt about working for SherWare
36:10 What John does after moving on from SherWare
37:21 What Mallory does outside of working with her dad’s company
41:52 What Eric does in the sales department of the business
43:42 The thing that surprised Eric the most about SherWare
45:34 What Eric noticed about their sales process

Links:

Sherwood Woodcraft
Sherwood Woodcraft Instagram
Marketing Magic Podcast

Head over to our website to set up a free account with SherWare software. Please make sure to subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts.

#019: How SherWare Software Got Started 25 Years Ago

On today’s episode of the podcast, Phil is joined by his friend and business mentor, Robert “Butch” Rogers. Butch is a CPA who has his own accounting business and also works as a consultant for other CPA’s and producers in the oil and gas industry and as a contract CFO for a few oil and gas companies. Phil and Butch share how they got to know one another, how they both ended up living in Ohio and how Phil got started with his business, SherWare software 25 years ago. They chat about how Butch helped Phil with accounting items to include in his software and how SherWare software continually evolves according to the customers’ needs.

Here are some of the things you can look forward to in this episode:

How Phil and Butch met each other
Why Butch left Texas and started his own CPA business
How Butch convinced Phil to move to Ohio
The story of how Phil started SherWare and how Butch mentored him
How SherWare has grown and evolved with the help of its customers

Highlights:

3:35 How Phil and Butch got to know each other
4:07 Leaving Texas and starting his own CPA business
5:37 Finding his niche as a CPA
7:38 Butch noticing that oil and gas clients didn’t have great accounting software
9:06 How Butch helped Phil with writing the SherWare software
11:50 Phil figuring out that he needed to focus on oil and gas
13:40 How SherWare has grown organically and been tailored to customers
16:10 The ease of reporting that comes with SherWare
19:56 What smaller, independent producers are currently facing in the oil and gas industry
24:01 Working as a contract CFO and a consultant for other CPA’s and smaller producers
25:11 What Butch’s accounting firm will be doing next
26:33 How the numbers tell a story in accounting

About Robert Rogers:

Robert “Butch” Rogers is a Certified Public Accountant with a Master’s Degree in Taxation from Texas Tech University. He is a CPA in Wooster, Ohio and is a partner in the CPA firm Rogers Accounting Solutions, Inc.

Butch has over 35 years of experience working in and with clients in the oil and gas industry. As a college student, he worked as a roustabout in West Texas. Upon graduating from college he worked for Gulf Oil as a business administration trainee, working in the Midland, Texas district office and the Monahans, Texas field office. He gained valuable oil and gas tax experience working with Coopers and Lybrand in Lubbock, Texas. During his time as a practicing CPA, Butch served a number of small independent producers as a trusted tax and business advisor.

His speaking experience includes conducting continuing education seminars and webinars for various state societies of CPAs, Ohio Oil and Gas Association, COPAS, and Bisk Education.

Connect with Robert:

LinkedIn | [email protected]

Head over to our website to set up a free account with SherWare software. Please make sure to subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple podcasts.

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