PMG Employee Spotlight with Shane W.
Shane is a Level II NDT Inspector and the Field Services Manager for PMG Energy.
About me
I grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado and my family got into racing dirt bikes pretty seriously. I even went to Grand Nationals in 1998. I did that into my early 20s and then had a serious wreck where I broke my back for the second time. I decided it was time to get into something a little safer after that. Then I got into construction and eventually ended up at a motorcycle service department. That led to oil and gas work and then NDT (Non-Destructive Testing).
What are your main responsibilities as an NDT Inspector?
NDT stands for non-destructive testing. It means you can test a part or component for inspection without ruining or deteriorating that piece. Our main focus with PMG Energy is UT (ultra-sonic testing) inspection, so we actually test the part with sound, right in place. We find flaws and non-conformities and determine what to do with those parts to keep people safe and equipment or systems operating properly.
How did you get into NDT work?
When I found my way into the Oil & Gas sector I worked for and energy services company. I started as a flowback operator and then I got into the inspection side of things in 2012 after 6 years and I never looked back. Flowback work could get kind of dangerous so I just pursued the inspection side looking for something different and found that I loved it. The travel, the work, the detail required, everything. I took a lot of pride in it and still do.
How did you learn about the opportunity with PMG Energy?
I started with PMG on a contract project at an aviation facility in Vermont as a Project Manager while Energy was getting off the ground. When that started to take off, I moved over to the Energy side full-time. We began our first project in the second half of 2017. I’ve been with them ever since. I guess you could say that PMG Energy and I started together.
What do you like most about your job?
I like always learning something new and the travel. You see something new every single day; you’re always going someplace different; you’re always learning, and you never get to think you know it all. I love all of that.
What do you like most about working for PMG?
For PMG Energy: My team. We’ve developed the best team, I think, that is out there. Our guys come from operator backgrounds originally and know the whole process, not just the inspection methods. They have good technical and technology backgrounds too. We always have the right person to fix the issue, no matter what it may be, and keep moving forward. I’m really proud of that.
For PMG generally: We’re fairly calculated and precise in how we run our projects. Non-stop help and assistance. The first PMG project I managed was in Vermont and I never lacked access to help or guidance. I also love how driven everyone is to run things smoothly. It’s always obvious how involved and tight the whole group is in all aspects; from recruiting to sales to accounting; everyone knows what’s going on, what to do, and what their role is supposed to be. That made it easy to transfer the same example over to the Energy side.
What advice would you give to a recent new hire at PMG Energy?
I don’t want to scare anyone off but expect the unexpected. You might have a job come up on short notice, it might require a long drive or you’ll be working in weird weather. So, if you’re always prepared for the unexpected, you never get caught off-guard. That makes it easier and actually makes it fun. We’ve done some pretty cool stuff in some pretty crazy conditions and those are fun stories to tell afterwards.
What do you miss most or wish you had with you on the road?
I’ve been doing this so long I’ve got it pretty dialed in by now. I don’t have anyone I’m leaving at home so when I go on the road, my dog and everything I need comes with me. I can be gone as long as I need to be and I can always deal with the long grass in the yard whenever I get back home.
What are some hobbies you do in your free time?
I just recently got back into riding pretty frequently again. I’m pretty into fitness. I like getting out on the Colorado River and floating the river. You’re never in a hurry once you’re on the river and I like that a lot.
Where is the best place you’ve traveled and why?
Probably when I go out east just because I’m not out there very often. Vermont if I have to pick a place. There’s no oilfield there so I’d never have been there if it hadn’t been for PMG. It’s pretty, different and always green. We were there six months so you got to see the full set of seasons. It’s a great state for sight-seeing.
What celebrity/inspirational person do you admire the most?
Either Tom Hardy or Mark Wahlberg. I like their movies and I like how they prepare for a role, whether it’s losing weight or gaining weight or whatever they need to do. I also just like them as individuals.
What did you want to be when growing up?
I wanted to be a dirt bike racer. I even brought my dirt bike in for show and tell.
You’re happiest when…
… I’m out with my dog. She’s a 6-year-old pit-bull mix. She’s always up for a ride in any kind of vehicle and she’s a great partner for adventures.
Want to know more about PMG Energy? Check out their website here.
