Akron’s Pin Oak Energy Partners’ Growth Projects a Strong Future

Featuring:

Pin Oak Energy Partners co-founders Chris Halverson and Mark Van Tyne interview with Justin Luiza and Abigail Van Drunen of CVCA for Akron’s AES Spotlight Series

Photo by Elmer Thomas

[Few people know the ins and outs of the energy industry, as it takes an entire career  in this field to truly understand it.  Fortunately, executives Chris Halvorson (CEO) and Mark Van Tyne (Chief Business Development Officer) of Pin Oak Energy Partners sat down for an interview to explain the various facets of being involved in the industry.

Halverson and Van Tyne founded Pin Oak Energy Partners in 2015.  The company deals in crude oil and natural gas, operating mainly in the Appalachian Basin.  The area boasts its enormous potential in resources, containing as much or more oil and natural gas than has been produced through human means to date. 

Yet while most of the action takes place in southern Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, Pin Oak is headquartered right here in Akron’s AES Building.  “[We] really liked the AES Building going in before we got here,” Halvorson explained, “we thought this building shows well and has great access.”  The AES Building houses several well-known companies, some of the most recognizable being the Akron Beacon Journal, law firm Brouse McDowell, The Greater Akron Chamber, and of course, Pin Oak Energy Partners.  A Point of common ground between aspiring engineers and companies such as Pin Oak is Stark State College. The value of their various engineering certificates and degrees is accentuated in the oil and gas industry where high demand for skilled labor translates to high starting salaries.  Stark’s tremendous program is so valuable to Pin Oak specifically because they offer a “technical degree that results in a good paying salary for a very affordable educational cost.”

Pin Oak greatly appreciates the connections they have the opportunity to foster in order to promote a good working relationship with larger companies.  “One thing that really distinguishes us is the breadth of people that we know throughout the industry,” he says on the topic, adding “that’s kind of what we bring to the table” we have the ability to close those transactions with much larger companies.”

In addition to their expansive network of fellow companies, Pin Oak relies on their relationship with their employees.  Halvorson and Van Tyne discussed the value of every employee, stressing that the greatest satisfaction comes from providing their employees with income to support their families.

As it nears its five-year anniversary, Pin Oak looks forward to five years of growth.  “We are working to be the largest headquartered [oil and gas operator] in the state of Ohio.” Halverson projects.  For now, Pin Oak aspires to continue their rapid growth trend in order to continue to provide great career opportunities for more people in Northeast Ohio and beyond.