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The roots of Duane Howe’s passion to protect New Mexico’s environment are home-grown. “Growing-up in the beauty of The Four Corners, I came to truly cherish New Mexico’s four seasons and world-renowned sunsets when I moved away to Texas for a few years.”

For the past 16 years, Duane Howe has worked as an operations supervisor in the San Juan Basin for Marathon Petroleum, where he and his staff coordinate with other oil and gas companies to safely and efficiently move petroleum through hundreds of miles of pipeline from northern New Mexico into the Permian Basin.

Raised on the Navajo Nation between Cove, Arizona and Mittenrock, New Mexico, Howe currently resides in Fruitland, New Mexico. “It’s vital to keep the crude moving while keeping it off the ground and our waterways,” believes Howe. “It’s the important part of my job.”

Howe’s oil and gas career started in the control center at Giant Refining, where he worked his way up to control center supervisor. “It was there that I had the opportunity to help build SCADA screens and the programming part of the system,” said Howe.

Howe also values his work with Marathon’s Tribal Affiliation Group, where he and volunteers for Diné Baadeti haul firewood to various chapter houses.

Truly a family affair, Howe has relatives who work in the field and in control centers for other companies as well. Driven by the challenges of his work, Howe enjoys the comradery with long-time industry professionals, as well as the new generation of oil and gas professionals.

Howe and his wife Alicia have two boys and a daughter, and are raising two nieces. “I love working in New Mexico,” asserts Howe. “The hardest decision is deciding if you prefer green or red chile.”

Louie Salazar works as Director of External Affairs for ConocoPhillips, where he has been employed for the past 13 years. 

His current responsibilities include strategy development for outreach and education with a strong focus on creating and building relationships with community leaders, academia, and regulatory agencies. 

What Salazar likes most about his job is that every day is different which creates new challenges to help solve and new opportunities to help bring to fruition.

“Prior to joining ConocoPhillips in late 2010, I worked in public education,” said Salazar.

His tenure in education included roles as a middle school science teacher, high school athletic director and high school principal.

“Leaving education created an amazing opportunity in the oil and gas industry for me,” said Salazar. “My education career really provided a strong foundation for all the roles I have served in with ConocoPhillips. The transfer of skills and experience was directly relevant.”  

Salazar serves as co-chair for NMOGA’s communications and public affairs committee and previously served as co-chair for NMOGA’s tribal affairs committee.

Outside of work, Louie spends his spare time with family and friends.

“For my wife Jacqueline and I, family is our priority,” said Salazar. “I am a proud father of five beautiful children ranging in ages 5-22.” 

Salazar said he also enjoys playing in his neighborhood pickleball league and exercising.

“I exercise mainly so I can enjoy the amazing New Mexican cuisine,” he said.

Salazar is proud to work in the industry alongside several other family members, two of which work for frac service companies in the Permian Basin.

Women who work in the Oil and Gas Industry

By Bernadette Granger, Flogistix Director of Community and Public Affairs

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Flogistix recognizes Cayden O’Dell as the first female mechanic in the history of the company.  

NMOGA’s Brighter Future Fund grant application process is now open and will focus on economic opportunities.

Bret Baier & Amy Munneke, Fox News | February 16th, 2023President Joe Biden announced the first major release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) on Nov. 23, 2021. He said the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic was increasing demand for gasoline as the world reopened and supply wasn’t keeping up. The weekly average price for regular gasoline was $3.40 per gallon – more than a dollar increase from the same time period in 2020.