San Antonio, TX – The South Texas Energy and Economic Roundtable (STEER) officially launched today with the hiring of its first president and CEO, Omar Garcia. STEER was formed to serve as a one-stop educational resource and liaison between the oil and natural gas industry, local officials, regional stakeholders, media, and area residents.
Local officials applauded STEER’s establishment in the 20-county oil and natural gas play known as the Eagle Ford Shale.
“Oil and natural gas production is driving economic development in South Texas in ways we haven’t seen in generations,” said Karnes County Judge Barbara Shaw. “We applaud the founders of STEER for proactively opening channels of communication and creating a lasting platform for important discussions associated with oil and natural gas production in our region.”
La Salle County Judge Joel Rodriguez “welcomes STEER and looks forward to working together to ensure a foundation of continuity and prosperity for the region's future.”
“This is a critical time for the communities of South Texas that are experiencing a dramatic increase in oil and natural gas activity,” said Garcia. “The time is right for STEER to establish a one-stop resource for information about local energy production. By communicating with stakeholders in the region, STEER can inform local discussions with industry expertise and be involved at the root level on a variety of local issues. Working together with the community, we can promote responsible development of our natural resources and continued economic benefits for the region.”
Before joining STEER, Garcia was the vice president of San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, where he recruited and retained new business and international initiatives. Garcia also spent time with TIP Strategies, Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development, and City of San Antonio Economic Development Department. Garcia was appointed to the Texas Economic Development Corporation by Governor Perry in 2010.
“We welcome Omar into his new role as president and CEO of STEER. He brings a wealth of experience and proven understanding of South Texas,” said Hugo Gutierrez, Government Affairs Manager for Marathon Oil Corporation and Chairman of STEER. “The creation of STEER is a reflection of the commitment the oil and natural gas industry has made to engage community stakeholders across South Texas as we develop the Eagle Ford in a responsible way.”
About STEER
The South Texas Energy and Economic Roundtable is a not-for-profit association whose mission is to ensure that resource development in South Texas occurs to the mutual benefit of both the energy sector and communities in South Texas. Formed by some of the largest oil & gas operators in Texas, STEER is committed to coordinating and facilitating communications and public advocacy for a broad range of stakeholders interested in production of the energy resources available in South Texas.