North Dakota Podcast Features ORM Employee, Highlights ONEOK-Supported Bakken Area Skills Center

The “Living in McKenzie County” podcast in North Dakota invited Anselmo Hernandez Jr., director, technical training in Watford City, North Dakota, to participate in a conversation about the Bakken Area Skills Center.

ONEOK Rockies Midstream (ORM) employee was a guest on a recent podcast that addressed the growing energy industry workforce and the transformative power of the Bakken Area Skills Center (BASC) in Watford City, North Dakota. 

Anselmo Hernandez Jr., director, technical training in Watford City, was among several guests on an episode of the “Living in McKenzie County” podcast. He highlighted ONEOK’s relationship with BASC and emphasized the importance of these collaborations in providing students with real-life experiences. 

“I have been working with BASC for years now,” said Hernandez, who has been an advocate for BASC’s programs and its goal of creating a pathway for students to build in-demand skills and enter the workforce as soon as possible. 

BASC’s mission is to empower individuals through career and technical education and help develop a skilled workforce for the evolving region. BASC partners with industry leaders, educational institutions and local communities to deliver accessible, high-quality education that fuels personal growth, strengthens the local economy and creates a sustainable future for the Bakken region.  

“If I think back to why I became engaged, it started soon after I started with ONEOK in ORM,” Hernandez said. “I was the asset manager of Lonesome Creek natural gas gathering and processing plant. As a new leader, I wanted to understand the staff’s issues, concerns and, ultimately, how I could help.” 

He assembled a team of individuals from the facility: a supervisor, lead operator, maintenance supervisor and asset engineer, who conducted a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis.

“It highlighted that we needed to work with local educators on providing industry training to be able to recruit employees locally and create opportunities for families living in the area,” Hernandez shared.

That’s where BASC comes into play. ONEOK provided financial support for the initial BASC project, which allowed Hernandez to participate on BASC’s Automation Advisory Board.

“ONEOK also gains visibility and recognition as a great employer that cares about the local community,” he added.

 

Listen to the Podcast.

Learn more about BASC.