“I would like to commend Ron Morris for doing a good service…in presenting facts on a subject that is important to the people in your area, and to the whole Country. I think the subject has become controversial because the facts on how the operations are conducted and how the environment is safeguarded have not been readily available to the public in general. Programs like yours address that issue, and I hope there will be more programs like it…” - Dave
“It is extremely difficult to get reliable, unbiased information about Marcellus Shale… and I applaud you for undertaking something like this because this is what needs to be done here.” - Steve, TAE Caller
“This is valuable, can’t miss information on all things Marcellus.” - Mark Laskow
Series Concept
The Marcellus Shale is perhaps the single most important economic stimulant in the history of western Pennsylvania. While this may sound a bit bombastic, factually speaking there are in excess of 125 trillion MCF (millions of cubic feet) of natural gas locked into shale deposits that are some 2 to 5 miles below the surface of Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and West Virginia.
The essence of our reportage vis-à-vis the Marcellus Shale is its truth-seeking. If nothing else, we at PBR/TAE intend to present unadulterated facts to our listeners. If the facts show economic benefit and relatively safe extraction methods, so be it. If they do not, then those chips must also fall where they may.
TAE has now engaged some of the state’s top experts for the purpose of conducting a series of 12, two-hour programs dealing with important Marcellus-related topics. Among the topics to be discussed are:
- The geologic history and location of Marcellus Shale natural gas
- The process of horizontal drilling and fracturing
- Perceived and real environmental impacts
- The economic impacts; local and regional
Click here for a list of all topics
Excerpts From Past Marcellus Shale Programs
- Terry Engelder on the origin of Marcellus Shale Listen
- Nick DeIuliis on CNX Gas’ role in the Marcellus Shale play Listen
- Kathryn Klaber on the Marcellus Shale Coalition Listen
- Pat McCune on the impact of Marcellus on the region Listen
- A panel discussion on Marcellus drilling in city limits Listen
- Marcellus Shale-based investment opportunities Listen
Meet The Host
Ron Morris
Ron Morris puts over thirty years of entrepreneurial experience to work answering your business questions, solving your business problems, and bringing you all the latest information about everything that is happening on the entrepreneurial landscape. “I’ve built companies with ZERO money and I’ve been associated with companies who have borrowed money,” says Morris, “I’ve merged companies, I’ve sold companies, and I’ve even bankrupted a company. (My “greatest learning experience.”) So, when you tell me about your business problem, it’s a pretty sure thing that I’ve ‘seen it at least once before’ ... this ain’t textbook stuff ...this is ‘real bullets’, real world stuff.” Learn more
Meet Our Marcellus Shale Co-hosts
Mark J. Laskow
Mark is a Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Greycourt & Co. Prior to joining the company he was Vice President and a Director of The Hillman Company, where he managed investments in energy and international private equity, and was involved in many aspects of the private equity program.
Mark has significant experience in a variety of wealth management issues affecting ultra-wealthy families, including family office management, family dynamics, tax and estate planning, issues associated with closely held and public companies, and the design and execution of private equity strategies via direct investments and investment partnerships. Mark is President of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, Chair of the Shadyside Hospital Foundation and Vice Chair of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Terry Engelder
A leading authority on the Marcellus gas shale, Terry holds degrees from The Pennsylvania State University, B.S. (’68), Yale University, M.S. (’72) and Texas A&M University, Ph.D. (‘73). He is currently a Professor of Geosciences at Penn State and has previously served on the staffs of the US Geological Survey, Texaco, and Columbia University. Short-term academic appointments include those of Visiting Professor at Graz University in Austria and Visiting Professor at the University of Perugia in Italy.
Other academic distinctions include a Fulbright Senior Fellowship in Australia, Penn State’s Wilson Distinguished Teaching Award, membership in a U.S. earth science delegation to visit the Soviet Union immediately following the Nixon-Brezhnev dêtente, and the singular honor of helping Walter Alvarez collect the samples that led to the famous theory for dinosaur extinction by large meteorite impact.
He has written 150 research papers, many focused on Appalachia, and a book, the research monograph “Stress Regimes in the Lithosphere.” In the international arena, he has worked on exploration and production problems with companies including Saudi Aramco, Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Agip, and Petrobras.
Barron P. (“Pat”) McCune, Jr.
Pat McCune was born and raised in Washington, Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1975 from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, Magna Cum Laude, with a degree in Economics. He is also a licensed attorney, having graduated from the University of Denver School of Law. Mr. McCune practiced law in Denver for 7 years, and achieved partnership status with Kutak, Rock & Huie, a national law firm. He returned to Pennsylvania in 1987 and practiced law with McCune & Vreeland for another 12 years. During this time, he became general counsel to Community Bank.
Community Bank is a $490-million independent bank with offices in southwest Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking held at Georgetown University, where he continues to serve as a “Capstone Advisor” for the Stonier School.
Mr. McCune is the Chairman of the Washington County Energy Partners, a non-profit collaboration of leading economic development organizations, elected officials and private businesses devoted to the economic development of Washington County and the surrounding regions. He is a director of the Washington Business District Authority. He is a member of the Marketing Committee of the Energy Alliance of Greater Pittsburgh and a director of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Banks. Mr. McCune is also a director of the Washington County Community Foundation.
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