Kelly Hunsicker

Assistant Vice President, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

With lots of love for her “Boomtown” and a native Houstonian, Kelly Hunsicker currently serves as an Assistant Vice President in the Oil & Gas group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. With a degree in Finance from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Kelly started her career in Banking at Key Bank in downtown Denver. While the Rocky Mountains will always have a special place in her heart, she quickly realized that Houston was home and accepted a position at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in 2005.

As an energy banker, Kelly specializes in upstream and midstream providing a range of capital solutions for her clients. Prior to her current role, Kelly worked in the commercial bank at Bank of America focusing on oil field service companies amongst other industries.

In her spare time, Kelly enjoys an active and healthy lifestyle through running, playing with her 3 year old daughter Mia and practicing yoga. She is also a bit of a self proclaimed foodie and loves sharing good wine and food with her friends and family. She claims everything is better with Truffles!

We asked Kelly:

The OGM: What does sustainability mean to you?

Kelly: Green, renewable, environmentally conscious are a few words that come to mind when thinking about sustainability in a literal sense but for the energy industry is means more. Investing in business practices that minimize the negative impacts on the future is imperative and has a huge effect on the entire world.

The OGM: Have you had a mentor?

Kelly: “Mentors” are probably a better fit for describing my growth experience. I am truly lucky to have been able to forge relationships with many different walks of life that have taken a vested interest in shaping who I am both personally and professionally. Two that really stand out are my father and my current boss. My father has been an integral part in my learning experience and is always a “go-to” person when I need career or personal advice. He came from a small town in Pennsylvania and created something from nothing.
My current Boss is an amazing mentor that has been in the energy industry for over 30 years and has traveled the world. He has a wealth of knowledge that he enjoys passing down to people and a perspective that energizes me to be the best.

The OGM: What does success mean to you?

Kelly: The meaning of success is always evolving as I go through different stages in my life and career. Finding your own unique voice and being authentic is really my focus on what it means to be successful. If you can be confident in whom you are then success will follow. One of the most powerful things you can do for success in all aspects of life is not being afraid of failure; if you never try then opportunity for success doesn’t exist.

The OGM: If you were to describe your career in three words, what would they be?

Kelly: Dynamic, adventurous, transformable, sorry I had to add an extra Super fortunate

The OGM: What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in the Energy Industry?

Kelly: Jump in! This is one of the most exciting times in the Energy Industry. The last decade has seen enormous advances in technology and we are making history.

The OGM: Describe a milestone in your career?

Kelly: Moving back to the “Boomtown” from Colorado. Houston is a hub for the Energy Industry and a great place to have a career.

The OGM: Describe a challenge you faced in your career?

Kelly: Keeping up with the industry is always a challenge. It seems that if you blink then you miss out on exciting changes and transformations from new Companies forming, resources being developed, regulations, technological discoveries, the list is endless.

The OGM: What impact does technology have on your career?

Kelly: I’m not sure I would be able to function without it. It’s an invaluable resource that puts the world at your fingertips.

The OGM: What do the next five years look like in your career?

Kelly: The Energy banking industry is fast paced, capital market activities are booming as Companies are growing. The role of the Bank is an important one in the O&G industry from providing working capital, to commodity risk management, monetizing investments, and helping companies expand and grow. The next 5 years will be filled with lots of growth opportunity for all.

The OGM: Were you always interested in a career in Energy?

Kelly: I always had a love for Oil & Gas since watching the original Dallas T.V show in the 80’s. There is a huge sex appeal to how dynamic the Energy industry really is; it’s a mutli-trillion dollar industry that reverberates across several economies.

The OGM: What interests you to sustain a career in the Energy Industry?

Kelly: I think this industry is pretty phenomenal. We have gone from being a large –scale importer of oil to meet our domestic needs to almost energy self-sufficient in a relatively short time. Now there are talks of being a net exporter of natural gas and maybe even oil. There is so much opportunity and excitement in this industry; I wouldn’t want to miss out on making history!

The OGM: Do you have a role model you look up to?

Kelly: My mother – She lost her battle to Cancer 2 years ago but she taught me the most amazing things. She had so much poise, grace, adaptability and determination and through adversity she always had Humor. I think if you can learn to laugh at yourself you can bring such ease and enjoyment to things. Balancing life is an amazing gift that you can give to yourself.

The OGM: What does Energy mean to you?

Kelly: Wow this is a great question! Energy has so many forms and different ways of looking at it. Energy is Life, it’s something we need, use, expel, create…it’s a precious resource!

The OGM: What is your favorite APP on your phone?

Kelly: Yelp- It’s a great social resource for finding places locally and nationally.

The OGM: What impact will the Millennial Generation have on the Energy industry?

Kelly: I think each generation brings a new perspective on the Industry as they learn things from history as well as add their own unique style. Millennials are innovative, fast-paced, tech-savvy and I think we will see tremendous growth in areas that we have never seen before.

The OGM: What’s your take on Social Media and our ever changing digital world?

Kelly: Social Medial is emerging as an effective communication tool for all players, from grassroots advocates and innovators to national organizations. Even the Department of Energy uses social platforms to connect with the public sharing real-time information.
It really is an essential tool to gather information and stay current however it has its negatives as well so you really have to educate yourself on what to filter and what is more emotional than what it’s worth.

The OGM: What Social Medium do you use on a daily basis?

Kelly: LinkedIn, Facebook, WSJ, Yahoo Finance

The OGM: Do you use Social Media for work?

Kelly: All the time, it’s a great resource for staying connected, current and making introductions.

The OGM: What do you think of Social Recruiting?

Kelly: It’s amazing; it has opened so many door and opportunities for people globally. The success stories are so inspiring.

The OGM: Why do you love what you do?

Kelly: Energy is truly a hub for the world. Everyone is connected by energy in one way or another and the impact it has on economies, communities, individuals, and eco-systems is so magnificent. Not only do I enjoy the people/community I work with, my clients, my colleagues, but I LOVE being a part of something that is evolutional and dynamic.