Mike Buckle

Project Manager, Kiewit

Mike Buckle was raised in Forteau, NL, and completed an engineering degree in 2003 at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Mechanical Engineering.  Mike was fortunate to graduate during the development of Newfoundland’s third offshore producing field, White Rose and was hire as an engineer by Kiewit.  He has never looked back; working in various engineering and project management capacities supporting all producing fields in Newfoundland’s offshore.  Mike most recently managed a large turnaround project in the summer of 2012 and has since been reassigned as Project Manager for one of the components for the fourth field being developed in Newfoundland’s offshore.

Outside of work, Mike likes to spend time enjoying the outdoors, snowmobiling, biking and camping or travelling to warm destinations with his wife, Jennifer.  The next warm destination that Mike and Jennifer may enjoy is Disneyland, after welcoming their first child in March of this year.

We asked Mike:

The OGM: What does sustainability mean to you?

Mike: Sustainability is the ability to anticipate what challenges will affect a company, and then adjusting to address these challenges before they begin to impact the business.

The OGM: Have you had a mentor?

Mike: Through my career, I have had many mentors.  From those who first introduced me to the industry to those who have continued to help me grow and evolve into the professional that I am today.  I wouldn’t want to single out any individual from this amazing group of people.  I can only hope that I am doing these individuals justice by being a mentor to those younger employees who are working with me today.

The OGM: What does success mean to you?

Mike: Success is being challenged by your work, but also being able to work through those challenges with your team to bring the project to conclusion.  Success is also being able to disengage from your work and spending time doing what you love, with those who you love.  Finding that perfect balance, where everything is combining to provide you ultimate satisfaction, is success.

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

Mike: Dynamic.  Challenging.  Rewarding.

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

Mike: First, look for a company that has the same core values as you.  A miss on this, will lead to disinterest on your part and a potential lack of performance.  Next, be willing to accept challenges, changes and advice.  Remember that those who are offering you these opportunities have gone through the same professional development, and that they are as interested in seeing you grow as you are.

The OGM: Describe a milestone in your career?

Mike: A milestone in my career leading a team of employees, from varying backgrounds and geographical locations, to successfully execute a large oil and gas project this past Summer.  To see each of the team exceed the expectations and overcome the challenges that were placed in front of us was certainly something that we can all take pride in.

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

Mike: The biggest challenge that I have faced is earning the respect of the people who work with me.  Respect is so hard to gain, yet so easy to lose.  Without the respect of those who work with me, we would not have been able to achieve all of the things that we have done as a team.  Maintaining this respect is something that I continue to work on every day.

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

Mike: Whether it’s when I am travelling for work purposes or away on personal leisure, technology allows me to remain connected to work, wherever I may be.  The challenge with technology is when it begins to intrude upon your personal life.  You have to set-up guidelines to manage this aspect of technology.  Remember, success is finding that perfect balance between your work and personal life.

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

Mike: I hope to continue to grow, both professionally and personally, as I face the challenges presented through the continued development of the oil and gas industry in Newfoundland.

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

Mike: I first entered the Mechanical Engineering program at Memorial University with the expectation to build upon the practical mechanical knowledge that had been introduced to me by my father who was a mechanic.  I was fortunate enough to graduate during the development of the White Rose Project and was hired as an engineer on this project.  From there, the opportunities that I have been presented have sustained my interest.

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

Mike: It’s as simple as the word opportunity.  Opportunity to learn new things, face new challenges, work with people who have similar interests, see projects to completion and to grow as a professional.  The opportunities are endless.

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

Mike: First and foremost, my parents have been very influential in my life.  They are the people who instilled the values in me that have directed me to where I am today.  Besides my parents, there’s a hard working superintendent who’s been in the industry for quite some time, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with over my career.  His work ethic is second to none and he is willing to embrace the changes that are introduced to make our company better.  I strongly believe that if we continue to learn from this individual, we would all be better because of it.

The OGM: What does Energy mean to you?

Mike: Energy sustains everything that we do.  Our energy challenge will be to find ways to do more, with less, or to identify new forms of energy production that will allow us to continue to succeed as a society.

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

Mike: When I travel, I like the Air Canada Travel APP.  It generally allows me to manage all of my bookings in one central location.  Otherwise, the TSN Mobile APP is at the top of the list, allowing me to see at a quick glance how my Leafs did last night, or where they sit in the standings.  Funny, now that I’ve said that, I also realise that the TSN Mobile APP is also the most disappointing APP that I have!

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

Mike: I expect that the Millennial Generation will positively impact the Energy Industry.  I anticipate that they will continue to introduce new technologies to improve our work environment and increase our efficiencies.

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

Mike: I believe that to engage with the new generation entering the work force that we have to be on the leading edge of the technological forefront, including social media.  We have failed if we offer them a work environment with tools different from what they are familiar and comfortable with.

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

Mike: I use our internal Social Media tool, Pulse, on a daily basis for items related to work.  Other than that, I use Facebook and Twitter to communicate on a personal level.

The OGM: Do you use Social Media for work?

Mike: As I previously said, we have an internal social media tool, called Pulse.  I find that using this tool is a great way to communicate throughout the company with those who aren’t so closely involved with the work that we do here in Newfoundland.

The OGM: What do you think of Social Recruiting?

Mike: Social Recruiting is continuing to grow as a tool as a part of any proactive companies recruiting portfolio.  Social Recruiting allows these companies to more easily engage the Millennial Generation who are more comfortable with these technological tools than many other methods.

The OGM: Why do you love what you do?

Mike: I love to do what I do because of the people that I get to interact with and the different challenges that we are faced on a daily basis.  You cannot face these challenges alone.  When you work with the right team, you are able to address these challenges head on and bring them to a satisfactory resolution: Dynamic; Challenging; Rewarding.  Enough said.