Shown above is the beautifully-decorated head table which was prepared for us by HGA Board members, Moira Holden, Marianne Duffin and Rebecca Roberts, featuring flags from Britain, Scotland, the United States and Texas. For the second year, the hosting of the OTC breakfast was shared by the British American Business Council and the response of the very large group of attendees was most enthusiastic. The net profits of this partner event are shared with the BABC's educational foundation, the British American Foundation of Texas and it is again a privilege for the Houston Grampian Association to have the opportunity to work with BABC in this collaborative effort. Becci Himes, Executive Director of BABC is shown here with the BABC banner prior to the breakfast.

For this year's breakfast, our Corporate Sponsors were ExxonMobil Development, Quan, Burdette & Perez, P.C. and UK Trade & Investment, and our table sponsors were ConocoPhillips, Maxwell Drummond, McGrigors LLP, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Scottish Development International, Turner & Townsend, Inc., the Wood Group and Wood Mackenzie. It was our pleasure this year to have the new Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Peter Stephen and his lovely wife, Lady Provost Sandra Stephen as our guests for the first time. Our Chairman, Mary Metz and our President, Aurise Bain did yeoman duty in hosting the event, and the committee chaired by Ross Davidson made sure that everyone's needs were well met. Mary and Aurise are pictured at left with HGA Board member, Moira Holden. Former British Consul General, Iain Murray joined us this year and is shown in the photo above with the executive director of Houston Sister Cities International, Alma Maldonado and in the middle, HGA Treasurer and past president John Fowler,

This annual event is always attended by members of our sister city as well as other Houston sister cities, visitors from Aberdeen, Scotland and business professionals in our community. It is an open meeting and everyone is welcome to attend. Each year, the OTC breakfast affords a perfect opportunity for networking, reminiscing and getting to see friends we've not seen in a year or more, and this year was continued that tradition. The large crowd was intensely enthusiastic before, during and after the time the breakfast was to begin, it was difficult to summon everyone into the ballroom to begin the breakfast meeting. The breakfast and all enjoyed the time to visit as well as the remarks of the speaker and our guests. Pictured left are HGA Board members Rebecca Roberts and Marianne Duffin and on the right are from left to right, Rebecca Roberts with last year's OTC Breakfast Chairman Simon Frame and HGA Board member Moira Holden.

Following the introduction of the Head Table by our president Aurise Bain, we enjoyed the hearty breakfast, after which our OTC Breakfast Chairman, Ross Davidson introduced British Consul General Paul Lynch, who shared remarks with us. Next, Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Peter Stephen addressed us with greetings from Aberdeen and remarks about our sister city relationship. He then presented a gift to Houston's Mayor Pro Tem Adrian Garcia, who provided a welcome to Houston on behalf of the Mayor and talked about the importance of the shared business and social cultures of Houston and Aberdeen. He then presented a gift of welcome to the Lord Provost. They are shown to the left at the exchange of the gift from the Lord Provost to the Mayor Pro Tem. Ross then introduced our speaker and he gave a very thorough presentation about the state of the energy situation around the world and its outlook for the future. He provided just the right balance of detail and general information to succeed in communicating effectively with everyone in the audience and his sharing of information was most appreciated.

Following the adjournment of the meeting, networking continued and many attendees took advantage of the opportunity to share both business and social information. The golfers headed to the golf course and everyone left with a true sense of enjoyment. Below are the speakers and they are from left to right, Aurise Bain, Paul Lynch, Peter Stephen, Adrian Garcia, Chris Conway and Ross Davidson.

      

    

This was the first year to jointly host the OTC Breakfast with our friends from BABC. Prior to our speaker's remarks, We were privileged to hear remarks from Lady Provost Helen Reynolds and from Judith Slater, British Consul General. Shown below at the podium during their remarks are from left to right, business committee chairman Simon Frame, our speaker Brian Smith, our president Bob Gilbert, Lady Provost Helen Reynolds and British Consul General Judith Slater.

    

The 2007 OTC breakfast provided a perfect opportunity for networking, reminiscing and getting to see friends we'd not seen in a year or more. The large crowd was buzzing so intensely at the time the breakfast was to begin, it was difficult to summon everyone into the ballroom to begin the breakfast meeting. The joint effort of HGA and BABC resulted in a sizeable and enthusiastic group and all enjoyed the time to visit as well as the remarks of the speaker and our guests. Shown to the left are a thorn between two roses, from left to right are Lady Provost Helen Reynolds, our president Bob Gilbert and Marti McWhirter.

Simon Frame, business committee chairman and his OTC planning committee did an excellent job in organizing the event and in recognizing those companies who generously sponsored tables for us. We were most fortunate to have the sponsorships of UK Trade & Investment, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Wood Mackenzie, Bracewell & Giuiliani, LLC., Swift, Scottish Development International, Panalpia, McGrigors, Maxwell-Drummond International and Norman Broadbent. In the photo below are from left to right Simon Frame, Brian Smith, Bob Gilbert and Quin McWhirter.

Our speaker for 2006 was Christopher T. Seaver, President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Hydril. Prior to joining Hydril, he was a corporate and securities attorney and was a Foreign Service Officer in the U.S. Department of State, with postings in Kinshasa, Republic of Congo and Bogota, Colombia. He has also seved on the Board of Directors of the National Ocean Industries Association, the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association and the American Petroleum Institute.

Shown below in a composite photo arrangement are guests seated at the head table, from left to right, Tom Gossett, Philip De Waal, Lady Provost Helen Reynolds and James Prappas, followed by a photo of Alma Maldonado from the City of Houston's Protocol Office, and then continuing on the head table, British Consul General Judith Slater, Chris Seaver and Lord Provost John Reynolds.

It was our pleasure again to have with us, Lord Provost John Reynolds and Lady Provost Helen Reynolds from Aberdeen. Also present were British Consul General Judith Slater and her husband, Philip De Waal.

In addition to our speaker, We were privileged to hear remarks from Lord Provost John Reynolds and Judith Slater, British Consul General. Shown below at the podium during their remarks are from left to right, our president, James Prappas, Lord Provost John Reynolds, British Consul General Judith Slater and our speaker, Christopher Seaver.

   

We enjoyed the enlightening remarks by our speaker, Christopher Seaver, who discussed information and Hydril's predictions about the state of the oil industry and the effects of 2005 hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and other world events was affecting the production, supply and market of oil. The perspective of the ownership of oil supply and production by private companies and governments, and their motivations for what to do with oil, was most sobering.

Mary Metz, shown on the left with Alma Maldonado from the City of Houston, did a great job in the planning and preparations for the breakfast, along with Ed Hirs who arranged for our speaker. Tom Gossett worked diligently in the planning of the activities and coordinated with Tommianne Davis, who did a lion share of the work to actually make it happen and to be our liaison with the hotel to be sure that all of the arrangements were made.

Although a severe thunderstorm hit Houston just prior to the breakfast, a good crowd of attendees was present to enjoy the breakfast, the speaker and to network. It is always a treat to have the opportunity to do some "catching up" with our friends from Aberdeen. In the photo on the right are Bob Gilbert, a member of the HGA Board and a founding member, along with our speaker Chris Seaver and Marti McWhirter.

For the 2005 breakfast, our charismatic speaker was Professor Michael Economides, of the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston, and author of the book, "The Color of Oil".

In his distinguished career, he was previously the Samuel R. Noble Professor of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A & M University, he served as the Chief Scientist of the Global Petroleum Research Institute and has been author or co-author of ten professional textbooks and almost 200 journal papers and articles. He has appeared regularly as a guest and expert commentator on national and international television programs and has had professional activities in over 70 countries. He was indeed, well received by the attendees at this year's breakfast.

Some of the dignitaries attending this year's meeting are shown below, including from left to right, Carl Davis from the City of Houston, HGA President James Prappas, British Consul-General Judith Slater, Mrs. John Reynolds, wife of the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Scotland, and our speaker, Professor Economides.

Dignitaries seated at the head table were piped in by two pipers from St. Thomas Episcopal High School, four time international piping champions in the competition held each year in Glasgow, Scotland. They are shown on the right. This year our President, James Prappas, is shown on the left in his opening remarks at the breakfast. We were honored to have as our guests, the Lord Provost and Mrs. John Reynolds of Aberdeen, Scotland. Carl Davis, Director of Community Affairs from Houston City Councilman Michael Berry's office, representing Houston Mayor Bill White offered greetings and a welcome from the City of Houston. He also presented a gift to the Lord Provost to commemorate the City's hospitality.

Lord Provost Reynolds addressed the breakfast assembly, as did our British Consul-General, Judith Slater, who is serving in her first year in this position. Pictured below from left to right, are Lord Provost, John Reynolds, British Consul-General, Judith Slater and our speaker, Professor Economides.

   

The 2004 OTC Breakfast

Grampian-Houston visitors from Aberdeen, Scotland are our guests each year at a Saturday kickoff OTC breakfast prior to the opening day of the Offshore Technology Conference. This year was a most special occasion as we marked the 25th anniversary of the twinning of Aberdeen and Houston as Sister Cities. Our distinguished speaker was Mr. George Littell, Principal of Groppe, Long & Littell. Mr. Littell, a renowned expert on the oil industry, discussed the history of the oil industry and probable forecasts regarding its future.

This annual event is always attended by members of our sister city as well as other Houston sister cities, visitors from Aberdeen, Scotland and business professionals in our community. It is an open meeting and everyone is welcome to attend. This year's audience included a prestigious group of founding members of our organization, and several of them are shown below at the breakfast.

Upon their arrival in Houston, the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, John Reynolds and Mrs. Reynolds, were hosted by the HGA Board of Directors at a dinner in the home of Barbara and Gil FitzGerrell, for fellowship and a Texas welcome. The group is shown in the photo below.

 

 

This year marked the first year at OTC as our new President, for John Fowler, who is shown on the left in his opening remarks at the breakfast. We were also honored to have as our guests, the Lord Provost and Mrs. John Reynolds of Aberdeen, Scotland, and Houston City Councilman M.J. Khan, representing Houston Mayor Bill White who was unable to attend due to the death of his brother.

Councilman Khan read a proclamation from the City of Houston, commending us for 25 years as a sister city and declaring it, "Houston Grampian Day" in Houston. He also presented a gift to the Lord Provost, which is shown in the photo on the right.

Lord Provost Reynolds made remarks to the breakfast assembly, as did our British Consul-General, Iain Murray, who will be leaving the post this year. He has been a steadfast supporter of Houston Grampian and participated in and hosted many activities involving our organization and the Grampian Houston Association, from Aberdeen. Speaking on behalf of Grampian Houston, was Bill Gordon, who thanked us for our hospitality and promised a good time to our HGA members who will visit Aberdeen in September. Pictured below from left to right, are Lord Provost, John Reynolds, British Consul-General, Iain Murray and Bill Gordon.

   

 

The 2003 OTC Breakfast

 

 

For 2003, the honored speaker was Mr. Neil Duffin, Vice President of CIS/Middle East Projects for ExxonMobil Development Company, who is shown on the right. Mr. Duffin gave an excellent presentation about ExxonMobil's development projects in the area formerly know as the Soviet Union and in the Middle East.

Shown in the photo below are from left to right, Mike Trotter, Neil Duffin and Dwight Beach - HGA President.

 

 

The 2002 OTC Breakfast

Shown below are photos of speakers from the 2002 breakfast, including Mr. David Blackwood, Vice President of Gulf of Mexico, Deep Water Projects for British Petroleum, and Bill Gordon, giving a welcome on behalf of Lord Provost Margaret E. Smith, Aberdeen, Scotland.

David Blackwood

Welcome by Bill Gordon on behalf of
Lord Provost Margaret E. Smith, Aberdeen

 

The 2001 OTC Breakfast

Shown below are photos of speakers and guests from the 2001 breakfast. These include speakers Derek Blackwood, President, Wood Group Engineering and Production Facilities - Americas and Dennis Frakes, Vice President of Business Development, Mustang Engineering our honored guest, Lord Provost Margaret Smith, City of Aberdeen, Scotland as she presented a beautiful framed picture to our HGA President, Dwight Beach.

Dennis Frakes

Derek Blackwood

Lord Provost Margaret Smith - Dwight Beach

 

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