ConocoPhillips CEO to give keynote address in Great Falls

It is likely that most Montanan’s are unaware that the chief executive officer of one of the world’s largest oil companies is a Great Falls High School graduate.

Ryan Lance is a petroleum engineer with 31 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry. Four years ago he was promoted as CEO of ConocoPhillips.

Thirty-two years before that he was an academic standout at Great Falls High.

Lance was in Great Falls to present the keynote address at the Excellence in Education ceremony, an annual celebration of local educators presented by the Great Falls Public Schools Foundation.

“When they called and asked if I would come up, it was just a little something that I could do to give back to what was a great education that I had here in Great Falls,” Lance said. “It’s what led me on to Montana Tech, and forward onto the path that I’ve been on for the last 30-some years.”

Lance was born into a military family. His father was from Billings, his mom grew up in Wolf Point. The couple met while attending classes at Montana State University before Lance’s father enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

“We had lived all over the U.S., and my dad was fortunate to get his last assignment back here at Malmstrom,” Lance said of his childhood. “We came back here in 1977 and I went to Great Falls High. It was great we were able to come home.”

Lance spent three years attending classes at Great Falls High, and credits several of his teachers with having a profound influence in his life.

“Peggy Blythe was a biology teacher at Great Falls High who had a huge influence on me,” he said. “Gene Cook, Larry Lucero; they were teachers who were institutions at Great Falls High that really gave a lot back. They didn’t get famous in the process, but they certainly educated some people who went on to do some pretty outstanding things. It a testament to those guys who spent 20- and 30-year careers giving back to the kids.”

Lance said his presentation at the Excellence in Education ceremony would emphasize the importance of science, technology, engineering and math in education.

“In the work that we’ve done in the oil and gas industry and as a company, you realize you’ve got to start reading and mathematics at an early age,” he said. “If you can pass algebra in the eighth or ninth grade your chances of going on to college are tripled.”

“Really, this is about how important it is to support our schools here in Montana and give the kids the opportunities that they have here,” Lance added.

The Great Falls Public Schools Foundation honored Stacey Krahe, a math teacher at East Middle School, and Karen Spencer, a chemistry teacher from C.M. Russell High, as the teachers of the year.

Thirty-three teachers were nominated.

“These educators are passionate about making their subjects interesting and their classrooms a place for problem solving and critical thinking,” BNSF railway representative Matt Jones. BNSF sponsored the event said.