Written by Katie Mykleby
The Alberta Energy Challenge is a five-day case competition event hosted in Edmonton, Alberta by the University of Alberta School of Business that Sam Infanti, Aaron
Nazrini and myself, Katie Mykleby, had the opportunity to attend. During our time at AEC, we learned about the energy industry in Canada through speakers, interactive games, a company site tour, consultants and the case. The company tour of MEG Energy was my favorite part of AEC. We got to travel up north, near Fort McMurray, to MEG Energy’s operations and see a well pad and facilities. Alberta is an oil sands play, so this was something very unique that most other petroleum engineering students do not have the chance to see.
For the case competition, each team was given 60 hours to come up with a solution to a company’s problem and create a presentation to the board of directors outlining the company’s strategic plan up to the year 2030. The presentations were held at the University of Alberta on Sunday. Each team presented in the preliminary round, with only the top four teams moving onto the final round. OU was selected to present in the final round, so our team was able to present in front of all six judges, the AEC executive team and all the other participants.
Once the final round of presentations was completed, the teams went back to the hotel to prepare for the gala, at which the winners would be announced. OU finished in 3rd place overall and Sam was given the Spirit of AEC award.
Overall, AEC was an amazing experience. It was a great way for us to learn more about the oil and gas industry in Canada as well as network with peers and industry specialists.