Who We Are and Our Values

Michael Parker – President/CEO

Michael is the founder and President of BlackRock Resources, LLC. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Michael recognized the demand for professional staffing and consulting services, primarily in the oil/gas/energy sector. He created BlackRock Resources, a firm that challenges the status quo and embraces the changes of an industry dominated by large companies with rigid business structures.

Michael began his career as an Account Executive for a Pittsburgh-based IT consulting firm prior to the Y2K boom and has quickly moved up the ranks. He credits his success to the many mentors that have helped him strengthen his core principles of Integrity, Execution and Innovation, which he applies in his daily personal and business practices.

During his career, Michael has found success working with both large and start-up firms. He believes that the key to solving his customer’s problems is in building a partnership based upon mutual respect and a willingness to accept new ideas and implement them into solutions-oriented strategies.

Michael was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area before attending the University of Dayton to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (Go Flyers). He lives just south of Pittsburgh with his wife Christine and his four daughters where he is active in his community.

Tara Cooper – Vice President of Engineering and Field Services

Tara is BlackRock Resource’s Vice President of Operations and is based in West Virginia. She joined BlackRock Resources to establish the Engineering and Field Services division, one of the fastest-growing sectors of the company. Her wide range of experience in the natural gas industry makes her ideally suited to oversee a full spectrum of activities from modest projects to complex installations.

Tara coordinates with managers and directors across BlackRock’s multiple departments to ensure client satisfaction in every element of the business. She recognizes the importance of engaging and having a direct relationship with each client as an effective way to quickly recognize and address any need the client may have, as well as helping establish cost saving, efficient solutions.

Tara has been administratively responsible for transmission pipelines, natural gas compressor stations, and Marcellus and Utica Shale projects located in various states covering the northern and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. During project execution, she actively engages with state and county agencies, DOT, developers, contractors, and environmental groups to ensure a successful project completion.

Stephanie Glandon – Vice President Staffing, Recruiting & Consulting Services

Stephanie is Director of Staffing and Consulting Services for BlackRock Resources. She joined BlackRock Resources to focus on managing client relationships and further expand the company’s ability to meet client demands. She is experienced with the Chemical, Petro-Chemical, Refining, Manufacturing, and Oil, Gas & Pipeline industries.

During her 20+-year career, Stephanie has gained a deep understanding of the engineering and operations side of supporting client needs, as well as field, technical, administrative, cost, scheduling, and other key positions that add value to critical projects, where contract staffing or consulting services are of a value to the customer. Stephanie knows the dynamic industry requirements and appreciates all that is required to maintain a low employee turnover rate. She works onsite with BlackRock employees and client managers to preserve existing business relationships and to cultivate new opportunities.

A lifelong resident of West Virginia, Stephanie is based in Charleston where she supports BlackRock Resources’ geographical business territory. Stephanie attended Concord College, where she studied Business and Marketing. She has two children and is very active in their school and extra-curricular activities.

Gene Pietrowski – Director, Business Development

Gene is Director of Business Development with BlackRock Resources. He has 28 years in the consulting engineering industry focused on the energy/industrial market with professional responsibilities including project management, corporate radiation safety, market segment leader, and business development executive. During the past ten years his primary focus has been on the oil & gas sector. His experience has spanned the energy spectrum with projects in electric generation, electric transmission, oil & gas, and industrial.

A national subject matter expert on inventory services, Gene has published multiple articles, newsletters, and presentations. He is an active participant in various professional organizations including: PIOGA (Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association), WVONGA (West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association), IOGA of WV (Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia), ARIPPA, NWSA (National Weighing and Sampling Association), ABGPSA (Appalachian Basin Gas Processors Association) to name a few.

Gene is an innovative problem solver who excels in resolving complex technical issues and exceptional communicator with strong abilities in leading diverse groups. He is a key leader in the continued success of business unit geographical expansions and continued market share growth, including the development and implementation of customer service improvement plans and initiatives. He consistently drives project quality and efficiencies through his analytical decisions and has been instrumental in the growth and development of business but also industry clients and their needs.

Gene was raised in central PA and graduated from St. Francis University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering with continued focus on project management/controls and materials at Penn State under their civil engineering program. He spends his spare time on community projects and is president of the local youth baseball program.

Jacob Shams, PE – Director of Engineering & Field Services

Jacob is Director of Engineering and Field Services for BlackRock Resources. He joined BlackRock Resources, to oversee and support the expansion of the Engineering and Field Services team. Jacob has 13 years of engineering consulting experience in the natural gas industry as a project director, engineering manager, project manager, and lead discipline engineer.

As an engineering consultant in the natural gas industry, Jacob gained more than 250 miles of pipeline project management experience. He was project manager and/or lead structural engineer overseeing more than 70 facility upgrades and greenfield projects. He has managed multiple FERC projects and is well-versed in the necessary processes to complete FERC filings. He has designed and/or supervised more than 50 horizontal directional-drilled crossings.

Jacob draws from his vast project experience to solve complex technical problems and provide support and oversight to BlackRock’s Engineering and Field Services team. He obtained his Bachelors and Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Louisville in 2006 and currently holds his Professional Engineering License in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, and Louisiana.

Danny B Hanna’s SME, PMP

Danny’s early years were spent learning construction and estimating, quickly developing into a Project Controls Subject Matters Expert. He attained his PMP through the Project Management Institute, Houston Chapter. His career has afforded him the opportunity to work on Mega projects around the world. The project sizes range from $25M to as much as $30B. Danny has been trained as a recovery specialist in all fields and is one of very few people left around that can rebuild any CAT cracker currently online. With the evolution of technology, he developed a way to incorporate drones into project controls and project management saving millions of dollars for his clients, also with a higher percentage of accuracy. Danny’s career spans 37 years and he has an excellent reputation in the industry.