How Alliance Pipeline Is Taking Advantage Of Opportunities While Dealing With Changing Market Dynamics

Shortly after Alliance Pipeline celebrated its 10th anniversary, company President and CEO, Murray Birch, and Bob Blattler, Manager, Supply Development, took time to respond to P&GJ’s questions regarding the company’s recent milestone, safety strategy, training methods, near-term challenges and a move toward becoming a multi-service pipeline.

The executives also provided insight into the company’s business strategy as it relates to the shale plays being developed around the country.
Here’s what they had to say:

P&GJ:. Can you briefly tell us about your role at Alliance and your background?
Birch: I have been Alliance’s president and CEO since March 2005. Essentially, I came out of retirement to take the job – I knew what an excellent company Alliance is and thought I could make a contribution to that continuing.

Before that, I had a career of over 30 years in the energy industry, both in North America and abroad, most recently as the senior vice president, Business Development with Duke Energy (formerly Westcoast Energy).

I also previously served as co-chief executive officer of Foothills Pipelines and on the Executive Committee for Vector Pipelines, as well as on the board of the Calpine Power Income Fund, Alliance Pipeline and Aux Sable Liquids Products Limited. Of course, those positions gave me a good amount of insight and understanding into Alliance Pipeline’s history and business. My earlier experience also included a stint as a commissioner at the B.C. Utilities Commission.

I am also a board member and past chairman of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), and serve on the board of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA). I am also co-chair of the INGAA Board Pipeline Safety Task Force.

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Blattler: My role at Alliance is as manager, Supply Development, where I lead a business development team focused on new opportunities in natural gas and natural gas liquids. I provide management to new projects and services, and lead customer relations in new supply basins in Canada and the United States.

My position’s key focus relates to Alliance’s move from a single-service, single-toll ‘bullet’ pipeline to a multi-service pipeline offering customers a suite of transportation services and contract tenures from which to choose.

My career spans more than 20 years in the pipeline and energy industry. Prior to joining Alliance in 2008, I spent 14 years with TransCanada Pipelines in the areas of gas control, customer service, and commercial supply development. In the latter capacity, I worked to identify and pursue growth and optimization initiatives, and was responsible for various contract negotiations and managing a myriad of stakeholder relationships. Prior to TransCanada, I spent a decade with Nova Chemicals Ltd. in a variety of roles, including operations.