Ed Ireland

When a consortium of leading Barnett Shale production companies founded the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council in 2007, it selected Ed Ireland as executive director. Ireland and the BSEEC are dedicated to promoting energy education and best practices as they relate to oil and gas leasing, drilling, production, transportation and marketing in the Barnett Shale. Ireland’s executive management experience, operational expertise and 20-year oil and gas career made him the ideal candidate to oversee the activities of the BSEEC, and implement educational and outreach programs in the 24-county area that makes up the Barnett Shale. An industry expert, he also acts as spokesperson for the Barnett Shale, as well as a community and media representative on behalf of BSEEC members. He serves on the Board of Directors of the TCU Energy Institute and was a co-founder of the Metroplex Natural Gas Vehicle Consortium. Ireland started his career in the energy industry as an energy economist at United Gas Pipeline in Houston. He founded Energy Planning Associates and GasMark, Inc, a natural gas supplier and pipeline company, and later became president of GeoSource, Inc., an independent oil and gas exploration company. Ireland also served as Alderman of the City of Southside Place, Texas, for three terms. Prior to his corporate work, Ireland served as assistant professor and head of the Economics Department at Clemson University in South Carolina. Ireland holds a B.S. in economics from Midwestern State University, a Ph.D. in economics and statistics from Texas Tech University and did post-doctoral work at the University of Chicago.