Encino Energy Receives Excellence Award from Development Alliance

LOUISVILLE, Ohio – The Eastern Ohio Development Alliance has named Encino Energy the winner of the Excellence Award in the Large Business Category this year. 

The association is an independent and nonprofit organization that promotes economic development. It has representatives from 16 counties in eastern and southeastern Ohio, including Columbiana County. 

The Alliance recognized Encino’s investment in and transparent communication with the communities in which Encino serves and operates, according to a news release announcing the award. The successful prioritization of safety in all operations and the efforts to mitigate the environmental impacts were among other reasons that the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance selected Encino.

The award was accepted by several members of the Encino team, including Ray Walker, chief operating officer.

“To receive the Eastern Ohio Developmental Alliance’s Large Business Excellence Award is a tremendous honor that could not have been accomplished without the ongoing partnership we have with the communities in which we live, work, and operate,” Walker said in the release. 

“Encino is committed to do the right things for the right reasons while never losing sight of long-term focus and safety,” he continued. “We are excited and optimistic about our future in Ohio, and we are deeply humbled by this extraordinary recognition from EODA.”

Encino is the first exploration and production company to receive an excellence award from the association. It was nominated by Terry Bell, vice president of the Jefferson County Township Association, who cited the company’s “community-mindedness, transparency and commitment to the region.

“I was motivated to nominate Encino for the EODA Excellence Award because I’ve seen the hard work they’ve put into serving and partnering with our townships,” Bell said. “The commitment Encino has to operating sustainably is clear, and that includes maintaining strong relationships with the whole region through education, outreach, and partnership initiatives.”

Pictured: At the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance’s award ceremony are J.P. Dutton, Belmont County Commissioner representing EODA; Encino Energy’s Doug Schafer, Betty Hammer, Scott Fairhurst and Jackie Stewart; Terry Bell of the Jefferson Township Association, who nominated Encino; Encino chief operating officer Ray Walker; and Encino’s Lucas Shipper and Seth Wehr.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.