s ss 14 vol.9no.3
Callie Mitchell D i s t i n g u i s h e d A l u m n a A t first glance, Callie Mitchell’s road from past <strong>to</strong> present seems like just another success s<strong>to</strong>ry. When Mitchell graduated from The University of Tulsa in 1977, she <strong>to</strong>ok her bachelor’s degree in business management and – like thousands of other newly-minted college grads – struck out on her own <strong>to</strong> find employment in her chosen industry. And like thousands of other smart, driven, high-achieving types, success and accolades soon followed. But that’s where the similarities end. Now the vice president of enterprise services for the Williams Companies, Mitchell has carved out a 30-year career in the male-dominated, rough-and-tumble world of the oil and gas industry. ”In the late ’70s it was <strong>to</strong>ugh on all women in any industry,” recalls Mitchell. “But I went in<strong>to</strong> an industry where I was one of three, maybe four women in my area. I learned quickly <strong>to</strong> understand the differences between the guys who had been in the industry 30 or 40 years, and myself, a woman just out of college.” For Mitchell, it was just one more challenging opportunity in a career full of them. “I was able <strong>to</strong> start at a time when women could really make a difference, and not just in this industry,” says Mitchell. “The whole world was changing its viewpoint on diversity, not just <strong>to</strong>ward women but also with different ways of looking and thinking about everything. And I was also blessed with great bosses and men<strong>to</strong>rs.” For Mitchell, the skills necessary <strong>to</strong> navigate the sometimes-treacherous waters of the energy industry were honed during her time at <strong>TU</strong>. Mitchell, who grew up in Minnesota and Illinois, came <strong>to</strong> <strong>TU</strong>, having never before seen Tulsa. “I came down here and just fell in love with the place,” she recalls. “The city, the school, everything. Tulsa was probably the best thing <strong>to</strong> have happened <strong>to</strong> me at that time <strong>to</strong> prepare me for my career. It was small, they treated everyone equally, and they instilled a sense of confidence in us that I didn’t see the big state schools doing for my friends.” Mitchell majored in business management, graduated in 1977 and attended graduate school for a year until she got her first shot at a job with Mid-America Pipeline, a Tulsa-based natural gas liquids pipeline <strong>com</strong>pany. From there, she went <strong>to</strong> work for a natural gas liquids trading <strong>com</strong>pany before be<strong>com</strong>ing part owner of a marketing <strong>com</strong>pany. Along the way, Mitchell managed <strong>to</strong> juggle family and career with equal aplomb. She met and married husband Murphy (BA ’77), a “huge <strong>TU</strong> fan” and football letterman, while at <strong>TU</strong> and raised two daughters. “I actually kind of retired with my girls a couple times,” Mitchell says. “But eventually I ended <strong>back</strong> at Getty, which subsequently was bought out by Texaco.” Mitchell stayed with Texaco for almost 11 years, but after a transfer <strong>to</strong> Hous<strong>to</strong>n, Mitchell knew what she really wanted was <strong>to</strong> <strong>com</strong>e home <strong>to</strong> Tulsa. When a job with Williams came open, she jumped at it. “The rest,” she says, “is his<strong>to</strong>ry. I’ve been here almost 11 years.” In her job as vice president of enterprise services – a position she’s held for four years – Mitchell oversees a corporate group with approximately 100 employees, a budget of $42 million and responsibilities that include the <strong>com</strong>pany’s real estate, supplier contracts and <strong>com</strong>munity relations. She also serves as president of the Williams Foundation, the <strong>com</strong>pany’s philanthropic organization. For her many ac<strong>com</strong>plishments, Mitchell was named a 2006 <strong>TU</strong> Distinguished Alumna, an honor she holds as dear as any she’s earned. “I was really surprised and honored <strong>to</strong> be named one of the three distinguished alumni,” says Mitchell. “I didn’t know anything about it. They surprised me at a luncheon.” Mitchell says while some may see the award as an affirmation of a successful career, she sees it more as an affirmation of her love for <strong>TU</strong>. “Now that I’m at a point in my career where I can do more for <strong>TU</strong>, I want <strong>to</strong> be involved more,” she says. “The bot<strong>to</strong>m line is that I love the school and I love Tulsa. We have a lot of partnerships going on with the University, and I want <strong>to</strong> continue those endeavors.” In essence, says Mitchell, the award says just as much about <strong>TU</strong> as it does about her. “During the ’70s there were a whole bunch of very successful women that <strong>TU</strong> cranked out,” recalls Mitchell. “I think it was just the magic of that time, the sense of possibility. We were very lucky.” As for any future distinguished alumni still <strong>to</strong> achieve greatness, Mitchell has a few words of advice: “It’s been a neat ride <strong>to</strong> have lived through and experienced almost 30 years of the evolution of this industry,” says Mitchell. “It’s a roller coaster. It can be frustrating, but the good news is it makes you stronger, it makes you wiser, and you learn who <strong>your</strong> friends are. I work with these young kids just out of college and tell them ‘enjoy this – savor every moment of it.’” home<strong>com</strong>ing2006 15