Meg Collins has been named president of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, succeeding Greg Schnacke, who held the post for 13 years.
Collins is the first woman to lead the association that is commonly known as COGA.
Since 2002, she has worked at the Colorado Livestock Association in government and environmental affairs, and also serves as chair of the Pollution Prevention Advisory Board, an advisory group to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Collins is taking the COGA post at a time of escalating conflict between the energy industry and groups opposed to increased drilling for oil and natural gas in Colorado.
“The Rocky Mountain West is doing its part to meet our nation’s energy challenge, but we are at a critical juncture,” said COGA chairman Ted Brown. “I know Meg will be a great ambassador for the industry and reach out to stakeholders and seek consensus on how to responsibly develop oil and gas resources.”
Schnacke will join Policy Communications Inc., a Golden- based lobbying group for the natural-resources industry. He also will be president of Americans for American Energy, an advocacy group for domestic energy development.
Staff writer Steve Raabe can be reached at 303-954-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com.
