EAG Spotlight: John Phillippe
Our Spotlight is John Phillippe! John Phillippe is the Director of Web Solutions at EAG with 35+ years film, video, media, and custom application development and creation experience. He specializes in developing web-based applications and has produced thousands of films, videos, websites, and applications for television networks, movie studios, and businesses in many different industries – including Oil & Gas.
In his spotlight, John describes EAG and his personal experience in witnessing how the business grew over the past two decades. He shares profound insight about what inspires him, proudest moments, and more. Read his full story below!
1. How would you describe EAG?
I met Elizabeth Gerbel in 2005 when EAG had two employees. Back then, Elizabeth was doing projects herself, as well as learning how to develop and grow the business. In the past 18 years I have watched her take EAG to places that were never thought possible back in 2005. Along the way, she and the EAG brand have become known as THE ONLY major player in the oil and gas consulting space. From starting in a small office on the West side of Houston, to now having two floors of a downtown office building and offices in other cities, watching the EAG journey unfold has been a lesson in how you grow a world class organization. Today, EAG has 230+ team members that accomplish things that I know for a fact blow Elizabeth’s mind every day. The talent she has sought out and collected under the EAG banner is nothing short of world class, and that is not an easy thing to do. There is no one at EAG that “just has a job”. Every team member is the best at what they do, and seeing Elizabeth’s vision for the company become a company that people envy makes me proud not only to be a part of it, but to see my friend’s vision come to life and grow every day.
2. What has been one of your proudest moments working at EAG?
This is a tough one, my team has done amazing things since day one of being at EAG, picking just one of the 167 custom projects we have delivered in our first year of being at EAG is a bit of “Sophie’s Choice”.
3. What advice do you have for prospective candidates that want to join EAG?
Be comfortable with hustle and problem solving. Coasting will only take you downhill.
4. What’s one thing – either industry-related or not – you learned in the last month?
Ahmed Taher is a Taylor Swift fan… who knew?
5. What do you like to do in your free time? Any favorite places you like to visit?
It’s only once a year, but I really enjoy the annual opportunity I am given to visit the federal penitentiary in Cleveland, TX. I spend the day there teaching inmates who are about to be released how to use social media, how to start a business, how to use the internet, etc. It gives them a leg up for when they have to compete with other job candidates, and it makes them feel like society hasn’t left them behind by knowing how to use different platforms and different online tools to increase their opportunities.
6. Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
Unlike Ahmed, I do not like Taylor Swift.
7. How do you balance your career with other priorities?
Having the small circle of friends that I have, for as long as I have had them, keeps me balanced and accountable on a certain level. For some reason, I have had the most amazing people in my life that help guide me; something I will never take for granted.
8. Who or what inspires you and why?
It might sound a bit abstract, but I am inspired by possibility. I often think, what if we tried something this way, or that way; or what if we looked at the problem from a different perspective to see if we could get it done faster and better? What if we didn’t settle for “just getting it done” and made it as “cool” as we can. What if instead of delivering what everyone is expecting, we delivered something they have never seen before? Waking up every day with that perspective, combined with an amazing team that puts up with me inspires me every day.
9. What is your life motto or favorite quote?
Illegitimis non carborundum.
10. What’s your superpower? (What are you confident in knowing that you’re good at)
I can go anywhere, at any time, and know (because I have done it many times), that I will be fine.