Member Corner Chantel Maybach

Meet Chantel Maybach

Vice President of Sales, Columbine Corporation

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I was born in Soldotna, Alaska, on the Kenai Peninsula. Midway through my freshman year my mother moved us to Tucson, Arizona. We then moved to West Plains, Missouri, the summer of my sophomore year where my grandparents had retired from Tesoro.

HOW DID YOU END UP INVOLVED IN THE GEOSCIENCES?

I have had passion for science and math since I was a little girl. This love and affinity have been present throughout my lifetime. After teaching high school locally for 10 years, I had a deep desire to join the oil and gas industry as it has been excellent to my family for four generations. Almost four years ago, Columbine took a chance and gave me the opportunity to combine my passion for science and desire to help, educate, and interact with many people.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

In high school I was involved in many things, one of them being theatre. I was approached by the drama teacher to go to the local radio station to record a public service announcement or commercial regarding the upcoming play, Cinderella. I was fortunate to cut the commercial in one take. The Station Manager offered me a job that day as the afternoon DJ from 3-7 pm, which was awesome and a fortuitous foreshadowing.

WHAT JOBS HAVE YOU HAD THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER?

I began my career as a secretary at a circuit board manufacturing plant in Milwaukee, WI. One of the vendors convinced me that I was a salesperson and hired me as an outside Sales Representative. I have enjoyed years of outside sales, training salespeople, and management in multiple vertical markets such as transportation, chemicals, advertising and oil and gas. Then my career changed, and I enjoyed being a local celebrity as the morning drive time host on the radio at 560 KLZ, followed by yet another career change into secondary education.

RMAG’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee is featuring a monthly Member Corner. We hope you’ll enjoy learning about the diverse community of Earth scientists and wide variety of geoscience disciplines that comprise our membership. If you would like to appear in an upcoming column, or if there is someone you would like to nominate, please contact staff@rmag.org.

WHAT IS THE GREATEST RISK YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?

This is a tough question as I have taken many risks throughout my life. However, one of my favorites was with Don Crawford Jr. of Crawford Broadcasting, 560 KLZ. I listened to the station and knew that I could help them on-air. I must have called Don every week or two for months to no avail when I decided to send him a high heel in a shoe box with a note that read, “I am just trying to get my foot in the door.” Don called me saying something along the lines of, “I will give you five minutes”, to which I quickly replied, “Great! I only need two!”

We met in his office and immediately got along when Don asked me what experience I had on the air. Needless to say, he was amused to hear that I had two whole years of experience back in high school in rural Missouri. He then asked if I truly thought that qualified me to break into a top 50 market here in Denver. As diplomatically as I could, I replied, “Yes, sir. I’ve heard what you have on the air.” I believe that Don thought he would call what he thought was a bluff and walked me right into the studio to put me on the air. Lo and behold, the on-air mixing board was the same that I had worked with in Missouri, and I did not need to utilize his producer. Apparently, he was impressed as I was hired as the morning drive-time host.

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED SO FAR?

Never settle. I have had the great fortune to do many things throughout my career and many of my positions have been very different from one another. I always have loved to work, but I realized early in my career that work is to sustain life, not monopolize your life. If you are burnt out, unhappy, or bored, change it up. Find passion in your position and if it has run its course, find joy in your work elsewhere. Life is short.

WHAT DOES YOUR CURRENT JOB ENTAIL?

As Vice President of Sales, I am fortunate to enjoy a variety of things in my position. My favorite is meeting with and serving Columbine’s mudlogging, geosteering, and geoscience customers and future customers in Denver and Dallas/Fort Worth. I also have the privilege of motivating, managing, and shaping our dedicated sales team. Plus, I try to take every opportunity provided to speak with our Well-Site Geologists and Geosteerers to inform them of the feedback I receive on their performance and how much their dedication to excellence is not only appreciated, but also recognized. Lastly, as a member of the Executive Leadership team I am able to present ideas that hopefully make Columbine even better, e.g., new services or new processes/procedures.

WHAT DOES RETIREMENT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU IN TERMS OF GEOSCIENCE?

Our industry is filled with extremely competent, kind, professional, dedicated people. I truly hope to never retire!

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT?

My husband, Christopher. He means everything to me and has been my best friend for 26 years. He keeps me grounded, is the greatest sounding board I could have asked for, and is always there for me.

WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

The Prometheus Deception by Robert Ludlum

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. -Wayne Gretzky

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES OR PASSIONS OUTSIDE OF WORK?

I have many. I love to sing, play pickleball, hunt and fish on the Kenai River, spend time with our 6 dogs and 3 llamas, work out, and spend time with family and friends.