Shelly Lambertz, part of Continental Resources’ namesake founding as Shelly Dean Oil, has been named the estimated $30 billion shale E&P’s executive chairman.
Wildcatter Harold Hamm, 79, who founded the Oklahoma City-based company in nearby Enid with a truck, a four-figure loan secured by the truck and a tank full of pluck remains at Continental in an advisory role. Hamm remains a central figure at the company.
“He certainly isn’t working any less,” a Continental Resources spokesman told Hart Energy Sept. 3.
In addition to his ongoing role at the E&P, his work includes for the Hamm Institute for American Energy at Oklahoma State University, the Hamm Foundation and public-policy projects.
Starting in 1967 with two small children, Shelly and Dean, he took the company public in 2007 to raise capital for wildcatting in the then-new Bakken oil play and took private again last fall by buying out the remaining percentage of shares he sold in 2007.
Continental currently operates across the Lower 48, primarily in the Permian, Anadarko, Powder River and Williston basins, and recently signed a deal to explore in Turkey.
Lambertz, who has been on Continental’s board since 2018, was executive vice president, chief culture, and administrative officer.
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She joined the E&P in 2018 and held the post of chief culture officer and senior vice president, human resources. Her roles also included responsibility for HSE, government relations, investor and public relations, and legal.
Prior to joining the E&P, she was COO of Hamm Capital, a family investment and advisory firm, and is a director of the Harold Hamm Foundation.
She received her bachelor’s in business administration from Oklahoma State University.
Her career began in Washington, D.C., working for the U.S. House of Representatives, including as office manager for Rep. Mickey Edwards (Oklahoma); a legislative assistant for Minority Leader Bob Michel (Illinois); and deputy chief of staff for Rep. Frank Lucas (Oklahoma).
Later, she took the role of director, human resources, and business advisor to Hamm & Phillips Service and was executive director of the YWCA in Enid.
“Growing up in the business, I was able to see first-hand the tremendous ups and downs of the industry,” she told Hart Energy in a 2022 interview. “I really appreciate what oil and gas have done to improve the quality of life for so many.”
Of energy’s role in the world, she added, “There is no more important work we can be doing right now than telling the story of our societal impact.
“What we do every day is truly changing the world. We have a great opportunity to educate consumers on the benefits of affordable, reliable oil and gas. We also must continue to make strides on the environmental front as well.”