Tim Butts
Tim Butts has devoted his adult life to helping others. As a decorated veteran, he spent more than 30 years serving the country. And as an industry leader, he’s helped U.S. energy progress through his role at Continental Resources Inc.
“Tim is a true American patriot,” said colleague and Continental production vice-president Brad Aman. “Tim's love for his country and freedom is part of who he is. Today, he is on the front lines in a different way. He is playing a significant role in unleashing American energy. The team Tim leads has had a significant impact on America’s quest for energy independence by producing highly valuable, light, sweet crude oil.
Butts joined Continental as a roustabout in 1997, and soon showed great leadership potential. He rose through the ranks to become a production technician, and later a production foreman, before becoming a production superintendent. He’s held the role since 2012. In his current position, Butts manages Continental’s largest oil production area, located in the Bakken around Killdeer, N.D.
“Tim is highly regarded among the Continental executive team and employees,” Aman said. “The oil Tim and his team manage would make Continental's Killdeer area the 10th largest oil producing state if it were a state.”
Outside the corporate world, Butts spent 31 years in the military before retiring in 2014 as a lieutenant colonel. He completed two Afghanistan tours and accumulated numerous medals during his distinguished military career.
His decorations include a Bronze Star Medal, a Defense Meritorious Medal, and a Good Conduct medal, among others.
Butts frequently advocates for fellow veterans and encourages his colleagues to interview them for open positions. Today, 10% of his Killdeer team are veterans from four different branches of the military.
He is also a supporter of the Wounded Warriors’ program.
“Tim is a true patriot with a servant's heart,” Aman said. “He always makes an effort to sit down and talk with veterans when he runs into them, wherever he may happen to be.”
His two sons have inherited his love for the country, and both served in the U.S. military.
For Butts, supporting in the military has been as rewarding as it’s been challenging.
“Serving in the military is not only extremely important to keeping America safe and secure but you have to take into consideration the impacts the U.S. military has around the world,” he said. “The U.S. military takes such a significant roll in the world that ranges from fighting terrorism to nation building. Without the U.S. military the world would be an extremely chaotic place.”
Butts’ leadership skills extend beyond the office and into the community he lives in. He’s passionate about helping young people, and coached cross country track and wrestling. He has also teamed up with Continental to ensure activities for young people are available within western North Dakota.
“Without community support companies will struggle to survive,” he said. “Supporting the youth of a community is the key part of setting the success for the future.”
Advice to veterans: “Working in the energy industry and for a company like Continental Resources is very rewarding especially in this day and age with the United States working towards energy independence. It gives a person a great feeling of accomplishment being part of something bigger than oneself. Places like western North Dakota has a vast abundance of positions available with over 4,000 job openings on an average daily basis so it is a good place for Veterans to get integrated back into the work force.”