Offshore exploration firm provides a family feel
Maria Pellacani decided to join Talos Energy seven years ago because she wanted a change. The senior reservoir engineer had spent her entire career at large state- owned oil and gas companies. But a friendly, closeknit atmosphere attracted her to Talos, said Pellacani, originally from Venezuela.
“We’re like a big family,” Pellacani said. “There are no barriers. We don’t have rankings. Everybody can talk to anybody about work.”
This collaborative environment has helped Talos stay on the Chronicle’s Top Workplaces list for eight straight years. The
offshore oil and gas producer ranked No. 5 among midsize companies.
Talos Energy, founded in 2012 by CEO Tim Duncan and Executive Vice President John Parker,
started with five employees in a 1,100-square-foot office at a Regus coworking space. Today, the company has about 420 employees, including about 200 at its Houston headquarters spanning five floors and 130,000 square feet at Three Allen Center.
Despite being a midsize company in an industry dominated by big ones such as Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell, Talos has made several major discoveries, particularly in the shallow waters off the Gulf Coast of Mexico.
“I’m proud of what we’ve done there,” Duncan said. “We showed the type of courage that makes small companies big companies.”
Through the coronavirus pandemic, Talos has tried to maintain a close relationship with employees working from home.
With 70 percent of Talos’ employees working remotely, company leaders hold regular town hall meetings over Zoom and started a newsletter to keep employees engaged.
Pellacani lives with her 75year-old mother, who is at high risk of getting seriously ill from the virus. She said she appreciated Talos’ efforts to keep employees safe and engaged.
“It’s a great and fun place to work,” Pellacani said. “This whole thing made me realize how much I miss the social activities, talking to people, sharing news and having fun. I really do miss that.”