LUBBOCK – Betty Harris-Catherman, chief financial officer for Pro Petroleum, was recognized as the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award winner for Wayland Baptist University’s Lubbock campus, honored at the January 7 graduation ceremony.
Catherman earned her bachelor’s degree in business in from Wayland in 2000 and a Master of Business Administration degree in 2004, all while serving at Pro Petroleum. She started her career as tax manager before becoming the controller and, eventually, the CFO. During her more than 25 years with the company, she was instrumental in designing and creating an industry-recognized software, expanded the company’s networking territories, worked to finance several multimillion-dollar fuel terminal and pipeline projects from the ground up and eventually helped in the merger between two industry-leading corporations.
Over the past decade, Catherman has partnered with other CFOs, accountants, lobbyists and tax managers in helping interpret, write, and legislate petroleum state and environmental tax codes for several West Coast states. She has been recognized many times over as an industry leader and pioneer for women in the petroleum industry. She is known for being a mentor to women across the nation in a male-dominated industry and she has been asked to foster, consult and train other potential industry leaders.
“Our Wayland alumni are often leaders in their communities and in their industries, and Betty Catherman is a great example of that. Her mentorship of other women in an industry most often populated by men is another testament to her servant leadership,” said Teresa Young, Director of Alumni Relations at Wayland. “All of this makes her an excellent choice for distinguished alumnus and we are proud to call her part of our Wayland family.”
Catherman has served on many boards in her community, including Christ the King School, Ransom Canyon POA, and the Volunteer Center of Lubbock. She and husband Nick, a 2009 Wayland graduate, have two college-age children with whom she also enjoys volunteering.
The Distinguished Alumni Awards are presented annually to a graduate of each of Wayland’s 12 campuses and an Alumnus of the Year is chosen from among those, honored at the university’s homecoming celebration to be held February 18-19. For more information, visit the school’s website at www. wbualumni.com.
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