Passionate leadership, personified

Sometimes, it just clicks.

That’s the feeling Dennis Chorney had when he first walked through SAIT’s doors in 1973.

When I found SAIT, I found a direction, a purpose and a vocation that I knew I was meant for,” Chorney said. “While I have furthered my education since leaving SAIT, most of what I needed I learned right here.”

Fuelled by passion for his career and his family, Chorney’s achievements in petroleum technology, engineering, and business span 39 years. So do his ties – and passion – for SAIT.

"It’s the people, the energy – the positive, can-do attitude that seems to emanate there,” said Chorney. “I’d say ‘profoundly’ would be an understatement of the impact it’s had on my life.”

It would also be an understatement of the impact Chorney has had on campus, and why he has been named SAIT’s 2011 Distinguished Alumnus. Now in its 30th year, the award recognizes proven leaders and industry achievers who contribute to the community and forge lasting connections with SAIT.

Alumnus, instructor and mentor

After high school, Chorney worked in the oil patch for a few years – and loved it – before a car accident required six months of recuperation. Once he’d learned to walk again, he married and enrolled in Petroleum Technology at SAIT.

“I was ready for the learning and enjoyed it,” Chorney said. “There was a real sense of camaraderie. We worked hard and partied at least as hard. Great lifelong friends were made.”

Chorney played Trojans hockey and graduated in 1975. He then earned an engineering degree from Montana Tech, and returned to SAIT as a part-time instructor.

“Dennis made it easy to enjoy the course and want to learn more,” said Keith MacPhail, one of Chorney’s students in 1980/81, and the namesake of SAIT’s MacPhail School of Energy. “We had extensive talks that furthered my interest in continuing my studies, particularly in Montana.”

Chorney helped pioneer a transfer program between the two schools, and recruited around 100 SAIT students, including MacPhail, to earn a degree in Montana.

Advocate, volunteer, recruiter

Generous with his funds and his time, Chorney has given countless hours of expertise to many SAIT projects,
including the Wellsite Production Education Centre.

Since 2007, he has been a member of the Promising Futures™ Campaign Cabinet. To date, the Cabinet has raised more than $82 million for the Trades and Technology Complex.

Two of Chorney’s three children, Matthew and Zachary, graduated from SAIT’s PT program and went on to Montana Tech. “The only advice Lexie and I gave our kids was to take their time and find something they had passion for,” Chorney said. “I’m proud of them, but I don’t think they followed me. They saw the fun I’ve always had in my work and with SAIT, and were smart enough to figure the rest out.”

Director, business leader, philanthropist

Chorney has brought his philosophy of passionate leadership to the helm of many corporations. He spent 23 years with PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd., retiring as Vice-President, Heavy Oil, to found two successful oil and gas companies: Argonauts Group and Argo Energy Ltd. He worked for Anglo Albania Petroleum Ltd. (now Bankers Petroleum Ltd.), and co-founded and led Norquay Capital Ltd.

Most recently, Chorney has been director of Daylight Energy Ltd. and co-founder and chairman of Teine Energy Ltd.

His leadership extends to the community, where he has served as a director of Wood’s Homes and the Montana Tech Foundation Board.

And somehow, he always finds time for SAIT.

"Not only has Dennis contributed immensely through his instruction and commitment to the campus expansion, he is genuinely passionate about SAIT – and it really shows,” said MacPhail.