News release prepared by: Olivia Blanco, 785-532-2753, oblanco@k-state.edu

Friday, April 1, 2011

CONOCOPHILLIPS VICE PRESIDENT SPEAKING TO COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

MANHATTAN -- An executive with the nation's third largest integrated energy company and Kansas State University alumnus is the spring semester speaker for the College of Business Administration Distinguished Lecture Series.

Rand C. Berney is senior vice president, corporate shared services, for ConocoPhillips. His lecture, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 14, in the K-State Alumni Center Ballroom, is free and open to the public.

Berney began his career with Phillips Petroleum Company in 1981. Since then he has held various financial management positions in exploration and production, gas and gas liquids, and corporate tax. He was named to his current post in 2009.

"We're very proud to welcome such a successful alumnus back to the K-State campus," said Yar M. Ebadi, dean of the College of Business Administration. "Rand Berney's career accomplishments are great examples of hard work and dedication. His experience and insight into the energy industry will be invaluable to our students. We appreciate him taking time to speak with them."

The College of Business Administration Distinguished Lecture Series brings successful business professionals to campus to discuss their career experiences with students. Lectures take place each semester and are sponsored by Commerce Bank and The William T. Kemper Foundation.

Berney is a Phillipsburg native. He graduated cum laude from K-State in 1977 with an accounting degree. He also has a master's degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University. He is a certified public accountant, a certified management accountant and a certified internal auditor.

Berney is a member of the Oklahoma Society of CPAs, the Financial Executive Institute, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Institute of Management Accountants. He also serves on several boards, including Arvest Bank, the Oklahoma Roundtable, Bartlesville Community Foundation, Mary Martha Outreach, Bartlesville Sports Commission, Frank Phillips Foundation, the Kansas State University Foundation executive board and the College of Business Administration Dean's Business Advisory Council. Berney is a member of both the K-State Accounting Hall of Fame and the College of Business Administration's Business Leaders Hall of Fame.