Employee Spotlight: Bonnie Ellwood, Customer Success Leader
In our latest employee spotlight, we're featuring Bonnie Ellwood, whose unique journey from the oil fields to customer success exemplifies the diverse expertise that makes Qube's team exceptional.
From Baytown to Breaking Ground
Growing up in Baytown, Texas laid the foundation for Bonnie Ellwood's career in environmental compliance and emissions management. Her journey took a pivotal turn in 2009 when she recognized a crucial gap in the industry: the disconnect between air quality requirements and operations. "These people don't speak the same language," she notes, which inspired her to bridge this communication gap.
A Career of Strategic Pivots
Bonnie's career demonstrates remarkable adaptability in an industry known for its cyclical nature. "Being able to pivot is really the reason I attribute to being able to stay employed for as long as I have," she reflects. From operations engineering to air quality compliance, and eventually to leading environmental initiatives, she's consistently stayed ahead of industry trends. A particularly proud moment came in 2012 when she introduced vapor recovery units to an operator in the DJ Basin – a novel concept at the time that would later become an industry standard.
Environmental Leadership
In 2020, when ESG metrics began gaining financial significance, Bonnie saw an opportunity to advance proactive emissions abatement. Rejoining Enerplus, she lead a company wide technical team to evaluate proactive emissions abatement technology. She transformed a modest $1 million budget in an environmental efficiency fund to a $6.7 million program, securing an additional $2.1 million in state grants. Under her leadership, the company achieved a remarkable feat – becoming the only oil and gas company to receive a "B" rating in their CDP (Climate Disclosure Project) report. From this position she realized the operational and monetary savings of utilizing continuous monitoring to advance the industry.
Current Role at Qube
As a Customer Success leader at Qube, Bonnie brings her technical expertise and industry knowledge to help clients maximize the value of their emissions monitoring programs. Her favorite part of the role? "That 'aha' moment where front line workers realize they can control emissions. At first, there's always that gut reaction to fight the data... but then we slowly walk them through it, using my facility engineering experience to explain in a way that's not pointed."
Making an Impact Beyond the Office
One of Bonnie's most unique contributions to the industry is her innovative approach to education. She's become what she calls a "self-proclaimed expert at hydraulically fracturing jello" – a hands-on demonstration she uses to teach students about engineering principles in the energy industry. This educational outreach is particularly meaningful to her, as similar community programs inspired her own engineering career.
"Our industry is so villainized," Bonnie explains, "I don't think that we do a great job of bragging about how much we've done proactively. In my career, I've seen huge strides... seeing how far we've come and how much people are paying attention to it, I just think it's an opportunity, versus always being reactive towards emissions and regulations."
Measuring Success
For 2025, Bonnie has set ambitious goals focused on quantifiable emissions abatement. Rather than focusing solely on traditional customer success metrics like client retention and expansion, she emphasizes the importance of measuring actual environmental impact. "If you can quantify what your actual impact is, that resonates with people," she explains. This approach has proved particularly powerful in her work with regulatory bodies, demonstrating the tangible benefits of Qube's technology.
From Waffle House to Industry Leader
In a testament to her diverse background, Bonnie fondly recalls her time working at Waffle House. "It definitely made me tough," she reflects, noting how the experience taught her valuable lessons about customer service and handling challenging situations – skills that continue to serve her well in her current role.
Advice for Newcomers
For those entering the customer success field, particularly in technical industries, Bonnie emphasizes the importance of listening more than talking. "Learn how to really think about what questions will help you understand their structure so that you can better serve them," she advises.
Leading Industry Evolution
Bonnie's passion for environmental progress is evident in her work to prevent over-regulation while promoting proactive emissions management. Her approach focuses on education and demonstration rather than confrontation, helping companies understand how they can take control of their emissions proactively.
A Vision for the Future
Through her role at Qube, Bonnie continues to bridge the gap between technical capabilities and practical implementation, helping clients understand and control their emissions while advocating for sensible industry practices. Her unique combination of technical expertise, industry experience, and customer-focused approach makes her an invaluable asset in driving both client success and environmental progress.
The story of Bonnie Ellwood's career journey – from Waffle House to leading customer success in emissions technology – demonstrates how diverse experiences can shape a leader capable of driving meaningful change in the environmental technology sector. Her commitment to education, industry improvement, and environmental stewardship continues to make a lasting impact on both the industry and the next generation of engineers.