Kurt Hurzeler

Secretary

Kurt Hurzeler was raised in Houston Texas and attended the University of Texas in

Austin, receiving a B.A. in English literature. After graduation in 1975 he worked the

offshore oil industry continuously until 2015, both internationally and in the Gulf of

Mexico. His experience includes sales and business management of offshore operations in: Spain, North Sea, West Africa, the Middle East, Northern Europe and portions of the Far East. He returned to Gulf of Mexico operations in 1991 and spent several years in Schlumberger’s Integrated Project Management group before joining Helix Energy Solutions Group in 2000. As Commercial Vice President of Helix Well Ops USA, providing deep water well intervention and decommissioning services utilizing specialist vessels and equipment, his responsibilities included Contracting, Sales, and Business Development for operations in the Western Hemisphere.

Helix Well Ops was a first responder to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010

including on-site pollution reduction and final well shut-in operations.

Favorite pastimes with family and friends include sailing, backpacking, road and

mountain biking, tennis, kayaking, fishing, literature and writing. Following retirement in 2015, Kurt and Elaine, his wife of 47 years, purchased a second home on the Santa Fe River near Poe Springs to be closer to their daughter’s family in Gainesville. They

ensured that the two young granddaughters were introduced to the rivers, springs, coastal marshes and nature of north central Florida. Neighbors who had lived on the river for two generations generously shared their experiences and knowledge of the area. It became clear that the river and springs had, over time, declined substantially in quantity and quality.

As a result of that history and an appreciation of the water and wildlife flowing daily past their back porch, river and spring restoration has become a critical concern for Kurt and his family.