Bill Schrom, chief executive officer of Geotrace, is a finalist in the Houston and Gulf Coast Area Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program in the “Energy” category.


Houston-based Geotrace is a reservoir services company that provides subsurface imaging solutions to the oil and gas industry. Schrom has been recognized by Ernst & Young for his vision, leadership, achievement and social responsibility.


“Under Bill’s direction, Geotrace has become a viable player in the oil and gas production services industry,” said Aaron Adams, vice president of Geotrace. “In the last 2 years, our sales have jumped more than 30%, and we expect to see another 20% increase in 2008. We also have a very loyal and talented staff -- a testament to Bill’s outstanding leadership and vision for the company.”


Schrom, who started his career as an operation analyst with Western Geophysical, quickly climbed the ranks there and was named a senior vice president in 1995. In 1998, Schrom ventured out on his own and founded Reservoir Technologies, pursuing his goal of creating an integrated subsurface imaging company that went beyond seismic.


Building upon his experience at Reservoir Technologies, Schrom joined Geotrace in 2001. According to Schrom, Geotrace provided him the base he needed to pursue his “beyond seismic” goal in subsurface imaging.


In its 20th year, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year program recognizes pioneers and innovators of private and public companies in a number of categories including distribution/manufacturing and security, energy, chemicals and mining, financial services, health services, media/entertainment and communications, real estate/hospitality and construction, retail and consumer products, and technology. Winners for each category are judged by a regional and national panel of judges that includes entrepreneurs and leaders from academia, business and the media.


The Houston and Gulf Coast Area Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year will be announced on Thursday, June 28 at the InterContinental Hotel in Houston.


For more information about Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, visit www.ey.com; for more information about Geotrace, visit www.geotrace.com.