Mike Edwards is vice president of investor relations with Venoco, Inc., a publically traded independent energy company engaged in oil and gas exploration and production company. 

Headquartered in Denver, Venoco is primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploitation, and development of oil and natural gas properties in California and Texas. The company operates three offshore platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel, has non operating interests in three other platforms, and also operates two onshore properties in Southern California, approximately 250 natural gas wells in Northern California and more than 100 wells in Texas. 

Edwards joined Venoco in 1994 as land manager and has helped the company grow to nearly 400 employees, including more than 100 in the Denver office. Revenues topped $377 million in 2007 and are forecast to exceed $500 million in 2008. Edwards is responsible for the company’s external communications with investors, as well as media issues, and various aspects of community relations and government affairs.

Born and raised in Colorado, Edwards graduated from Kennedy High School in Denver and received a business degree from Colorado State University. He also has a Juris Doctorate from Santa Barbara College of Law and is a licensed attorney in California.

Edwards and his wife moved to Centennial in 2007 from Santa Barbara with their son and daughter. He was a board member of the Santa Barbara Industrial Association, served as Chairman of the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of the Santa Barbara County Bar Foundation, a board member of CALM, a non-profit dedicated to preventing child abuse, and currently serves on the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network board.

"Venoco is a member of the Metro Denver EDC for two simple reasons. First, it is our corporate philosophy to be active participants within communities in which we operate and the leadership of the Metro Denver EDC is a diverse network of civic-minded individuals. Second, we want to participate in the evolving region and business community – the Metro Denver EDC is an important voice in those discussions."