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JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Ward Koeser recently ended a 20-year run as mayor of Williston, N.D. Looking back, Koeser could see the evolution of the Bakken’s global appeal.

He recalls, at first, when the national media arrived on the scene, it was something to note. However, when the international reporters began showing up, Koeser knew the Bakken was even more of special place than he could have ever imagined.

“After the year of national media, the world media began showing up — China, Japan, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, you go right on down the line, Norway,” Koeser said.

The intrigue displayed by the international media proved to be enough evidence to Koeser that this oil play was indeed special. Koeser recalled a moment in time with a German reporter that became etched in his memory as an indicator of how important Williston was.

“I would sometimes ask them, ‘Why do you come to Williston?’” Koeser said. “The one I distinctly remember was a female reporter from Germany, and she said, ‘Because in Germany we look at what’s happening in Williston as how it impacts the U.S. economy.’ That really was an eye opener for me.”

Another difference in this generation’s oil play, according to Koeser, is the investment into real estate by oil companies.

“The thing that is really different now than in the ’80s is the large oil companies are investing in the communities,” Koeser said. “In the ’80s, during that boom, they rented properties. This time they are actually buying properties and making huge investments.”

Koeser added it isn’t uncommon for an oil company to build a $30 million- to $50 million-dollar project in a community, whereas 20 years ago, that wasn’t the case. Koeser continued citing comparisons with the industry’s drive for blazing a new path of community spirit in the Bakken.

One thing that has become clear in the Bakken is it is not a boom, it is an industry. A boom offsets a bust, and according to the experts and oil companies, the Bakken is the furthest from a bust. In fact the phrase “it’s an industry” has been the theme as of late at several conferences, as is Harold Hamm’s famous quote: “It’s more like mining coal.”

“This oil play is an industry,” commercial real estate broker Michael Houge said. “The oil companies know where the oil is, how to extract it and have the mechanics in place. The oil and gas industry is a well-oiled machine and North Dakota is now a major part of that industry as a whole.”

Houge has become a regular contributor at conferences specializing in Bakken housing and community developments. He said this is an important trend to take note of, depending on where you are in your Bakken business cycle.

Important because the trade show game has changed. Conferences are now in industry mode, not start-up mode. The days of investors, CEOs and other real decision-makers at Bakken events are now rare and to reach them may require new mobility.

If you are like Brian Hymel and his partners with the Five Diamond Industrial Park, they are nearly complete with their first phase of Bakken adventures. At least geographical Bakken adventures.

“We saw all the investors, CEOs and other players early,” Hymel said. “A few years ago, it was more common to run into and spend time with venture capitalists or CEOs of major companies at an energy conference.