Alan Chamberlain attended a community college and five western North American Universities. He has earned five degrees including a BS, MS, and PhD in geology. He has worked for Exxon, Gulf, Marathon and Placid oil companies. Several major oil companies provided him the financial incentive to leave Placid in 1984 and initiate the first Great Basin geological survey. Alan has been directing the survey ever since as president and chief geologist of Cedar Strat Corp.