Leadership & Committees
Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, AAPL is led by its member-elected executive committee, board of directors and dedicated staff. For the most up-to-date contact information, log in to view the Membership Directory.
If you are not a member, please contact AAPL at [email protected] or (817) 847-7700.
2025-26 Executive Committee
Kyle Reynolds, CPL
Kyle Reynolds, CPL, is a managing member for RBG Permian LLC. He previously worked for Chesapeake Energy in Oklahoma City in the Permian, Eagle Ford and New Ventures groups as well as led a number of cross-functional steering committees. He then moved to Birmingham, Alabama, to lead Energen Resource Corp.’s business development team and served as manager over Permian and mineral assets.
He also co-owns several companies: Benjamin Lee Bison, a direct-to-consumer meat business; Fair-Weather Friend, an Oklahoma City brewpub; and Greenway Capital Partners, a real estate investment firm.
Reynolds holds a Bachelor of Arts in writing from the University of Central Arkansas and a J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law. He is an active member of the American Bar Association, Arkansas Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, Permian Basin Landmen’s Association, Fort Smith Association of Professional Landmen and Urban Land Institute. Over the years he has served in many AAPL leadership roles, including first vice president in 2024-25, treasurer in 2020-21, Black Warrior Association of Professional Landmen director and chairman of the Marketing Committee, the Sustainability Taskforce, and the Bylaws, Policy and Procedures Rewrite Taskforce. He also has served as a member of the Blankenship Student Awareness Initiative, Finance Committee, Investment Advisory Committee and NAPE Operators Committee.
Reynolds and his wife, Amy, have three beautiful children: Lila, Anne Douglas and Hardin. He enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and all things Razorbacks sports, including writing weekly articles for The Pig Sty.
Julie Woodard, CPL
Julie Woodard serves as the senior land manager for Expand Energy in the Northeast Appalachia Business Unit. She assumed this role after leading the land business development and exploration activities for the Mid-Continent region at Chesapeake Energy Corp. She has worked for Expand (formerly Chesapeake) since 2004 and has served the organization in various individual contributor and leadership roles within the Land Department.
Woodard earned a Bachelor of Science in economics, pre-law, from Oklahoma State University and subsequently attended the University of Oklahoma’s Energy Management Program following her acceptance into law school. She currently serves on the University of Oklahoma’s Energy Management board of directors.
Woodard has been a member of the Oklahoma City Association of Professional Landmen and AAPL since 2004.She joined OCAPL’s Executive Committee in 2008 and is a past president of the association. She also has served as a chair and member of numerous AAPL committees since 2007 and has been an active member of their board of directors. Currently she serves as chair of the NAPE Operators Committee, following her service as chair of the Awards Committee, a member of the Executive Committee as third vice president for 2015-16, and president and chai of the AAPL Educational Foundation.
Among her many honors, Woodard was a finalist in the Young Professional in Energy category of the International Oil and Gas Awards, Mid-Continent Division in 2013, included in Oil and Gas Investor’s distinguished list of “20 under 40” in the industry, and named OCAPL’s Landman of the Year in 2014 and AAPL’s Landman of the Year for 2014-15. Most recently, she was an honoree in Hart’s Oil and Gas Investor 2025 Influential Women in Energy.
In addition to her professional association involvement, Woodard is a past president of the Edmond Public Schools Foundation.
Most importantly, she is a dedicated and loving mother of three children: Grayson, Hallie and Henley. She and her husband, Brian, live in Edmond, Oklahoma. She enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, vacationing and being involved with her church community.
Travis Beavers, CPL
Travis Beavers, CPL, is the vice president of Land at Lease-Analytics in The Woodlands, Texas, where he leads land data management initiatives, acquisitions and divestitures, and process efficiency strategies.
Prior to joining Lease-Analytics in 2020, Beavers spent several years as an independent landman, working with major energy companies on mineral title research, lease acquisitions, and record management. As a co-owner of a small family operating company, he oversaw the surface, land and regulatory compliance before selling it in 2014.
Beavers earned his MBA from Stephen F. Austin State University, where he also competed as a four-time All-Southland Conference sprinter/hurdler.
A dedicated AAPL Life Member since 2012, Beavers has held multiple leadership positions, including chair of the Publications and Bylaws & Policy Manual Review committees. He currently serves as a director on the AAPL Educational Foundation. In 2024, he was honored to be the recipient of the AAPL Presidential Award for Meritorious Service. In addition, Beavers has served as director, president, vice president and treasurer of the North Houston Association of Professional Landmen.
He and his wife, Alyssa, live in The Woodlands with their three beautiful daughters: Nora, Quinn and Summer. He enjoys skiing, riding horses and coaching on his daughters’ sports teams.
Lucy Wathen, CPL
Lucy Wathen, CPL, is a senior landman for SEM Operating Company LLC, an independent oil producer with assets primarily in the Southern Midland Basin. She is an accomplished professional with a deep commitment to both the oil and gas industry and her community. With 22 years of diverse experience as a landman, Wathen has excelled in various roles, from field landman to in-house landman, representing family-owned businesses, independent producers, brokerage companies and Fortune 500 corporations. Her extensive expertise in East Texas, Louisiana and the Permian Basin makes her a vital force in industry.
Wathen earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University and a master’s in general agriculture from Stephen F. Austin State University, where she studied the economic impact of the oil and gas industry on local economies and the agriculture community of East Texas. Wathen believes education is something you can never take away from someone. She became a Certified Professional Landman in 2012 and believes networking and continuing education are what sets the AAPL members apart from other landmen.
Wathen has made significant contributions to multiple committees within AAPL, including the Education Committee, the AAPL Educational Foundation and the AAPL board of directors, proudly representing the East Texas Association of Petroleum Landmen.
In her personal life, Wathen cherishes time spent at the lake with her family and exploring new places. Additionally, she has dedicated 18 years to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Cherokee County Area Go-Texan Committee, where she actively supports the rodeo’s scholarship program.
Blaine Gamble, CPL
Blaine Gamble, CPL, is the founder and president of Equitas Energy Partners LLC, where he has been instrumental in managing the day-to-day operations since the company’s inception in 2017. He began field work in February 2006 in East Texas. His expertise in landwork and his commitment to the industry have earned him a reputation as a reliable and knowledgeable professional landman. He joined AAPL in 2006 and earned his Certified Professional Landman designation in 2014. He has had the opportunity to work on and oversee projects in various parts of the United States, focusing his efforts mainly in Texas and New Mexico.
Gamble’s dedication extends beyond his professional responsibilities. He is involved in the Fort Worth Association of Professional Landmen, where he has served in various capacities, including president, director and AAPL director. He is also a member of Permian Basin Landmen’s Association, Dallas Association of Petroleum Landmen, New Mexico Landmen’s Association, Oklahoma City Association of Professional Landmen and the Michael Late Benedum Chapter of AAPL. He understands the importance of staying involved at both the local and national levels.
In addition to his professional and industry involvement, Gamble is committed to giving back to his local community. He participates in various initiatives and supports organizations that aim to improve the quality of life for residents in the Parker County area. His dedication to both his profession and his community demonstrates his unwavering commitment to making a positive impact in all aspects of his life.
Gamble’s blend of professional expertise, industry involvement and community engagement makes him an asset to Equitas Energy Partners and the broader landman community. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University. He and his wife, Annie, and their two children live in Aledo, Texas.
Eli Huffman, CPL
Eli R. Huffman III is manager — land/legal with Lone Star Production Co., a private Houston-based nonoperator E&P company that generates and participates in oil and gas prospects in West Texas. He joined the Lone Star team in 2008 after graduating from the St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. Huffman is also president of Eagle Natural Resource Management LLC, which provides boutique advisory services and full spectrum management of oil/gas, mineral/royalty, nonoperated working interest, renewable and ranching on behalf of family offices, investment portfolios and individuals with diverse holdings.
In addition to his Certified Professional Landman designation, Huffman is an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of Texas since 2008, board certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and a certified mineral manager with the National Association of Royalty Owners. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in government from the University of Texas at Austin.
Huffman has served the Houston Association of Professional Landmen through several committee, chair, board and executive roles, including as president (2019-20). He is a past chair of the AAPL Forms Committee. Currently, he serves on the board for HAPL Charities LLC and is a board member of the National Association of Royalty Owners Texas Chapter, where he is an active member on the Texas Legislative Committee. He also is a member of the West Houston Association of Professional Landmen.
Huffman lives in West Houston with his wife, Mary Nan, and their two sons: Eli Huffman IV and Hayes. He enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and friends, especially hunting and fly fishing.
Nancy McCaskell, CPL
Nancy McCaskell, CPL, is president of Masonboro Energy LLC, a consulting firm focused on energy and landwork. During more than three decades of managing and leading acquisitions, divestitures and negotiations, she has held leadership positions with Pitts Oil Company, Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., J-W Operating Co. and Coda Energy Inc. Her experience stretches across the Barnett, Haynesville, Tuscaloosa Marine Shale, Eagle Ford, Permian, San Juan, Fayetteville and Anadarko basins. In addition, McCaskell has acted as a liaison with state oil and gas associations and regulatory bodies. She counts working with the Louisiana Office of Conservation to create new policies allowing for cross unit wells as a career highlight. Active in leadership roles at the local and national level, McCaskell sits on the Dallas Association of Petroleum Landmen board of directors and served as AAPL’s president — only the second female in the association’s 70-year history to hold the role. Among her honors, she was named DAPL’s 2023 Landman of Year and received AAPL’s 2020 Blankenship Family Horizon Award, which recognizes an exceptional female land professional and role model. Additionally, McCaskell is an advisory member to the University of Oklahoma College of Law MLS and LLM programs in energy and natural resources, and she has served on several community nonprofit boards. She and her spouse, the Rev. Mary Stewart Hall, live in Dallas and enjoy traveling, art and music.
Board Members
The board of directors is composed of elected officers of AAPL, the immediate past president and one director from each affiliated local association except Canada, which shall be allowed two directors. The board is responsible for general management of the affairs of AAPL within the scope of the bylaws. Responsibility is exercised primarily by establishing broad objectives and policies governing both short-term and long-range objectives. Specific objectives and policies may originate from deliberation of the board itself or may result from consideration of recommendations by committees, subcommittees or by the president and other officers. Reach out to your local association to learn more about how to become a board member.
Committees
AAPL committee members serve the president and are required to be Active Members. Committee members help lead and shape the association's broad range of membership programs, including education, industry relations, advocacy and certification. Working closely with AAPL's directors, officers and employees, volunteers have the opportunity to give back to and influence the land profession.
Local Associations
AAPL currently has 38 affiliated local associations encompassing 10 regions across the United States and Canada. Enhance your network and connect with an association near you.