From Leasing to Drilling: Landman’s View Across U.S. Basins Thursday @ 1:45 PM
From Leasing to Drilling: Landman’s View Across U.S. Basins Thursday @ 1:45 PM
As a co-founder and COO of Alamo Resources LLC, Carl D Campbell, CPL, has extensive industry experience in the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States and in Canada. Alamo Resources currently has holdings in the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford, and the San Juan Basin.
A native of Oklahoma City and an alumnus of the University of Oklahoma, Campbell began his professional career in 1983 as a landman for the newly formed PetroCorp Inc. He became a division landman in 1987 during the company’s aggressive exploration and development program in the Mid-Continent region. In 1991, Campbell moved to Houston as the division landman for PetroCorp’s Gulf Coast region, and from 1993 through 1999, he gained a broad spectrum of experience in varied and prolific petroleum provinces as the company’s division land manager for the newly consolidated Gulf Coast, Rockies and Canada Division.
Prior to co-founding Alamo Resources in July 2004, Campbell formed Concorde Resources LLC in early 2000 and successfully pursued exploration and development opportunities in the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent regions. Over the course of his career, he has been directly involved in producing property acquisitions and divestitures totaling more than $850 million.
A certified professional landman since 1995, Campbell has been an active member of AAPL, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen, the Houston Association of Professional Landmen, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Association, and the Texas Oil and Gas Association.
Campbell was elected to the HAPL board of directors in 2004 and served as the organization's past president. He served as AAPL president, first and second vice president, and as chairman of several committees, including the NAPE Operators Committee and the NAPE Advisory Board.
In 2011, Campbell was honored as HAPL’s Outstanding Landman of the Year and in 2018 as AAPL’s Landman of the Year. In 2012, the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association named him among the Texas Top Producers in the Landman category of awards. In 2013, he was selected as a finalist for the top 100 most influential Houston business leaders in the energy industry. And in 2014, he was named to the Houston Business Journal’s list of Who’s Who in Houston Energy.
Campbell currently serves on the advisory boards of both the Robert M. Zinke Energy Management Program in the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma and the Tulsa University Energy Program. In addition, he is a past vice chairman and a member of the board of directors for Angel Flight South Central. This nonprofit organization provides free air transportation to patients for medical and humanitarian purposes.
Campbell resides in Oklahoma City and Houston with wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Victoria. He is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and a charter member of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Houston Museum of Natural ScienceThe Emerging Energy Crisis, Securing the Future Thursday @ 10:45 AM
Andrew Cooper, CPL, is a Co-Managing Shareholder at RAS, Inc. Andrew received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006 and started working for RAS, Inc. upon graduation. The initial years of his career were spent honing his trade as a field landman where he was given the opportunity to travel extensively across Texas and learn the lay of the land in various courthouses across the state. In 2011, Cooper was invited in-house where he served as a Senior Project Manager and Vice President, before becoming a Co-Managing Shareholder in 2021.
A member of the American Association of Professional Landmen, the North Houston Association of Professional Landmen and the Houston Association of Professional Landmen, Andrew obtained his Registered Professional Landman certification in 2011 and his Certified Professional Landman designation in 2013. He currently serves as the AAPL Region IV Director on behalf of the HAPL and is a member of the NAPE Operator’s Committee. In 2020-21, Andrew had the honor of serving on the AAPL Executive Committee. He has also previously served as NHAPL's AAPL Regional Director, President, Vice President, Secretary and Director, Chairman of the AAPL Field Landman Committee, HAPL Director, as well as a member of numerous AAPL education related committees. In 2022, he received the AAPL Presidential Award for Meritorious Service and in 2024, the AAPL Landman of the Year.
Away from the office, Cooper cherishes his time spent with his four children: Andy, Olivia, Harrison and Theodore. A native Houstonian, he enjoys hunting, golfing, and coaching his children's sports teams.
The Emerging Energy Crisis, Securing the Future Thursday @ 10:45 AM
With more than 19 years of hands-on experience in Land E&P, JR Everett has built his career at the intersection of strategy, operations, and innovation in the energy sector. From managing critical portfolio assets for a publicly traded Fortune 500 company to supporting large-scale private equity investment teams, JR has navigated the full complexity of the industry basin to boardroom.
His field expertise spans some of the most active and competitive plays in the U.S., including the Marcellus, Anadarko, Mid-Continent, Eagle Ford, Permian, and Delaware basins. That breadth of experience has given him a rare ability to translate basin-specific challenges into scalable, practical solutions.
Throughout his career, JR was handpicked to serve on multiple Best Practice Committees, where he led efforts to streamline interdepartmental workflows between Land and Business Unit divisions, breaking down silos and driving operational efficiency across organizations. He also collaborated directly with IT teams to develop purpose-built software solutions for land asset management, bringing a builder's mindset to a traditionally process-heavy discipline.
Now at Energy Point Consulting, JR brings that same blend of technical expertise, operational leadership, and client-first thinking to his role as Chief Revenue Officer. His comprehensive background in land, business development, land systems, data management, reporting, A&D, and field operations gives clients a trusted partner who has worked every angle of the business.
Going From Good to Great With AI Friday @ 10:15 AM
Mark Gordon was elected Wyoming's 33rd Governor on Nov. 6, 2018.
He was sworn into office on January 7, 2019, and re-elected on November 8, 2022, with 79% of the vote, the largest win of any gubernatorial candidate in Wyoming history and the largest margin of any gubernatorial candidate in the nation in 2022.
Mark Gordon grew up on the family ranch in Kaycee, Wyoming, where he learned the values of hard work, integrity, and the importance of working together. As Governor, he brings those values to the table, maintaining his commitment to a Wyoming where her citizens can pursue their dreams while the state retains her unique character. He strongly believes that Wyoming must chart its own course and is a steadfast defender of its interests to do so.
As a conservative, Governor Gordon has worked tirelessly to set Wyoming on a sustainable fiscal path. He is committed to making government more transparent, accessible, productive, and efficient. He believes government is best when it is closest to the people and is committed to giving local communities the tools they need to thrive. He is a staunch advocate of quality education in all modes, public and private, and for all children.
Governor Gordon served as Wyoming State Treasurer from October 2012 until January 2019, when he was sworn in as Governor. During his time in office, he was ranked in the top 100 "most significant and impactful public investor executives." In addition, under his guidance, Wyoming's sovereign funds earned a No.1 ranking for the United States and No.3 in the world for transparency by the Peterson Institute.
First elected Governor in 2018, he successfully led Wyoming through some historically difficult times. Consistently rated as one of the top ten governors in the country, he has spearheaded efforts to diversify Wyoming's economy from technology and finance to agriculture, energy, research, and tourism. He and his wife, Jennie, are dedicated to making Wyoming the best place to raise a family.
Shortly after becoming First Lady, Jennie called on her upbringing and management acumen as a rancher and mother to establish the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, which has meant so much for many in Wyoming suffering from food insecurity.
Governor Gordon and Jennie have four grown children — Aaron; Anne; Bea with husband Austen and their son Crawford and daughter Anntonia; and Spencer with wife Sarah, their son Everett, and twin daughters Violet and Eloise.
Morningside Chat – Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon Thursday @ 9:10 AM
Keelen Hauptman is the Director of Land, Regulatory, and Government Relations at Anschutz Exploration Corporation. She is responsible for all mineral and surface land activity across the company’s operated assets of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. She also manages the company’s regulatory permitting efforts, government and community outreach, and advocacy.
Prior to joining Anschutz Exploration Corporation, Keelen held key land roles at Whiting Petroleum Corporation (now Chord Energy) and Foundation Energy Management, where she focused heavily on navigating oil and gas operations in the Rockies.
Keelen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Energy Management and International Business from the University of Oklahoma and a Master of Science in Global Energy Management from the University of Colorado Denver. Outside of work, Keelen enjoys fishing and hunting in her native Montana, in addition to traveling the world with her husband and daughter.
From Leasing to Drilling: Landman’s View Across U.S. Basins Thursday @ 1:45 PM
Uinta Basin Fireside Chat Thursday @ 2:45 PM
Easement Explanation and the Damage Settlement Process Wednesday @ 3:00 PM
Going From Good to Great With AI Friday @ 10:15 AM
James B. Lebeck serves as Executive Vice President – Chief Corporate Development Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of SM Energy Company (NYSE: SM), an independent oil and gas producer focused on onshore U.S. production. In this role, he oversees the company's land, environmental and regulatory, legal, corporate and business development, and external and government affairs functions.
James has more than 18 years of eexperience in the oil and gas industry. He rejoined SM Energy in 2023 after serving as Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Encino Energy from 2018 - 2023. Before Encino, he spent seven years at SM Energy in roles of increasing responsibility, ultimately serving as Deputy General Counsel. He began his legal career as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver, before practicing at Vinson & Elkins in Houston and Davis Graham & Stubbs in Denver.
He holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.
Uinta Basin Fireside Chat Thursday @ 2:45 PM
Jasper Mason has experience in-house and in private practice representing exploration and production companies and private equity clients on acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures involving upstream and midstream oil and gas assets. Additionally, Jasper has represented clients in matters as diverse as tendering bids for contracts to supply oilfield service equipment in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), acquiring Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico, and attracting investors and industry partners to co-develop acreage on state-owned lands in Alaska. He has assisted clients ranging from individual investors to national oil companies.
Jasper is Board Certified in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and holds a Certified Professional Landman (CPL) designation from the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL). He is a Past Chair of the Houston Bar Association Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section, a former member of the Advisory Council of the State Bar of Texas Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Law section, and is entering his tenth year teaching Oil & Gas Law as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston Law Center. He has served as Secretary of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) and as a member of the AIPN board of directors, and would much rather hear about you over a coffee than keep talking about himself here.
Don’t Just Play One on TV - How the AAPL Code and Standards Set Us Apart Wednesday @ 2:00 PM
Don’t Just Play One on TV - How the AAPL Code and Standards Set Us Apart Friday @ 9:00 AM
Mike McConnell is the current Director of The Robert M. Zinke Energy Management Program at the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma. He is the 7th Director of the program which is the nation’s largest and oldest dating back to 1958.
He was President and a Director of Jones Energy, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange, independent oil and gas exploration company, from 2004 until April 2018. He remained a Director until August 2018. The company was headquartered in Austin, Texas with its Merge activity office in Oklahoma City. Jones Energy focused its horizontal drilling activity primarily in the Texas Panhandle and central Oklahoma. The company was founded in 1989, drilled over 700 horizontal wells, and operated over 1,000 wells. Jones Energy had net production of 22,000 boe/day.
Prior to joining Jones Energy, Mr. McConnell served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Generation and Production Group while Enron was in bankruptcy, until his departure in April 2003. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of Enron Global Markets, which included 8-global trading and origination businesses. EGM had revenues in 2001 exceeding $15 billion. Mr. McConnell was also responsible for Enron Japan. He was also on the management committee of Enron Corp. during his various roles as Chairman and CEO of Enron’s Generation and Production Group, Vice Chairman and COO for Enron Net Works, and Enron’s CEO of Global Technology. Prior to that, he served as President of Houston Pipeline, President of Louisiana Resources Company, and held other various gas supply and marketing positions. He began his career in the exploration and production sector as a Landman for Champlin Petroleum Company, before joining Enron (Florida Gas Transmission) in 1987.
Mr. McConnell earned a BBA in Petroleum Land Management with an emphasis on Law from the University of Oklahoma in 1982. For over twenty years, he served as a board member, senior advisor and past chairman of the Price College of Business Board of Advisors. He was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Price College, the Regents Award from the University of Oklahoma, and the Dean’s Excellence Award for his leadership in the Energy Management Program.
He was also on the Board of IPAA and has served on the Board of numerous businesses and charities in the past. Mr. McConnell also wrote and published a non-fiction book, Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should, which focuses on lessons learned in business and keys to success.
The Emerging Energy Crisis, Securing the Future Thursday @ 10:45 AM
Ella McDonald grew up on a dairy farm outside Mill Creek, Oklahoma, where she learned early on that hard work doesn’t have a gender. Drawn to the oil and gas industry and beginning March 1, 1978, she pushed past skepticism and built a career defined by grit, people smarts, and integrity. After being told by a man that “she could be a landman when pigs could fly”, she pushed forward with grit and discipline, demonstrating what persistence and hard work could achieve.
By 1980, Ella and a colleague formed an Oklahoma brokerage firm. In 1982 she founded McDonald Land Services, which has since grown into a full-service land company operating across the major basins of the continental U.S. Through her collaboration with the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board and Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Ella helped bring a foundational land title research course to the Petro Tech program, expanding pathways into land careers.
In recognition of her leadership and lasting impact, Ella became the first female to receive the Oklahoma City Association of Professional Landmen Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring her 48 years of service in the oil and gas industry. Ella stays actively involved in her community and supports a number of charitable efforts, including the Oklahoma Backpack program for school children. She and her family attend Goldsby Baptist Church, Goldsby, Oklahoma.
The Emerging Energy Crisis, Securing the Future Thursday @ 10:45 AM
Juan Nevarez serves as president and managing director for Scout Development Partners.
Nevarez has dedicated over 25 years to working in the oil and gas business. Previously, he worked for Texaco, Chevron and other companies. In 2011, he joined Scout Energy Partners as the vice president of business development, before moving to senior vice president in 2017, and currently executive vice president.
In May 2024, Nevarez was appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Nevarez serves on the Petroleum Industry Advisory Executive Board at Texas Tech University, and he is a member of the Texas Tech College of Engineering Dean’s Council. Additionally, he is a member of the Matador Society and the Engineering Key Society. Juan has also been a CASA (court appointed special advocate) mentor/volunteer for several years and also serves on the Dallas CASA board.
Nevarez graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering in 1995 and California State University with a master’s degree in finance in 2001. In recognition of his achievements and contributions in the industry, he was inducted into the Petroleum Engineering Academy at Texas Tech. He also received the Whitacre College of Engineering Distinguished Engineer Award in 2023.
Nevarez and his wife Emma share four children, Justin, Joshua, Sienna and Milan, and they reside between Dallas, Texas and their farm in Anthony, New Mexico.
Uinta Basin Fireside Chat Thursday @ 2:45 PM
Jack Norbeck is co-founder and CTO at Fervo Energy, the leading next-generation geothermal developer. Fervo operates the longest-running enhanced geothermal system in Nevada and is actively building the world's largest enhanced geothermal project - a 500 MW project in Utah. Jack leads Fervo's exploration, production, and reservoir diagnostics activities. Fervo Energy has raised over $1.5 billion in funding and has executed over 600 MW of power purchase agreements with leading utilities and corporate offtakers such as Southern California Edison, Shell, and Google. Some of its most prominent investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Capricorn Investment Group, Devon Energy, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Jack holds a PhD degree in energy resources engineering from Stanford University.
Opening Session Keynote — Jack Norbeck Thursday @ 10:00 AM
Jason received a BS in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1998. He began his career with Conoco Inc. in Lafayette, LA where he held both Reservoir and Production engineering positions. Mr. Pearce joined XTO Energy in Fort Worth, TX in 2003 where he held positions in Reservoir Engineering before being named Reservoir Development Manager for the Freestone Trend asset in 2010. He then joined CH4 Energy, an NGP Portfolio company, in November 2011 where he held positions in Completion Operations, Corporate Reserves and Business Development. He was a part of the executive management team that took WildHorse Resource Development public in 2016 and eventually sold to Chesapeake in 2019. Since CH4 Energy Six acquired the Uinta Basin assets from Crescent Point Energy in October 2019 he has served as President of Uinta Wax Operating.
Uinta Basin Fireside Chat Thursday @ 2:45 PM
Oil and Gas Markets Update Thursday @ 3:45 PM
Michael A Pisciotte, CPL, is director of Land & Contracts at Mull Drilling Company, Inc., an independent E&P company in Wichita, Kansas, where he oversees the Land Department and serves on the executive leadership team. Prior to joining Mull in July 2024, he spent over 17 years as land manager at Murfin Drilling Company, Inc, where he led the Land & Legal Department, and worked as an independent field landman in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions for several years.
Pisciotte has greatly enjoyed his time as a landman and becoming involved with local industry professionals. He has served in many capacities for the Wichita Association of Professional Landmen, including vice president, president, and twice as AAPL director. He maintains an active behind-the-scenes role with WAPL, remaining involved in educational seminars, annual sporting clays and sponsorship of local member certifications. Mr. Pisciotte also serves on the Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association Executive Committee as South Central vice-chair on the board of directors.
After joining AAPL in 2008, Pisciotte soon earned his RPL, followed by his CPL in 2011. He currently serves as immediate past chair of the Awards Committee, as a board member of the AAPL Educational Foundation and as a member of the Accreditation Committee. In addition to his past terms as treasurer for AAPL, the AAPL Educational Foundation and the NAPE Charities Fund, he has served as AAPL’s third vice president, AAPL director (two terms), chair of the Ethics Committee and the Membership Committee, and president of the AAPL Educational Foundation. He also has served on numerous committees, including Certification, Finance, Investment Advisory, Strategic Planning Taskforce, EVP Search, and Affinity Vendor Group and Treasurer’s Advisory Group, as well as liaison to Leg/Reg, NOC, Tax Issues, SWLI, Technology, GeoCare, and Field Landman Seminar and previous nominating subcommittees.
Pisciotte earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master’s degree in public administration from Wichita State University with an emphasis on public finance, budgeting and organizational management. He previously worked for three public municipalities as a manager/administrator buts enjoys landwork much, much more.
He is a proud son of Colorado’s Western Slope, where he met and married his lovely bride, Victoria. They have been blessed with three wonderful children — Dylan, Kierstin and Joseph —along with four amazing grandchildren: Gretchen, Violet, AJ and Jasper. Pisciotte enjoys the mountains, outdoor activities, reading and spending time with and admiring his family.
From Leasing to Drilling: Landman’s View Across U.S. Basins Thursday @ 1:45 PM
Eat That Frog: Planning and Paying for Plugging Wednesday @ 1:00 PM
In his role as vice president and general manager of Enbridge Wexpro. He is responsible for Enbridge Wexpro’s operations, drilling, completions, business development, geology, engineering, land and administration functions.
Rasmussen joined Questar Gas in 1994. He has served as a revenue accountant, supervisor-Revenue Accounting, and manager and general manager-Accounting, and vice president-administration all with Enbridge Wexpro.
Prior to the merger with Dominion Energy in 2016, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Wexpro.
He serves on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Utah. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Utah State University.
Oil and Gas Markets Update Thursday @ 3:45 PM
Going From Good to Great With AI Friday @ 10:15 AM
Kyle B. Reynolds, JD, CPL, & Immediate Past President of the American Association of Professional Landmen. He’s a seasoned pro in the energy sector with a knack for making things happen. Kyle’s journey has taken him from leading teams at Chesapeake Energy and Energen Resource Corp. to his current role as a managing member at RBG Permian. When he's not busy with all things land-related, Kyle enjoys cooking, exploring new places, diving into a good book, and passionately supporting the Arkansas Razorbacks. He's also a proud father of 3 and the entrepreneurial spirit behind Benjamin Lee Bison (a direct-to-consumer meat business), Bryant Moore law firm, and Greenway Capital Partners (a real estate investment firm).
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.
The Emerging Energy Crisis, Securing the Future Thursday @ 10:45 AM
Shandy Robl is currently the Head of Corporate Land with BPX Energy in Houston, Texas where she manages Land Technology, Division Orders, Land Compliance, Owner Relations, Legacy Assets and Business Development for Land. She has previously held the following positions at BPX: Head of Land Haynesville managing all land aspects in East Texas, Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana (2020-2025), Business Development Land Manager where she managed land for acquisitions and divestitures in the onshore US, including the BHP acquisition in 2018 and numerous divestitures (2018-2020) and South Texas Land Manager primarily focused on the Eagle Ford in South Texas (2016-2018). Before joining BPX in 2016, Shandy worked at Sabine Oil & Gas from 2007-2015, managing their Texas assets in East Texas, South Texas and the Texas Panhandle and she worked with Burlington Resources / ConocoPhillips in their Fort Worth, Midland and Houston offices from 2000-2007.
Shandy received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Petroleum Land Management and Management from Texas Tech University in 2000. She is a member of the American Association of Professional Landmen. She is also a member of the Houston Association of Professional Landmen and is a Past President of the Association. Shandy and her husband, James Conly, stay busy raising their 14-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter. She enjoys reading, cooking and playing mahjong in her free time.
The Emerging Energy Crisis, Securing the Future Thursday @ 10:45 AM
The Emerging Energy Crisis, Securing the Future Thursday @ 10:45 AM
Oil and Gas Markets Update Thursday @ 3:45 PM
Kathleen’s extensive expertise and leadership in energy and multiple-use, public lands policy was recognized by President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum when she was nominated for the position of Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in February, 2025. Her nomination was strongly supported by Congress, governors, ranchers, sportsmen’s and recreation groups, conservationists, tribes, state agencies, counties, the energy, mining and timber industries, and many other stakeholders across the West. Her effectiveness as one of the strongest advocates for the oil and natural gas industry was confirmed by the opposition to her nomination from far-left environmental groups, although she received tacit as well as explicit support from reasonable environmentalists and several conservation groups. While that opposition resulted in her having to withdraw her nomination, she remains committed to and effective in supporting President Trump’s unleashing America energy agenda and responsible access to public lands.
Kathleen served the oil and natural gas industry in the West for nearly 20 years at Western Energy Alliance, as the President for the last nine years. Her knowledge is widely recognized across the region and in D.C., as she has testified before Congress 30 times and is regularly quoted on energy and environmental issues in regional, national, and international media including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, BBC, Fox News, and Washington Post. Prior to joining the Alliance in 2006, she spent eleven years in the Information Technology sector, including establishing a subsidiary in Germany and the European consulting practice in London for a software company; and three years as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. She holds a BS in Political Science/Defense and Arms Control Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MS in Information Technology from Virginia Tech.
Opening Welcome + Horizon Breakfast Thursday @ 7:30 AM
Going From Good to Great With AI Friday @ 10:15 AM
Melissa Simpson advocates for permitting certainty on behalf of Western Energy Alliance. She has an extensive career in natural resources, conservation, and energy policy that spans across private-sector, government, and non-governmental organizations.
Prior to joining the Alliance, she was the director of global government affairs at Sempra, heavily focused on liquified natural gas (LNG) exports and emissions verification and reporting. Before her time at Sempra, she served as deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources at the Department of State in the first Trump Administration, leading efforts on cross-border permitting for hydrocarbons. During the George W. Bush Administration, she served as deputy under secretary of Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she supervised energy and wildlife policy directives and regulations for the U.S. Forest Service. She also served as counselor to the assistant secretary for Land and Minerals Management at the Department of the Interior, where she developed strategies to expedite oil and natural gas permitting on public lands through collaboration with multiple-use conservation groups.
Between her years of service in government, Melissa was the director of government affairs and science-based conservation at Safari Club International and a consultant for independent oil and natural gas companies.
She is a native Coloradan, holding a JD from Creighton University School of Law and a BS in political science from Colorado State University.
Advocating for Certainty: Politics, Policy and Permitting Friday @ 8:00 AM
Matthew W. Smith, CPL, is the VP of Land for EOG Resources, Inc. After graduating from Texas Tech University in 1996, Matt began his career as a Field Landman working Texas and Oklahoma. In 2001, Matt took a job with El Paso Production in Houston, Texas as an in-house landman working the Gulf Coast of Texas. He left El Paso Production in 2003 to work as a Field Landman. In 2005, EOG hired Matt as a landman to work in the Fort Worth, Texas Division Office and in 2012 EOG moved Matt to the San Antonio, Texas Division Office to serve as Division Land Manager. In 2018, EOG moved Matt to the Denver, Colorado Division Office to serve as Division Land Manager for the Western U.S. and Canada and in late 2020 EOG moved Matt to the Midland, Texas Division Office to serve as Division Land Manager. In January of 2025 EOG moved Matt to Houston, Texas to serve as VP of Land. Matt has been an active member of American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) since 1998 and became a Certified Professional Landman in 2005.
The Emerging Energy Crisis, Securing the Future Thursday @ 10:45 AM
Christopher Valdez is Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Managers of PureWest Energy, Wyoming’s largest natural gas producer. In addition to his role at PureWest, he serves on the boards of industry trade organizations, including Western Energy Alliance and AXPC.
Prior to joining PureWest, Christopher was CEO of Middle Fork Energy Partners, a private equity-backed Uinta Basin portfolio company that he co-founded. His earlier experience includes serving as Vice President of Planning & Marketing at Vantage Energy and holding commercial and technical leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Encana, culminating in Vice President of Planning. He began his career as a consultant focused on natural gas market fundamentals.
Christopher grew up in North Denver and is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He also holds an MBA from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.
Oil and Gas Markets Update Thursday @ 3:45 PM
Julie Woodard, CPL, serves as president of the American Association of Professional Landmen, where she is currently focused on driving strategic growth and industry advocacy. She formerly served as the senior land manager for Expand Energy in the Northeast Appalachia Business Unit and has previously led land business development and exploration activities in the Mid-Continent region.
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 OU 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. Since 2007, she has chaired and served on numerous AAPL committees as well as the board of directors. She also has served as chair of the NAPE Operators Committee, a member of the Executive Committee as first vice president for 2025-26, third vice president for 2015-16, and president and chair of the AAPL Educational Foundation. Currently she is AAPL’s president.
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 staying involved with her church community.
The Emerging Energy Crisis, Securing the Future Thursday @ 10:45 AM
