Education Session
Capital allocation decisions are reshaping the future of the energy sector. This discussion will examine current investment trends, emerging sources of energy capital, and the factors influencing how investors evaluate opportunities across traditional and evolving energy markets.
Rachel Racz serves as senior vice president of listings for the Southern and Central U.S. and Latin America at Nasdaq and as president of Nasdaq Texas. In this role, Racz oversees new listings, as well as the retention of listings and U.S. investor relations services across Texas, the Southern and Central U.S. and Latin America.
Racz brings more than 15 years' experience across every aspect of the capital markets environment, with deep expertise in the oil and gas industry. She is a Nasdaq alumna who previously oversaw Nasdaq's listings franchise in Texas, responsible for client relationships and driving new listings growth. Racz left Nasdaq in 2019 and has subsequently held senior leadership positions across corporates, investment firms and industry bodies focused on business development, client engagement and strategic investor relations.
A Texas native, Racz brings a strong understanding of Nasdaq's clients and the region's local business dynamics, and she serves as an advocate for their interests and needs across the region.
Racz is a graduate of the University of Houston with a degree in global business and political science.
She resides in Texas with her husband and three children.
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.
