Board of Directors

John Weinzierl co-founded Memorial Resource Development LLC, an oil and gas production company, in 2011. Since the company’s formation, John led the public listing and of two subsidiary companies, Memorial Resource Development Corp. and Memorial Production Partners LP, and was CEO of an organization that had over 500 employees, produced over 1 billion cubic feet equivalent of gas per day, and operated in six states. In 1999, Weinzierl moved to Dallas and joined Natural Gas Partners (NGP), a private equity firm focused on the energy industry, and rose to the position of managing director and operating partner. He moved back to Houston in 2007 to open and lead the firm’s Houston office. He began his career as a petroleum engineer for Conoco, Inc. John is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Texas, and earned a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, which recognized him as both a Distinguished Alumnus from the Department of Petroleum Engineering.

Mr. Batchelor is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Sage Road Capital, a Houston-based lower middle market private equity fund focused on the upstream oil and gas sector, with over $200 million under management. Prior to founding Sage Road in 2012, Mr. Batchelor was a Principal at Quantum Energy Partners, a leading energy-focused private equity firm with over $6 billion of capital under management.

Mr. Batchelor also held positions with Behrman Capital, a middle market private equity firm focused on technology, healthcare and business services, and Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (now Metalmark Capital).

Mr. Batchelor holds a B.A. in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences and Economics with honors from Northwestern University.

Mr. Denny possesses more than 45 years of industry related experience. Mr. Denny previously served as Executive Vice President of Operations for Lilis Energy during 2018 and 2019. Mr. Denny served as Vice President at Siltstone from 2016 to 2018 and as Magnum Hunter Resource Corporation’s Executive Vice President of Operations and as President of the Appalachian Division from 2007 to 2016. Mr. Denny also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Energy Management Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harken Energy Corporation from 2002 to 2007. He is also a member of various industry associations, including the American Petroleum Institute, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers. He is a graduate of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering.

Mr. Keys served as Chief Executive Officer of Evolution Petroleum Corporation, a NYSE-listed  exploration and production company, prior to his retirement in 2018. He joined Evolution in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Keys has over 35 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, including positions as Chief Financial Officer of public energy companies. He earned a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin and began his career with the accounting firm of KPMG. The Board has concluded that Mr. Keys’ broad experience in the energy industry qualifies him for service as an independent director. Further, his experience as a financial officer in public energy companies, experience with SEC reporting requirements, and his education and prior certification as a CPA qualifies him to serve as an Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Mr. King has served as CEO of Synergy Offshore, LLC (which he co-founded) since October 2010. In 2002, Mr. King co-founded Synergy Oil & Gas, L.P. (“Synergy LP”). In 2010 and 2011, Synergy LP sold its assets, providing a successful exit to its private equity sponsor, Natural Gas Partners, while retaining interest in a midstream processing company and an exploration project. In 1991, Mr. King co-founded Synergy Oil & Gas, Inc and in 2001, successfully sold the company. From 1988 to May 1991, he served as an Associate with the Chase Manhattan Bank in the Energy Division in Houston and New York, specializing in energy corporate finance. From 1984 to 1986, Mr. King was a Production Engineer for Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. in Midland, Texas. Mr. King received his B.S. with honors in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas and obtained an MBA from the University of Texas where he was a Sord Scholar.

Mr. Slack is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of South Bay Resources, L.L.C., a privately held oil and gas exploration and production company, and of its subsidiary South Bay Resources Canada, Inc.  Prior to founding South Bay in 2001, Mr. Slack served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pogo Producing Company, Inc. (formerly NYSE: PPP), an independent oil and gas producer, from 1988 to 1998, and as a director from 1990 to 1998. From March 2003 to August 2010, Mr. Slack served as a director of The Cornell Companies, Inc. (formerly NYSE: CRN). During his tenure, Mr. Slack served as chair of the Audit Committee, the Committee’s designated financial expert, and as a member of the Compensation Committee.  Mr. Slack received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and his Master of Business Administration from Columbia University.

Mr. Smith has served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since December 2019 and as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer since January 2017. Prior to this position, Mr. Smith served as Emerald Oil Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer from September 2014 to January 2017 and Vice President of Capital Markets and Strategy from July 2013 to September 2014. Prior to joining Emerald, Mr. Smith was a Vice President in Canaccord Genuity’s Investment Banking Group focused solely on the energy sector. Mr. Smith joined Canaccord Genuity in 2008 and was responsible for the execution of public and private financing engagements along with mergers and acquisitions advisory services. Prior to joining Canaccord Genuity, Mr. Smith was an Analyst in the Wells Fargo Energy Group, working solely with upstream and midstream oil and gas companies. Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Texas A&M University.