ABOUT US

Who We Are

The Permian Basin Water In Energy Conference connects industry leaders, experts and professionals to exchange best practices and cutting-edge approaches for the use of water in oil and gas production. Our mission is to facilitate collaboration and innovative strategy development for the improved use, recovery, and recycling of water in oil and gas production.

The Permian Basin Water In Energy Conference is a program of The University of Texas Permian Basin. The UT Permian Basin College of Business Advisory Council, with Jim Woodcock at the helm, planted the conference idea in 2017. Since then, the PBWIEC has grown into a sought-after networking event and annual marketplace of ideas. UT Permian Basin’s Shepperd Leadership Institute is now home to the PBWIEC, allowing students at UTPB to directly benefit from the conference proceeds.

Advisory Board

photo of Jim Woodcock

Jim Woodcock

Founder and chair emeritus

Jim previously owned Hy-Bon Engineering, for 27 years. While running Hy-Bon, he also served as Chairman of Teton Petroleum, a O&G production company listed on the American Stock Exchange. Additionally, he cofounded Renovar Energy, a waste to Energy company.

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Richard Brantley

Board Chair

Richard Brantley joined University Lands in 1999, holding multiple positions within the organization prior to his current role as Senior Vice President of Operations. University Lands is a part of The University of Texas System and manages 2.1 million acres of land in 19 West Texas counties, which produces revenue that is deposited into the Permanent University Fund (PUF).

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Ben Shepperd small photo

Steven Pruett

Vice chair

Steven H. Pruett is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Elevation Resources LLC, a Permian Basin focused exploration and production company which he co-founded in 2013.

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Steve Beach

Board Member

Dr. Beach is Dean of the College of Business at the University of Texas Permian Basin. Since his arrival at UTPB, the college has experienced exciting growth, fostered by the dedication of its faculty and staff and the support of industry leaders in the Permian Basin.

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Robert crain

Board Member

Robert Crain has served as Executive Vice President of Texas Pacific Water Resources since its formation. Prior to TPWR, Mr. Crain led water resource development efforts for EOG Resources across multiple basins, including the Permian and Eagleford.

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photo of Michele Harmon

Joseph de Almeida

Board Member

41 years with Occidental Petroleum – 30 years with the OxyChem Division, 5 years in Power Planning, and 6 years in Water Strategy & Technology. Background includes Manufacturing, Business Management, Commercial Development and Strategic Planning.

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Matthew Gabriel

Board Member

Matt Gabriel is the Founder and CEO of XRI, an innovative water management, disposal, and recycling solutions company serving the world’s most sophisticated energy companies. Prior to XRI, Matt found and led several high-growth, innovative companies.

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photo of Michele Harmon

michele harmon

Board Member

Dr. Michele Harmon began her career working for two Fortune 500 companies, then transitioned to education, serving as a Director of Special Programs, Human Resources, and Career and Technical Education in three large urban school districts in Texas.

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Jake Hendricks

Board Member

Jake Hendricks has sixteen years in the Midstream space of the Oil & Gas industry focused on Distribution and Commercial Negotiations.

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Lisa Henthorne

Board Member

Lisa Henthorne, P.E. has 30+ years of experience working across six continents in advanced water treatment technologies and desalination of produced water, seawater, brackish and wastewaters.

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STEPHEN MELZER

Board Member

Steve Melzer is a consulting engineer in Midland, Texas specializing in CO2 injection projects, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), carbon capture utilization and storage, reservoir properties and horizontal well reservoir depressuring projects.

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photo of Michele Harmon

tim reed

Board Member

Tim Reed has been with the Water Team of Concho and now ConocoPhillips since 2015.  Prior to that, approximately 35 years of Oil and Gas environmental and regulatory work with various companies.

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brian shedd

Board Member

Brian Shedd is currently the Executive Director of the Office of Innovation and Commercialization and the Interim Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Texas, Permian Basin. 

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Ben Shepperd small photo

Ben Shepperd

Board Member

Ben Shepperd serves as the President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association based in Midland, Texas, since 2006. In that role he represents oil and gas interests before legislative and regulatory bodies in Texas, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C. He has more than 20 years of experience working on state legislative and regulatory issues.

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photo of Michele Harmon

Ben Warden

Board Member

Ben Warden is the Water Management Supervisor for Diamondback Energy and has worked for ConocoPhillips and Select Energy Services. Ben has a B.S. degree in Water Resource Management and an M.S degree in Geography from Texas State University in San Marcos.

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Max wright

Board Member

Max Wright is a long-time Midland civil trial attorney with extensive experience in both oil and gas and personal injury litigation who practices with the Shafer, Davis, O’Leary & Stoker, P.C. firm in its Midland office.

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The University of Texas Permian Basin

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Dr. Sandra Woodley

President

Dr. Sandy Woodley brings strong experience in higher education leadership to UT of the Permian Basin. She also brings great insight and understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing students. The first person in her family to earn a university degree, she married after high school and completed her education while working full-time and raising children.

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Dr. Becky Spurlock

Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and enrollment management

Dr. Becky Spurlock is the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at The University of Texas Permian Basin. Dr. Spurlock’s portfolio includes the Enrollment Management teams, comprised of Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships, and Registrar.

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