Richard Lee
CEO/Owner
Richard has a strong background in Petroleum Engineering, Project Management, Project Evaluation and Implementation, as well as Field Operations. He has over 35 years of experience in the management of upstream and midstream oil and gas industry-related projects and companies. He has had oversite of the operation of high-volume SWD facilities and systems, well completions, and management of onshore and offshore oil and gas production facilities.
Richard graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and completed additional studies in oil and gas law, petroleum engineering and petroleum geology. He further added to his industry knowledge when he completed the University of Houston Land Management Program
Sterling Lee
OWNER
Sterling brings his strong financial and sales acumen to the Buchanan team. His thirty years of investment experience, most notably as the President of a large boutique investment firm, has allowed him to counsel the family well when choosing opportunities for the ranch. In addition, twelve years as a Regional Sales Manager for a Fortune 500 company, has given him a firm foundation to support both the activities on the ranch and his thriving residential real estate portfolio. And if that was not enough, Sterling has equity interest in six other oil and gas firms. He certainly put his BBA degree in Business Management from St. Edwards University to very good use for the family office.
Leslie McGimsey
OWNER
Leslie has been integral to ranch management since 2012 when she elected to give up her world travels with American Airlines and make her full-time home in Texas. She parlayed her successful twenty-year history serving a multitude of customers, into expanding opportunities for Oil and Gas customers on the ranch. Beyond working on the Family’s interests in oil and gas leases, ROWs etc., Leslie has active ownership and management interests in Buchanan Disposal Solutions (an energy waster landfill), D & D H2O (a water sales company) and Dirt & Derricks, Ltd. Between Leslie’s ranch obligations and her real estate management responsibilities for properties In Midland and Wimberley, Texas, Leslie is kept very busy. However, a rigorous schedule could never keep this true Texas cowgirl from her real passion – horses. Leslie has always made horses a part of her life and was even honored for two years to be the Texas State Champion in the Hunter & Jumper Divisions.
Tom Smith
SENIOR REFINING AND TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Tom Smith has over 30 years’ experience in the downstream petroleum industry and was a former senior executive with Shell Oil Company. He brings extensive leadership experience and has a broad commercial, operational, and technical background spanning refining, crude oil and petroleum product supply, trading, and planning. Mr. Smith retired from Shell as Vice President, Supply - North America, where he was responsible for acquiring crude oil and feedstocks for Shell’s refineries in the US and Canada, optimizing refinery operations, and balancing refinery production with purchases and/or sales of refined products to meet the demand of Shell marketing businesses. He simultaneously served as President of Shell Oil Products US, where he was responsible for providing overall leadership and ensuring integration across the US downstream businesses. He received a BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of New Orleans.
Patricia Waters
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Patricia Waters has 36 years of experience managing refineries, tank farms, alternative fuel manufacturers, and petroleum marketing firms. She has extensive experience in the marketing and logistics for crude and petroleum products from refineries. She is currently a principal in a petroleum and petrochemical product company providing marketing, logistical and regulatory service to refiners, tank farms, and petroleum/petrochemical marketing firms. She began her energy career as an energy commodities lender in the early 1980’s and moved into industry in the 1990s’. In her career she has also owned financial service firms, manufacturing companies and real estate development firms. Ms. Waters graduated with a BBA from Texas A&M University.
Chris Shebby
CFO & MEMBER OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Christopher Shebby possesses 30 years of corporate finance experience in the energy sector. Mr. Shebby has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of corporate finance, M&A advisory, private equity and capital markets. As an investment banker, Mr. Shebby has been involved in the execution of over 120 investment banking assignments that total in excess of $42.2 billion, including the handling of $16.2 billion of M&A transactions. From March of 2016 to the present, Mr. Shebby has operated a family office that holds investments in petroleum refining, coal mining, oil and gas production and consumer packaged goods. Also during this time, Mr. Shebby served as the principal of Summit Energy Advisors, LLC, (“Summit”) a corporate finance advisory firm which he founded. Summit has assisted a variety private equity backed companies in the energy space with acquisition and capital markets related transactions. From 2016 to 2019, Mr. Shebby served on the Board of Directors of Atlas Resources, LLC, a sponsor of SEC registered oil and gas drilling partnerships. From 2008 through 2016, Mr. Shebby was a Managing Director and Co-Group Head in the Energy Investment Banking Group at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company. From 2000 to 2008, Mr. Shebby was a member of the Energy Investment Banking Group of FBR Capital Markets, holding positions from Vice President to Senior Managing Director and Co-Group Head. From 1996 through 2000, Mr. Shebby was a Director and CEO of Mountain Oil and Gas Company, a private oil and gas firm that operated and developed upstream and midstream assets in Montana and Wyoming. From 1992 to 1996, Mr. Shebby was an Associate and Vice President of The Energy Recovery Fund, L.P., a private equity firm that invested in energy assets and companies in the U.S. and Canada. Mr. Shebby earned a BA from Georgetown University and a MBA from George Mason University.
Mike Milam
SENIOR REFINING & TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Michael Milam is a consultant in the energy field. Mr. Milam has over 40 years of experience in petroleum refining and marketing, petrochemicals, NGL storage and distribution, energy services, business development, and consulting. Most recently, Mr. Milam was Vice President and Refinery Manager for Calumet Specialty Product's San Antonio Refinery. Just prior to that assignment, he served as Vice President, Strategic Development for NuStar Energy and as Vice President and Refinery Manager for Holly-Frontier''s Cheyenne Refinery, a complex coking refinery located in the Rocky Mountain region. Mr. Milam has held executive positions with Diamond Shamrock, UDS, and PG&E Energy Services as well as consulting roles with Tesoro and Zachry Construction. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University, an MS in Information Technology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MBA in Finance from the West Texas A&M University. Mr. Milam is also a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.