About Us: Leadership

Chris was appointed CEO and member of the Board of Managers of PureWest in May 2021 after serving as President and COO of the predecessor company since October 2020. Previously, he served as President and CEO of Middle Fork Energy Partners, a private equity backed Uinta Basin portfolio company that he co-founded. Prior to that, Chris worked for Vantage Energy, a private company with assets in Texas and Pennsylvania, where he served as VP of Planning & Marketing. Before Vantage, Chris held commercial and technical positions of increasing responsibility at Encana where his last role was VP of Planning. He started his career as a consultant focused on natural gas market fundamentals analysis. Chris earned a BS degree in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an MBA from the Daniels College of Business at University of Denver.

Ty serves as President and Chief Financial Officer of PureWest. Prior to joining the company in the October 2020, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Middle Fork Energy Partners, a private equity backed Uinta Basin portfolio company and its successor company, KODA Resources. Prior to that, Ty worked for Citadel, where he served as Head of Corporate Development for the firm’s Natural Gas business. Before Citadel, Ty held various leadership roles at Noble Group, Freepoint Commodities, Société Générale Energy, RBS Sempra Commodities, and Encana Corporation. Ty earned a BS degree in economics from the Colorado School of Mines with a minor in engineering.

Kristel began her career in energy exploration and production (“E&P”) with ExxonMobil in 2003. She has since amassed nearly 20 years of diversified experience with an extensive background in domestic onshore projects. Franklin brings to PureWest a strong portfolio of expertise across integrated E&P and midstream operations. Most recently, she led Moontower Resources for Oaktree Capital in the Permian Basin from 2018 onward, achieving a successful exit in late 2022.

Chris has over 25 years of industry experience and has been the Senior Vice President, Development since joining the predecessor company in October 2020. Previously, he held several leadership roles at Ovintiv (formerly Encana) including Chief Reservoir Engineer, VP Corporate Reserves, and VP Western Operating Area. Prior to Encana, Chris worked for Shell, ARCO, and Conoco in various managerial, engineering, and commercial roles. He started his career as an U.S. Army officer and is a veteran of the Gulf War. Chris earned a BS degree in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. Chris is a registered professional engineer in the states of Colorado and Wyoming.

Kelly was appointed SVP of ESG, Land, and Regulatory of PureWest in May 2021. She joined Ultra in 2014 as the Regulatory and Environmental Manager and succeeded multiple positions with increasing responsibility until serving as the Director of ESG and Regulatory with a focus on growing the culture of safety, compliance, and environmental diligence. Prior to that, Kelly founded 307 Consulting LLC, where she was selected to coordinate shared environmental and regulatory policy positions and compliance activities for Ultra, Shell and QEP in the Pinedale Anticline field. She earned a BS degree in engineering from the University of Wyoming and started her career with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality in the Air Quality Division with a focus on federal NEPA Engagement, policy development, and planning.

Kason was appointed SVP, General Counsel and Secretary of PureWest in December 2020 after serving as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the predecessor company since April 2019. Previously, he served as Deputy General Counsel, Corporate of Halcón Resources Corporation (now Battalion Oil Corporation), a publicly traded exploration and production company, working primarily on the company’s capital markets transactions, acquisitions and divestitures and upstream and midstream activities. Prior to that, he was an associate attorney at Latham & Watkins LLP and Bracewell LLP in the capital markets and corporate practice groups. Kason holds a B.B.A. degree in finance, with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center where he graduated magna cum laude and served as the Executive Editor of the Houston Law Review.

Jamie was appointed SVP, Administration of PureWest in December 2020 after serving as SVP and CHRO since April 2019. His responsibilities include Human Resources, IT, Risk Management and facilities. Previously, Jamie served for 15 years in a similar role as EVP of Intrepid Potash, Inc. (NYSE: IPI). Prior to that, he served in various leadership roles in the insurance industry, including leading the Denver office of Marsh McLennan. Jamie began his career as a Petroleum Landman for Diamond Shamrock Corporation. Jamie holds a BBA in finance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and an MBA from the University of Denver.