NARO Ohio and NARO Appalachia 2023 Conference September 19-21
Managing for the Future
(in-person and virtual event)
Convention September 19th & 21st
at the Pritchard Laughlin Center in Cambridge, Ohio.
==> Click here to get registered <==
2023 Convention Speakers |
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 Steve Gray ODNR Deputy Director |
Steve Gray Assistant director with the ODNR. Steve oversees the Office of Real Estate and Land Management, and the Divisions of Wildlife, Forestry, Natural Areas & Preserves, Mineral Resources Management, and Geological Survey. Steve retired from ODNR in 2007 after working for the ODNR Division of Wildlife for 31 years. Steve served as chief of the ODNR Division of Wildlife from 2003 until 2007, and he was the assistant chief of the division from 1991 until 2003. Steve graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management.
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 Eric Vendel ODNR Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management |
Eric Vendel Eric has worked at ODNR since 2012 and currently serves as the Chief of the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management. He previously served as an attorney with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. He holds a J.D. from Capital University Law School, a master’s degree in organic chemistry from The Ohio State University, and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wittenberg University.
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 Jimmy WrightCPL, CMM, AAPL Landman of the Year -2023 J Dub Enterprises NARO Foundation, President |
Jimmy Wright Owner of J Dub Enterprises, a small, client-focused company serving mineral owners, surface owners, oil & gas operators, and associated entities. He graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas with degrees in Spanish and Political Science. After a tour with the United States Army, he began his career as an independent landman in 2004. He has served in many capacities since then, including land manager and executive level leadership for multiple oil and gas operators. He holds an MBA with a focus in Land Management and received both his Certified Professional Landman (CPL) and Certified Mineral Manager(CMM) designations in 2011. Mr. Wright has volunteered in various leadership roles within the the American Association of Professional Landmen, the National Association of Royalty Owners, the Permian Basin Landmen’s Association, and the Austin Professional Landmen’s Association.
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 Ryan Richardson ,Deputy Legal Counsel with ODNR |
Ryan Richardson Deputy Legal Counsel with ODNR where she provides legal advice to the Department on a variety of legal and policy issues. Prior to joining ODNR in 2019, Ryan’s legal experience included representing Ohio’s elected officials as an Assistant Attorney General and representing Fortune 500 companies in private practice in Washington, D.C. Ryan received a bachelor’s degree and JD from Washington University in St. Louis.
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 Greg GuessAssistant Chief with the ODNR – Division of Forestry |
Greg Guess Greg oversees the divisions technical programs – state forest land management, service forestry, forest health, urban forestry, and wildland fire management. Greg has been with ODNR for 23 years where he has served in a variety of roles within the Division of Forestry in various parts of the state. He has a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Kentucky.
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 Dale ArnoldDirector, Energy, Utility and Local Government Policy |
Dale Arnold Director of Energy, Utility and Local Government Policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF). Over the past three decades he has managed education, outreach and technical assistance projects addressing energy generation, transmission and distribution issues. These efforts include power siting, pipeline and transmission line easements, wind & solar energy, utility interconnection, and smartgrid projects. Ohio and the nation’s energy infrastructure are undergoing the greatest period of transformation since they were first established over a century ago. Community stakeholders want to explore how energy development projects will impact their neighborhoods and local governments need to be fully involved in power siting decision making. Dale works with utilities, energy service providers, regulators, local government officials and community organizations to best determine if and how projects should be considered in rural communities. Dale works with Farm Bureau leaders to create effective energy policy on local, state and national levels. He has authored papers advocating a Diversified Energy Portfolio using domestic oil and coal resources, nuclear and renewable technologies.
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 Matthew W. Onest, Esq.Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty, Co., L.P.A. Director |
Matthew W. Onest, Matthew has more than ten years’ experience protecting the interests of manufacturers, businesses of all sizes, property owners, and energy companies in all aspects of civil litigation. He has significant trial experience in many courts in the State of Ohio. Matthew is also a member of the firm’s litigation and appellate practice group and has successfully handled appellate cases before the Ohio Supreme Court, and Ohio’s Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, Eleventh, and Twelfth District Courts of Appeal. Matthew also practices in several federal courts throughout the United States. Though experienced in a wide variety of legal matters, Matthew focuses his practice mainly in energy litigation, business litigation, and real estate litigation. Matthew is also a member of the firm’s oil and gas practice group and has successfully represented companies and landowners in many aspects, including civil litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission and the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission. Matthew has experience negotiating oil and gas contracts and other energy-related agreements, including leases and easements. Matthew practices out of the Canfield office. Matthew lives with his wife, Kelly, and their five children in Hubbard, Ohio.
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 Ray Walker
Encino, Chief Operating Officer |
Ray Walker Mr. Walker joined Encino in 2018 and serves as the Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Walker retired from Range Resources, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. There, he worked alongside John Pinkerton and built Range into a $12 billion E&P company, pioneering the Marcellus Shale. He previously served in various technical and management roles at Union Pacific Resources Corp and at Halliburton. Mr. Walker is considered an industry expert in well design, completion technology, fracture diagnostics, horizontal drilling and completions, along with the operations, logistics, and management of large and complicated development programs. He has been published and referenced throughout the industry for his involvement with several breakthrough technologies, including modern horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing..
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 Jon CorkernNARO Executive Director |
Jon Corkern Executive Director of the National Association of Royalty Owners, Inc. (NARO), where is advocates on the behalf of all mineral and royalty owners. He supports all of the state and regional chapters of NARO. Jon has over twenty years of experience working with non-profit organizations, most recently as Executive Director of the American Rose Society
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 Daniel Devitt , RMMNARO Ohio President |
Daniel Devitt National Association of Royalty Owners, Inc. Ohio Chapter President (NARO Ohio), Dan has been a NARO member since 2021 and has completed the NARO Registered Mineral Management (RMM) program.. In addition to this role, Dan also serves on the NARO National Board of directors. Together, Dan and his wife, Barbara, own and operate Chase Chickens, a 150,000 broiler grow-out operation, which includes 383 leased acres in Lee Township, Carroll County. Dan also serves as the president/CEO of Cervus Solutions, a business and technical consulting firm. He has 26 years of experience in project management, holding leadership positions at Fortune 100 companies, and has successfully managed large budgets and staff. A graduate of Carrollton High School and The Akron University with a degree in computer science. Dan joins NARO and NARO Ohio as a business man, a farmer, and royalty owner representing Carroll County.
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 Patti West, RPL, CMM.NARO Foundation Registrar |
Patti West. Patti is a native Oklahoman and reside in Oklahoma City, OK with her husband Jim. She is a mineral-royalty owner and have been active in the oil and gas industry as an independent professional landman since 2007. Currently Patti is the NARO Mineral Management Registrar and also continues working as a Professional CMM, managing minerals. Patti is a member of OK NARO, the American Association of Petroleum Landman (AAPL) and the Oklahoma City Association of Petroleum Landman (OCPL). She has served on the NARO Foundation Board as Secretary and Vice President and on the NARO National Board as an at Large Director. She holds certifications as a Certified Mineral Manager (CMM) and a Registered Professional Landman (RPL). She enjoys helping educate mineral owners and is committed to the future of NARO and strengthening the Mineral Management Program.
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 Sean JacobsEmens, Wolper, Jacobs & Jasin Law, Partner |
Sean Jacobs Sean Jacobs is a. His primary areas of practice include Oil and Gas Law, Natural Resources Law, Real Estate Law, and Corporate Law. Sean is actively involved in counseling landowners in a wide array of oil and gas related issues and has experience representing landowners in: (1) oil and gas lease negotiations; (2) pipeline easement negotiations; (3) oil and gas lease disputes; (4) oil and gas lease amendment negotiations; (5) surface use agreements; (6) disputes involving the Ohio Dormant Minerals Act; and (7) forced unitization hearings under R.C. 1509.28.Sean regularly speaks to groups of landowners throughout the state of Ohio about various topics related to oil and gas and pipeline easements/rights-of-way. Sean has also presented on oil and gas leases for the Columbus Bar Association and has been included on the Ohio Farm Bureau attorney referral list “Oil and Gas Leasing Issues” and “Pipeline and Electric Transmission Line Easement Issues.” Sean is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, and the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation. Sean received his B.A. from The College of the Holy Cross where he majored in Economics. He received his Juris Doctorate with awards and honors from Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where he participated in the Dispute Resolution and Youth Program. Partner with Emens Wolper Jacobs & Jasin Law Firm, LPA. His practice focuses on Oil, Gas & Mineral Law, Oil & Gas Royalty Payments, Oil & Gas Lease and Easement Negotiations, Mineral Ownership Disputes, Wind & Solar, and Real Estate.
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 Jeff YourkovichCPA, CMM, CGMA Yourkovich & AssociatesOwner |
Jeffrey Yourkovich Jeff is the founder and owner of Yourkovich & Associates, a leading tax, accounting and financial services firm in Wheeling, West Virginia.Jeffrey Yourkovich CPA, CMM, CGMA is the founder and owner of Yourkovich & Associates, a tax and accounting practice with an office in Wheeling, West Virginia. Since 1996, our firm specializes in individual and business taxation, tax planning and tax return preparation, IRS representation, and a specialization in gas and oil taxation issues. Jeff has achieved the professional-level Certified Mineral Manager (CMM) designation by the National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO). The CMM designation acknowledges Jeff’s ability to deal with complex gas and oil transactions and issues. His unique qualifications as a CPA and CMM have enabled him to provide specialized professional services related to gas and oil mineral and land owners’ needs. Jeff has successfully prepared over 21,000 tax returns during his CPA career. Jeff is the current Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Appalachian Chapter of NARO.
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 Todd AttallaMartindale Consultants Vice President, Specialty Projects and Revenue Quality Control |
Todd Attalla Todd began his Martindale career in 1995 and is a Vice President of the firm. He provides senior leadership, develops new employees, and manages clients’ audits and compliance projects, including joint venture, royalty, revenue, and post-production cost reviews. Todd also manages royalty, ad valorem and severance tax, and other projects for numerous Counties, States, and other governmental entities. He also provides expert witness and litigation support. Todd is a regular speaker at National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) national and regional conferences, sharing his lease compliance, royalty, allowed deductions, etc. expertise.
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 Mia DowningMartindale Consultants Project Manager | Revenue and Royalty |
Mia Downing Mia began her Martindale career in 2006 after earning a B.B.A. in Management from Oklahoma Christian University. After developing expertise in numerous types of audits and special projects, Mia now concentrates her expertise on all types of revenue-related projects, in which she has developed innovative and advanced analytical techniques to help our clients.
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 Mamta ShahMorgan Stanley Executive Director & Trust Specialist |
Mamta Shah Trust Specialist based in Chicago, covering the Midwest Region. Morgan Stanley provides a full array of personal and institutional trust services to high net worth clients of the firm. Mamta’s responsibilities include educating Financial Advisors and their clients on the open architecture trust service model and helping them identify opportunities to leverage the trust partners on the platform. Mamta obtained her bachelor’s degree from Babson College with a major in Finance/Entrepreneurship. She is a licensed CPA and a CFP®
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 Jeff SimpsonMorgan Stanley Senior Vice President; Financial Advisor Workplace Advisor- Equity Compensation |
Jeff Simpson It’s the important things — family, our values, the impact we have on other people — that unite us. And although making sense of it all can be hard, asking the right questions can make things a little clearer. As your life evolves not only do your finances become more complex, but your opportunities for managing them effectively increase as well. Often, evaluating these opportunities and wisely choosing among them may require the experience of a Financial Advisor—one who not only understands your needs, but has access to the tools and resources needed to help provide the appropriate strategies for your particular situation. The Simpson Covert Reta Wealth Management Group focuses on what is most important to you and provides the skills, strategies and resources required to help make informed, confident decisions about your life, your family and your finances.
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 Tina RushMPLX Community Relations Representative |
Tina Rush Tina Rush is the Local Government Affairs Representative for MPLX G&P (formerly known as MarkWest Energy) in the East Region (West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania). In this role, she works with local government officials, schools, non-profit organizations, and community members in areas where MPLX operates. MPLX operates several natural gas gathering systems with the scope of services provided dependent on the composition of the raw or untreated gas. Our natural gas processing complexes remove the heavier and more valuable hydrocarbon components from natural gas.
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 Craig J. WilsonC.J. WIlson Law LLC |
Craig J. Wilson An attorney who represents clients in the Hilliard, Ohio area. Craig Wilson is recognized by peers and was selected to Rising Stars for 2021 – 2023. This selection is based off of an evaluation of 12 indicators including peer recognition and professional achievement in legal practice. Craig Wilson chose to pursue a career in law after completing undergraduate studies. He attended The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law and graduated in 2013. Craig Wilson passed the bar exam and was admitted to legal practice in 2013. He represents clients with Energy & Natural Resources issues in Ohio. Being selected to Rising Stars is limited to a small number of attorneys in each state. As one of the few attorneys to garner the distinction of Rising Stars, Craig Wilson has earned the respect of peers as one of the top-rated attorneys in the nation.
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 Ethan VesselsFields, Dehmlow & Vessels |
Ethan Vessels Ethan is a trial lawyer. He has tried over 50 trials in central and southeast Ohio, as well as northern West Virginia. Serious injuries, wrongful deaths, medical malpractice, mass torts, oil and gas disputes, insurance denials, nursing home abuse, elder financial abuse, and business break-ups are examples of the types of high-value cases he handles. Ethan limits his legal practice to high-stakes civil cases with significant damage, primarily cases involving serious personal injury, wrongful death, insurance disputes, oil-and-gas litigation, and business litigation. In most cases, he works on a contingent fee, sharing the financial risks of litigation with his clients. Ethan is licensed to practice in Ohio and West Virginia, including all of the federal district courts in each state, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He regularly practices in the various state and federal appellate courts, including the Ohio Supreme Court and West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
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 Trisha HudkinsBernstein- Burkley, P.C |
Trisha Hudkins Trisha is an associate in Bernstein-Burkley’s Litigation practice group. Trisha specializes in oil and gas litigation matters and works zealously to recover for her clients. She has represented landowners, operators, and mineral buyers in various actions including, but not limited to: quiet title to oil and gas interests, breach of contact related to underpayment of royalties and declaratory judgment matters. Through her prior experience as a Title Abstractor and Crew Chief in the oil and gas industry, Trisha has valuable knowledge that uniquely benefits her clients as she can effectively identify operational concerns affected by the law that can be overlooked. Trisha has used her background in oil and gas matters to inform the drafting of title opinions, handling of lease negotiations and defending toxic tort claims involving asbestos and other industrial exposures to toxic substances. She is a member of the National Association of Royalty Owners and the Women’s Energy Network.
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 Kerri C. SturmBernstein- Burkley, P.C |
Kerri C. Sturm Kerri is a partner at Bernstein-Burkley and is the co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. She also serves as the firm’s Chief Operating Partner. Kerri has deep roots in energy litigation, practicing with a Houston-based law firm at the outset of the Marcellus and Utica shale boom. Kerri is currently involved in some of the most significant energy disputes in the Appalachian region, representing land-, royalty-, and working interest-owners in disagreements with operators and service providers over royalty underpayments, post-production cost deductions, failure to pay statutory interest, title disputes, mineral tax sales, trespass, lease termination and co-tenancy permitting issues. Kerri also routinely counsels’ clients on class action certifications and opt-outs with respect to pending oil and gas class actions throughout the region. Kerri was previously recognized as a Who’s Who in Energy Law by the Pittsburgh Business Times. She is a member of the National Association of Royalty Owners, the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation and the Women’s Energy Network.
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