The Honorable Jennifer Brunner |
Keynote Speaker:
Jennifer Brunner Justice Jennifer Brunner is the 162nd Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. Her current term expires January 1, 2027. She seeks to be Ohio’s 11th Chief Justice, a separate seat on the state’s highest court. Justice Brunner is committed to providing fairness, equality and respect for all Ohioans and persons who come before the state’s highest court. She will work to build effective and collegial working relationships with the other justices of the court, the court’s staff and other courts of Ohio whose work is affected and advised by the work of the state’s highest court. As a justice, she pledges to be fair, impartial, independent, kind, and conscientious in fulfilling her oath as a constitutional officer of the State of Ohio. . |
Toby Rice |
Welcome/Keynote Speaker: – A Special Recorded Message for NARO Ohio
Toby Rice was named President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2019, when he was also elected to EQT’s Board of Directors. Since May 2018, Toby has served as a Partner at Rice Investment Group, a multi-strategy fund investing in all verticals of the oil and gas sector. From October 2013 until its acquisition by EQT in November 2017, Toby was President, Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Rice Energy. Previously, he served in a number of positions with Rice Energy, its affiliates and predecessor entities beginning in February 2007, including President and Chief Executive Officer of a predecessor entity from February 2008 through September 2013.
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 Jim Wright NARO Foundation |
Jim WrightJim Wright 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. A west Texas native, Mr. Wright and his wife, Laura, have two precious teen daughters, Anna and Megan. They enjoy traveling and playing board games as a family.RMM Review Sessions, CMM Review Sessions Taming the Beast: Managing Producing Assets |
 Barry Browne, NARO Ohio President |
Barry Browne, NARO Ohio Chapter President, Barry has a MSc in Petroleum Engineering and has worked in the upstream oil and gas industry all his career except for a brief stint teaching at Lakeland School in Freeport Ohio. He has been a lifelong member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, owns the minerals on his family’s 87 acre Guernsey County tree farm, presently semi-retired and acting president of the NARO Ohio Chapter since its formation in October 2019.
When not retired and working on the tree farm, he is a drilling consultant working on Marcellus and Utica wells in the Appalachian Basin. He first joined NARO in late 2016 and was a member of the NARO Appalachian Chapter Executive Board Natural Gas & NGL Allocations – Why It Matters! |
 Nehemiah Katz EQT Managing Director, Operations Services |
Nehemiah Katz, Proven leader with a track record of excellence and a dedication to continuous improvement in both operational and support roles. Demonstrated experience in all aspects of end-to-end supply chain management. Highly adaptable leader and manager who understands the challenges faced by operators on the tools up to those developing strategy at the highest levels of organization and provides solutions to remove all obstacles to optimal throughput.
Innovation Roundtable with Industry Leaders |
 Craig Butler Executive Director/Secretary Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD), |
Craig Butler serves as the chief executive of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD), an organization which manages Ohio’s largest watershed with the mission of preventing flooding, conserving natural resources and promoting outdoor recreation. The MWCD owns 60,000 acres and 16 dams and reservoirs across Eastern Ohio which its 415 employees manage in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE). MWCD’s recreation resources serve approximately 5 million Ohioans annually and its flood prevention mission is calculated by the USCOE to have prevented more than $10 billion in property damage since the MWCD’s inception.
Butler is a longtime Ohio natural resources and environmental leader, having previously served in senior positions under two governor’s administrations, including in the Governor’s Cabinet as director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. At the EPA, Butler led the agency’s 1,200 scientists, engineers, and administrative professionals to protect Ohio’s environment while building a culture that supported economic development and new job creation. Under his leadership the agency also developed initiatives that served as national models regarding climate change, drinking water standards and watershed protection strategies. Prior to joining MWCD, Butler led the Power Siting Board for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio where he worked to streamline the approval process for new power generation, initiated an overhaul of the Board’s governance and helped improve the consistency of the Board’s siting process. Innovation Roundtable with Industry Leaders: |
 Jon Rogers CEO at Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, LLC |
Jonathan (Jon) Rogers, CEO, Locus Bio-Energy Solutions, is the CEO of Locus Bio-Energy Solutions and an experienced industry presenter that advocates for developing disruptive green technology to maximize sustainability and profitability of oilfield operations. He has more than 30 years of experience as a seasoned oil executive, previously holding leadership positions including global head of BL Oil Services at Clariant, Global Technology Director at BP, EVP at Champion Technologies and MD at Sasol Oilfield Chem. Jon is originally from the United Kingdom and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He has a BA in chemistry from the University of Liverpool, an MBA from the University of Durham and is a holder of four patents.
Innovation Roundtable with Industry Leaders |
 Chris Halvorson CEO of Pin Oak Energy Partners |
MAGELLAN SCIENTIFIC, LLC-may soon become a household name, just ask your son or daughter about it. Innovation is at work with this Digital Asset Development company. The President of Magellan Chris Halvorson, will join us on September 16th. Currently the CEO of Pin Oak Energy Partners, Mr. Halvorson is looking at other opportunities within the energy sector, he will share with our royalty owners the newest technology for securing low carbon intensity and zero carbon electrical generation.
Innovation Roundtable with Industry Leaders |
 Jack Fleet NARO Executive Director |
Jack Fleet, 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. In 2020, he served as Interim Executive Director and is a past president of the NARO National board.
He has given back to NARO as a past president of the NARO Texas Chapter, has served on the Oklahoma NARO board, NARO Foundation, and NARO National Boards. He is also a member of the AAPL. Jack received his Certified Mineral Manager (CMM) at the professional level in 2011 and has taught CMM review classes.
A National Perspective |
 Mark Henning Research Associate at the Energy Policy Center in the School of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University |
Mark Henning is a Research Associate at the Energy Policy Center in the School of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. He has co-authored studies on microgrids, energy storage systems, Ohio hydrocarbon development, and sustainable transportation at the Center.
Mark graduated from Cleveland State University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. In 2017, he received his M.S. in Mathematics with Specialization in Applied Statistics from Cleveland State University. He received his Master of Public Administration with a focus in Public Financial Management from Cleveland State University in 2018. Ohio’s Natural Gas: Why It Matters; Statistics & Impact |
 Patti West NARO Foundation, CMM |
Patti West, NARO Foundation, West Land Management, Inc. Patti is the registrar for NARO RMM and CMM, She is also active in negotiating oil and gas lease terms, mineral acquisitions, and curative & title work in the Oklahoma Graphic. Certified Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer.
RMM Testing
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 Laura Monick Attorney, Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing |
Laura Monick joined the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing as a staff attorney in September 2007. Currently, Laura is the Registration and Resolution Section Chief, overseeing the cemetery registration program, the oil and gas land professional registration program, the cemetery grant program and the intake of consumer cemetery complaints. She also provides administrative support to the Ohio Cemetery Dispute Resolution. Laura began her law career as a magistrate/staff attorney at the Ohio Court of Claims and followed that with a position as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General. Laura received her Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law. She is licensed to practice in the State of Ohio.
Kimberley Wells joined the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing as Division Counsel in January of 2013. Kim began her legal career as an Assistant Attorney General in the Crime Victim Services Section. After leaving the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, she served as Clinic Director for a non-profit victim’s rights legal clinic and then opened her own practice in 2009. Kim received her Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School. She is licensed to practice in the State of Ohio. Why Leases Are Considered Real Estate Contracts? |
 Heidi Gorovitz Robertson, J.D., J.S.D. Steven W. Percy Distinguished Professor, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Professor of Environmental Studies, College of Education and Public Affairs Cleveland State University |
Heidi Gorovitz Robertson Prior to joining the law faculty in 1995, Professor Robertson practiced environmental law at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman) in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Professor Robertson’s research focuses on urban environmental issues and rights of access to land. In particular, she has written about the demographic distribution of environmental risk and about legislative and other efforts to redevelop urban brownfields land. Professor Robertson has also written about EPA’s quest for a policy concerning the use of data from research on human subjects, specifically in pesticide toxicity studies. She has written about the development of the fields of environmental ethics and bioethics, and more recently, about public rights of access to privately owned lands for recreation. Her focus in this area has been on comparing these rights in Scandinavia, continental Europe, and elsewhere.
Most recently, Professor Robertson has been researching and presenting on issues concerning the Gulf Coast oil spill and the regulation of oil and gas production in Ohio. Professor Robertson has served as a Risk Analysis Fellow in CSU’s Program of Excellence in Risk Analysis. From 1999 to 2007, she served on the Board of Trustees of the Clean Air Conservancy, an environmental non-profit. She was a member of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Balanced Growth. In addition to her appointment to the law faculty, Professor Robertson is a member of the Environmental Studies faculty at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs. She served as Associate Dean for Academic Enrichment from 2009-2014. Who decides? Forced pooling and Unitization in Ohio |
Mark Henning Research Associate at the Energy Policy Center in the School of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University |
Mark Henning is a Research Associate at the Energy Policy Center in the School of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. He has co-authored studies on microgrids, energy storage systems, Ohio hydrocarbon development, and sustainable transportation at the Center.
Mark graduated from Cleveland State University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. In 2017, he received his M.S. in Mathematics with Specialization in Applied Statistics from Cleveland State University. He received his Master of Public Administration with a focus in Public Financial Management from Cleveland State University in 2018. Cutting Edge: Role of the Hydrogen Economy, CO2 Leasing, Class VI Injection Wells |
 Martin Boltey Energy Risk Assoc. |
Martin Boltey, Principal at Enerisk Associates, LLC, Provides Supply Procurement, Risk Management, Transportation and Storage optimization and Marketing Management Services to Producers, Midstream Pipelines, Utilities, and Marketing and Trading Companies.
After acquiring a Petroleum and Natural Gas engineering degree from Penn State, Martin worked in various Reservoir and Production Engineering positions for Atlantic Richfield with a primary focus in the Gulf of Mexico. After obtaining his MBA from Carnegie Mellon, he moved into the Midstream and Downstream Sectors, first as an Energy Buyer for USX, then in various Trading, Marketing and Senior Risk Management positions for Meridian, Direct Energy, EQT, and Mid American Natural Resources. For the past decade, Martin has focused on providing Financial Risk Management Services to various clients including Producers, Marketers, Utilities, and Midstream Projects as the Principal Consultant for Enerisk Associates, LLC in Pittsburgh. Show Me the Money: Ohio’s Natural Gas – How Does Pricing Matter |
 Adam SchroederPublic Information Officer at Ohio Department of Natural Resources |
Adam Schroeder Public Information Officer at Ohio Department of Natural Resources, The Division’s responsibilities include regulation of Ohio’s
· oil and gas drilling operations · oil and gas production operations · brine disposal operations · solution mining operations · underground injection operations Staff inspects the drilling, restoration, and plugging of all oil and gas wells in the state. The Word From Columbus -ODNR Update (HB 152, Orphan Well Program, State Land Leasing, etc) |
 Mark Bruce ODNR |
Mark Bruce Administrative Officer at Ohio Department of Natural Resources, experienced Director Of Communications with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. Skilled in Breaking News, Journalism, Media Relations, Radio, and Television. Strong media and communication professional with a Bachelor’s degree focused in Broadcast Journalism from Ohio University.
The Word From Columbus -ODNR Update (HB 152, Orphan Well Program, State Land Leasing, etc) |
 Dick Emens, Emens, Wolper, Jacobs & Jasin Law |
Dick Emens Mr. Emens major areas of practice are Oil/Gas, Real Estate, Solar, Mineral Law, and Corporate Law. He has advised clients on utility, pipeline and other easements, real estate purchases and financing, oil, gas, solar, farm leases, mineral deeds, forced pooling, royalties, family business matters and represented many clients before state and federal regulatory agencies. Mr. Emens has been included for forty years in the well-known reference book, “Best Lawyers in America”, listed in the categories of Oil and Gas Law, Natural Resources Law, and Corporate Law (the only Ohio lawyer listed in all three categories) and listed in Ohio and Columbus Super Lawyers. He writes and is a frequent speaker about all the listed subjects; he has spoken to more than 11,000 Ohio landowners about oil, gas, solar and farm leases and pipeline and utility easements.
How Low Can It Go? Post Production Expenses / Leasing Best Practices
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 Sean Jacobs Emens, Wolper, Jacobs & Jasin Law |
Sean Jacobs is a 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.
How Low Can It Go? Post Production Expenses / Leasing Best Practices
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 Cody Smith Emens, Wolper, Jacobs & Jasin Law |
Cody Smith is an attorney with Emens Wolper Jacobs Jasin Law Firm whose primary area of practice is real estate law. Cody is part of EWJJ’s Landowners Group with experience in a wide array real estate matters including negotiations of solar leases, oil and gas leases, pipeline and utility easements, surface use agreements, water line agreements, and other agreements related to oil and gas. Cody also conducts royalty reviews for landowners and analyzes competing claims to ownership of oil and gas under the Ohio Dormant Mineral Act and the Ohio Marketable Title Act.
How Low Can It Go? Post Production Expenses / Leasing Best Practices
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 Sara Fanning Roetzel & Andress |
Sara Fanning Roetzel & Andress, Sara helps land and mineral rights owners successfully resolve oil and gas disputes, both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. She has particular strengths with issues involving the Ohio Dormant Mineral Act and the Ohio Marketable Title Act. In addition, she has resolved a wide range of lease disputes and has extensive experience reviewing title, drafting title opinions, and performing title curative work for producers in the Marcellus and Utica Shale Formations.
Sara regularly negotiates oil and gas leases and pipeline rights-of-way on behalf of her individual and LLC clients. She understands the challenges and complexities of preserving and regaining mineral rights and is adept at examining deeds to quickly identify problems and determine how properties were conveyed and rights reserved. Taming the Beast: Adverse Possession
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 Tina Rush -External Affairs Representative |
Tina Rush is the External Affairs Representative for MPLX (formerly known as MarkWest Energy) covering Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky. In this role, she works with local government officials, schools, non-profit organizations, and community members in areas where MPLX operates. Ms. Rush is active in many community organizations, including being President of the Wetzel-Tyler Chamber of Commerce, on the Board of Directors for the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, Regional Economic Development Partnership, and the Northern Panhandle Workforce Development Board. She volunteers with several other community groups. Ms. Rush is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. She currently resides in West Virginia.Pipe Up: Ohio Operations |
 Jeff YourkovichCPA, CMM, Yourkovich & Associates |
Jeffrey Yourkovich CPA, CMM, CGMA is the founder and owner of Yourkovich & Associates, a leading tax, accounting and financial services firm in Wheeling, West Virginia.
He is a certified public accountant, the accounting profession’s highest standard of competence. The prestigious designation is recognized globally as a symbol of achievement and assurance of quality. Jeff is also a chartered global management accountant, which distinguishes a unique group of professionals who hold advanced proficiency in finance, operations, strategy and management. Jeff has achieved the professional level Certified Mineral Manager (CMM) designation by the National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) located in Tulsa, OK. To attain the CMM, Jeff completed a series of tests and education requirements that measure a candidate’s proficiency in legal elements of mineral management, financial transactions, tax issues, and regulatory policies and procedures. 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. Understanding Oil & Gas Reporting
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 Matt Onest Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty |
Matthew Onest has more than nine 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. Ohio Legal Update
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 Tom Huber West Virginia Royalty Owners Association (WVROA) |
Tom Huber On the board of directors of The West Virginia Royalty Owners Association (WVROA). WVROA’s mission is to inform West Virginia mineral owners about the state of the oil and gas industry, leasing their minerals, their rights as real property owners, and promoting legislation and public policies that protect the interests and rights of all real property owners, whether fee, surface, or mineral ownership, to ensure that oil and gas development in West Virginia is done responsibly and fairly.
What’s New In the Mountain State? WV Legislative & Judicial Update |
