Crystal Heter
Since July 2020, Ms. Heter has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Tallgrass Energy, LP (“Tallgrass”), an energy infrastructure company where she performs operations, engineering, safety, land, environmental, procurement, IT and HR services. From April 2018 to July 2020, Ms. Heter served as Segment President, Natural Gas Transportation, for Tallgrass and from February 2016 to April 2018, Ms. Heter served as Vice President and General Manager of the Rockies Express Pipeline, for Tallgrass. Ms. Heter served in various roles with Tallgrass since 2012, and prior to that, with Kinder Morgan, including as a director of account services, account director and as a project manager and risk engineer. Ms. Heter obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.
Ryan L. Smith
Since December 2019, Mr. Smith has served as Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Energy Corp. (“U.S. Energy”), an energy company engaged in the development and operation of high-quality energy and industrial gas assets in the United States. Mr. Smith served as Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Energy from May 2017 to June 2023, and has served as a member of the board of directors of U.S. Energy since January 2021. Mr. Smith consulted for U.S. Energy from January 2017 to May 2017. Prior to holding that position, Mr. Smith served as Emerald Oil Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer from September 2014 to January 2017 and Vice President of Capital Markets and Strategy from July 2013 to September 2014. Emerald Oil Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2016 and emerged from bankruptcy in November 2016. Prior to joining Emerald, Mr. Smith was a Vice President in Canaccord Genuity’s Investment Banking Group focused solely on the energy sector. Mr. Smith joined Canaccord Genuity in 2008 and was responsible for the execution of public and private financing engagements along with mergers and acquisitions advisory services. Prior to joining Canaccord Genuity, Mr. Smith was an Analyst in the Wells Fargo Energy Group, working solely with upstream and midstream oil and gas companies. Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Texas A&M University.
Andrew Suckling
Mr. Suckling has more than 30 years of experience in the finance industry, primarily working in commodity trading and investment. Since January 2009, Mr. Suckling has served as a Partner and Founder of Verulam LLC, a hedge fund and consultancy. Since August 2022, Mr. Suckling has served as a member of the board of directors of American Battery Materials, Inc. and is currently the non-executive chairman of Cadence Minerals and Chair of remuneration committee, a position he has held since December 2015. Mr. Suckling also previously served as the non-executive director and member of the audit committee of Macarthur Minerals from December 2017 to September 2024. From March 2000 to December 2008, Mr. Suckling served as a Partner at multibillion fund management group, Ospraie Management LLC. From July 1994 to March 2000, Mr. Suckling was a commodities trader on the London Metal Exchange with MG Ltd. Mr. Suckling is a graduate of Brasenose College, Oxford University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree (with honors) in Modern History and a Master of Arts degree in Modern History.
Crystal Heter
Since July 2020, Ms. Heter has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Tallgrass Energy, LP (“Tallgrass”), an energy infrastructure company where she performs operations, engineering, safety, land, environmental, procurement, IT and HR services. From April 2018 to July 2020, Ms. Heter served as Segment President, Natural Gas Transportation, for Tallgrass and from February 2016 to April 2018, Ms. Heter served as Vice President and General Manager of the Rockies Express Pipeline, for Tallgrass. Ms. Heter served in various roles with Tallgrass since 2012, and prior to that, with Kinder Morgan, including as a director of account services, account director and as a project manager and risk engineer. Ms. Heter obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.
Ryan L. Smith
Since December 2019, Mr. Smith has served as Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Energy Corp. (“U.S. Energy”), an energy company engaged in the development and operation of high-quality energy and industrial gas assets in the United States. Mr. Smith served as Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Energy from May 2017 to June 2023, and has served as a member of the board of directors of U.S. Energy since January 2021. Mr. Smith consulted for U.S. Energy from January 2017 to May 2017. Prior to holding that position, Mr. Smith served as Emerald Oil Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer from September 2014 to January 2017 and Vice President of Capital Markets and Strategy from July 2013 to September 2014. Emerald Oil Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2016 and emerged from bankruptcy in November 2016. Prior to joining Emerald, Mr. Smith was a Vice President in Canaccord Genuity’s Investment Banking Group focused solely on the energy sector. Mr. Smith joined Canaccord Genuity in 2008 and was responsible for the execution of public and private financing engagements along with mergers and acquisitions advisory services. Prior to joining Canaccord Genuity, Mr. Smith was an Analyst in the Wells Fargo Energy Group, working solely with upstream and midstream oil and gas companies. Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Texas A&M University.
Ryan L. Smith
Since December 2019, Mr. Smith has served as Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Energy Corp. (“U.S. Energy”), an energy company engaged in the development and operation of high-quality energy and industrial gas assets in the United States. Mr. Smith served as Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Energy from May 2017 to June 2023, and has served as a member of the board of directors of U.S. Energy since January 2021. Mr. Smith consulted for U.S. Energy from January 2017 to May 2017. Prior to holding that position, Mr. Smith served as Emerald Oil Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer from September 2014 to January 2017 and Vice President of Capital Markets and Strategy from July 2013 to September 2014. Emerald Oil Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2016 and emerged from bankruptcy in November 2016. Prior to joining Emerald, Mr. Smith was a Vice President in Canaccord Genuity’s Investment Banking Group focused solely on the energy sector. Mr. Smith joined Canaccord Genuity in 2008 and was responsible for the execution of public and private financing engagements along with mergers and acquisitions advisory services. Prior to joining Canaccord Genuity, Mr. Smith was an Analyst in the Wells Fargo Energy Group, working solely with upstream and midstream oil and gas companies. Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Texas A&M University.
Crystal Heter
Since July 2020, Ms. Heter has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Tallgrass Energy, LP (“Tallgrass”), an energy infrastructure company where she performs operations, engineering, safety, land, environmental, procurement, IT and HR services. From April 2018 to July 2020, Ms. Heter served as Segment President, Natural Gas Transportation, for Tallgrass and from February 2016 to April 2018, Ms. Heter served as Vice President and General Manager of the Rockies Express Pipeline, for Tallgrass. Ms. Heter served in various roles with Tallgrass since 2012, and prior to that, with Kinder Morgan, including as a director of account services, account director and as a project manager and risk engineer. Ms. Heter obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.