Connections & Conversations

Thursday, August 19

Connections & Conversations is an exclusive event designed to bring specific groups of people within the energy industry together to network, engage and form professional relationships. This year's event will feature Women in Energy, where women from all aspects and levels of the energy industry are invited to network and gain insights and inspirations from top industry leaders. Women and men are invited to join us for this event on the expo floor.

Approved for 1 AAPL CEU

Relevance & Resilience – American Fossil Fuels

Discussion points:

How domestic oil & gas companies stay relevant with today’s environmental and economic landscape
How improving ESG performance of our industry can drive resiliency
The changing investment landscape: The balance of consolidation and innovation as an answer to stakeholder demands
The next generation of industry talent: Keeping talent in the industry

Synopsis: U.S. oil and gas industry consolidation activity has intensified in 2021, with the potential for more deals to come. A growing number of distressed E&P companies are being acquired by larger operators with less leverage, or smaller independents are consolidating to realize economies of scale. This M&A activity is driven by a sustained recovery in oil prices this year, as well as a response to pressure from investors to improve financial performance in the sector. Additionally, environmental, social and governance (ESG)-driven investing is one of the most visible and durable megatrends in the industry. Stakeholders at every level are demanding increased accountability and commitment to ESG issues, and companies are responding accordingly in their business practices and disclosures. This panel will discuss how those companies emerging on the backside of consolation navigate balancing innovation, talent retention and relevancy in the changing landscape of ESG-driven investment.

2019 Connections & Conversations: Women in Energy panel

PANELISTS

Stephanie Reed (moderator)

Vice President, Marketing | Pioneer Natural Resources

Stephanie Reed joined Pioneer as Vice President, Marketing, in January 2021 through the company’s merger with Parsley Energy. Before joining the company, she worked at Parsley serving as Investor Relations Manager; Vice President, Land; Senior Vice President, Land; Senior Vice President, Land and Marketing; and Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Land and Midstream. Prior to Parsley, Reed worked in various roles for a law practice and spent time as an independent landman.

Reed holds a Bachelor of Science from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech. She is a member of several Landmen organizations, including the Permian Basin Landmen’s Association and the American Association of Petroleum Landmen. She is a former Co-President of the Austin Women in Oil & Gas organization.

Megan Hays

Vice President, Investor Relations | Cimarex Energy Co.

Megan Hays is Vice President of Investor Relations at Cimarex, a Denver-based E&P company focused on sustainable, profitable development of high-quality assets in the Permian Basin & Anadarko Basin. As head of investor relations, Megan is responsible for developing, communicating and executing the company’s investor messaging and outreach, overseeing the company’s corporate brand and communications and leading the company’s sustainability disclosure efforts.

Megan joined the Cimarex team in March 2021. Previously, Megan led Concho’s investor relations effort from 2014 until Concho’s sale to ConocoPhillips in 2020. During Megan’s tenure at Concho, its investor relations program was recognized by Institutional Investor’s “All-American Executive Team” rankings (“Best IR Professional” in 2019 and “Best IR Team” in 2020). While at Concho, she supported the company’s capital markets and business development activities, including Concho’s $9.5 billion acquisition of RSP Permian in 2018. Megan also led Concho’s corporate responsibility strategy and initiatives, driving the integration of sustainability into the company’s overall strategy and publishing its TCFD-aligned Climate Risk Report in 2019 and Sustainability Report in 2020.

Megan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Texas Christian University (TCU). Megan currently serves on the advisory board for TCU’s Energy MBA program.

Beth McDonald

Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Field Development and Marketing | Pioneer Natural Resources

Beth McDonald is the company’s Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and Field Development and Marketing, a position to which she was appointed in January 2021. Prior to her current role, McDonald served as Vice President, Permian Strategic Planning and Field Development, from 2019 through December 2020.

She joined Pioneer in 2005 as a reservoir engineer on the Engineering and Development team focused on the Gulf of Mexico and North Africa exploration projects. In addition to her reservoir engineering role, McDonald has served in roles handling business analysis and corporate finance, along with key leadership positions, including Vice President, South Texas Asset Team. Most recently, she served in a dual role as Vice President, Permian Infrastructure Group, and President, Pioneer Water Management.

Prior to joining Pioneer, she held engineering positions at Hess Corporation and Total E&P USA in Houston.

McDonald holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station and is a registered professional engineer in Texas.

Stephanie Ahmed

Reservoir Engineering Manager | Double Eagle

Stephanie Ahmed’s childhood was full of change and adventure as her father’s oil and gas career moved her family to multiple domestic and international locations, including France, Indonesia and Angola. Inspired by her dad, Stephanie chose to study Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University. She received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Petroleum Engineering. Her post-graduate research and publications focused on reserves estimation in unconventional reservoirs.

Stephanie began her post-academic career with Devon Energy in 2010. She worked multiple engineering roles starting in Bridgeport, TX and later moved to Devon’s headquarters in Oklahoma City.

Stephanie joined Double Eagle in Fort Worth, TX as a Reservoir Engineer in 2014. Her time with Double Eagle has been very exciting experiencing multiple iterations of acquiring non-op and operated assets across multiple basins, establishing operations and successful sales.

Her current role as Reservoir Engineering Manager involves economic evaluations, production forecasting, field development planning and reserves estimation. Stephanie’s latest focus has been leading a technical subsurface team focused on Double Eagle’s Midland Basin assets recently sold to Pioneer Natural Resources.

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys sailing, fishing and traveling with her husband as well as getting back to her roots with her side business Pershing Pralines. She is also an active member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.