MANAGEMENT
JOHN F. THRASH
CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF MANAGERS AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Dr. Thrash is Chairman and CEO of eCORP, which he co-founded, together with its predecessor companies and affiliates, in 1978.
Dr. Thrash is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Dr. Thrash earned a Medical Doctorate from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Prior to becoming involved full time in his family's energy business concerns, Dr. Thrash was in private medical practice in Houston.
THOMAS G. HARRIS
MEMBER, BOARD OF MANAGERS AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Prior to joining the Company in 2010, Mr. Harris founded BlackRock Exploration & Production, LLC, a Houston-based oil and gas firm specializing in finding and extracting hydrocarbons from source rocks within North America in 2008. Under Mr. Harris’ direction, BlackRock examined areas in South & East Texas covering 70,000 square miles and 100+ counties in order to map certain prospective fairways for the Upper Cretaceous age Eagle Ford Shale. BlackRock gathered information from 285,000 wells and conducted further analysis to high grade the prospect areas and thereafter, assembled with partners a significant acreage position in the liquid prone window of the Eagle Ford Shale.
Before founding BlackRock, Mr. Harris, as president, co-founded Kerogen Resources, Inc., an unconventional shale gas and oil resource company headquartered in Houston, Texas, which was active throughout North America. At Kerogen, Mr. Harris, among other things, led and helped design more than 6 industry joint ventures for shale exploration in the Muskwa/Ootla shale formations in the Horn River basin in British Columbia, the Montney formation in British Columbia, the Bakken formation in the Williston basin of North Dakota, the Fayetteville shale in the Arkoma basin and the Fort Worth basin Barnett oil and gas play.
Mr. Harris spent the first twelve years of his career with Amoco Production Company in New Orleans, followed in 1989 by a period with Canadian Hunter Exploration in Calgary. After leaving Canadian Hunter, Mr. Harris led ResTech Inc., in Houston, TX, for seven years as President and Chief Executive Officer. Restech was responsible for characterizing all unconventional reservoirs studied by the Gas Research Institute. Following his time at ResTech, and prior to forming Kerogen, Mr. Harris served as President and CEO of PetroSolutions, a Houston based global engineering and geotechnical consultancy that he co-formed.
Mr. Harris has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from Michigan State University and a Master of Science Degree in Geology from the University of South Carolina. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the Society of Professional Well Log Analysts, the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the Houston Geological Society.
ROBERT R. VOORHEES, JR.
MEMBER, BOARD OF MANAGERS, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
Mr. Voorhees has been with eCORP and affiliated companies for over 20 years serving as Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director for most of that time. During that period, he was responsible for the financial accounting, tax accounting, budgeting, financing activities and administration associated with the development, design, construction, operation and ultimate sale of two of the premier gas storage facilities in the United States, the Stuart Natural Gas Storage Facility in Oklahoma and the Stagecoach Natural Gas Storage Facility in New York.
Before joining eCORP in 1988, Mr. Voorhees practiced as a consultant and CPA, and acted as Chief Financial Officer/Vice President of Finance for two small publicly held companies. From 1983 to 1986, he was vice president for a private real estate investment and development firm in Houston, Texas. He also worked with Ernst & Whinney, one of the “Big Eight” accounting firms at the time, and Texas Eastern Corporation.
Mr. Voorhees holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University, and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1981. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant and serves in various capacities for several non-profit organizations.
G.S. (STEVE) CLIFTON
MEMBER, BOARD OF MANAGERS, DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR SURFACE FACILITIES – INTERNATIONAL STORAGE & POWER
Prior to joining eCORP in 1996, Mr. Clifton served in a variety of positions with Houston Lighting and Power (HL&P), the nation’s largest natural gas consumer during that time, and HL&P’s parent, Houston Industries (HI). Near the conclusion of his tenure at HL&P/HI, Mr. Clifton’s responsibilities included directing HL&P’s fuels purchasing practices, storage utilization, and serving as Director of State Affairs for HL&P/HI. Power and storage projects developed and managed by Mr. Clifton for HL&P/HI prior to that time include:
South Texas Nuclear Project – 2,500 MW Nuclear Powered Generation – Construction & Operations
Allen’s Creek Nuclear Project – 2,200 MW Nuclear Powered Generation – Postponed
Limestone Power Facility – 1,440 MW Lignite Fired Generation – Construction & Operations
Green’s Bayou – 360 MW Gas Fired Generation – Construction & Operations
T. H. Wharton Power Plant – 360 MW Gas Fired Generation – Construction & Operations
North Dayton Salt Dome Storage Facility – 5 BCF (Two Caverns)
500 MMCFPD Maximum Delivery Capability – Construction & Operation
Mr. Clifton also managed numerous fuel conversions of existing assets and the purchase of co-generation power developed within HL&P’s service area.
Mr. Clifton’s tenures with HL&P/HI, as well as the electric generation industry’s various agencies, commissions and institutes, have been long, successful and quite distinguished. Mr. Clifton is recognized throughout the industry as a leader and innovator in the areas of electric generation fuels supply, business management, organization and regulation.
Mr. Clifton was primarily responsible for overseeing the design, development and construction of the Stagecoach Gas Storage Facility in New York and was instrumental in the acquisition and development of eCORP’s latest project, the Junction Natural Gas Storage Facility in Pennsylvania. Mr. Clifton holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University.
PATRICK J. PELDNER
DIRECTOR OF M&A AND MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR STORAGE – NORTH AMERICA
Mr. Peldner most recently served as an officer with Enstor, Inc., one of the largest natural gas storage companies in North America. Prior to his tenure at Enstor, Inc., Mr. Peldner amassed significant experience in the natural gas storage, processing, and pipeline businesses with several energy companies. He has been involved in the development and acquisition of numerous natural gas storage facilities in North America. His storage development experience includes depleted reservoirs, bedded salt and domal salt structures.
Mr. Peldner is a past President of the Natural Gas Association of Oklahoma, and a board member and Vice Chairman of NESA, the National Energy Services Association based in Houston. Mr. Peldner is a graduate of the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia and a Civil Engineering graduate from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
JOHN N. (JACK) BELLINGER
GENERAL COUNSEL AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Mr. Bellinger has over 25 years of legal and management experience and is responsible for the eCORP's legal functions. Prior to joining eCORP, he served as Vice President, Managing Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Calpine Corporation where he was employed from 2000 to 2007. From 1994 to 2000, he served as Senior Counsel and later Managing Counsel and Assistant Secretary for Hadson Corporation and its successor, LG&E Energy, Inc.
Mr. Bellinger also worked in the Energy Section of Blanchard Walker, O'Quinn & Roberts law firm in Shreveport, Louisiana from 1990 – 1993, Texas Oil and Gas Corp. in its Shreveport office from 1985 to 1990, Hargrove Guyton Ramey and Barlow Law Firm in Shreveport from 1983 to 1985, and for Phelps Dunbar Law Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1982. Mr. Bellinger holds J.D. and Bachelor in Accounting degrees from Louisiana State University, and a Master of Law Degree in Environmental Law from the University of Houston. He is a member of the Texas, Louisiana and Kentucky State Bar Associations, the Houston Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel. He is engaged in civic and charitable work in the community.
JOHNNY A. KOPECKY
VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
Prior to joining eCORP in December, 2010, Mr. Kopecky carried out business development and drilling projects for various clients over the last 11 years in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ecuador, Iraq, Colombia and the United States. Before retiring from Enron Oil & Gas in 1999, he was instrumental in capturing, and then managing major projects (capital expenditures up to $1 Billion) in India, Trinidad and China. Each project started with evaluation of discovered reserves and exploration potential, and progressed with formulating the business trade, negotiating governing agreements and establishing an operating team in-country. He continued with drilling and completing initial wells, installing platforms and facilities and start-up of production. His earlier oil and gas engineering and operations experience was gained at Union Texas Petroleum, Mobil, Superior Oil and Exxon.
Mr. Kopecky is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas and Louisiana; he earned his BS, MS and PhD engineering degrees at The University of Texas at Austin and his executive MBA at Rice University.
CHARLES W. STERN
GLOBAL HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
Mr. Stern is also the Managing Director of Business Development for Thrash Interests, LLC, a related company. He enjoys extensive global relationships which he has engaged in successfully launching, turning around and accelerating the growth of varied businesses and organizations over the past 20 years.
Prior to joining eCORP, Mr. Stern co-founded and was a partner of Milling & Stern, LLC. This advisory firm represented buyers of fine art sourced though the partners’ worldwide contacts with leading dealers, collectors and art institutions. From 1996-2002, he directed Strategic Initiatives for Longue Vue Foundation, the private endowment of Longue Vue House and Gardens, an internationally acclaimed National Landmark property, where he effected a significant financial turnaround.
From 1993-1996, he was Manager of the International Business Department at the World Trade Center New Orleans., where he orchestrated 17 foreign trade missions and 90 international trade programs. He is a director of Mermentau Mineral & Land Co. and has served on the boards of numerous civic and charitable organizations in his native New Orleans. Mr. Stern holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington & Lee University.
PROFESSIONALS
GARY R. PFREHM
VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING
Mr. Pfrehm has over 30 years of experience designing, building, installing and commissioning custody transfer metering systems, control systems and related processing facilities worldwide.
At eCORP, he has been part of the team that designed, constructed commissioned and put into commercial operation the Stagecoach Natural Gas Storage Facility in New York. His specific responsibilities included project management of the field gathering systems, design and implementation of the station control systems and startup and commissioning coordination. Subsequently he has assumed the responsibility for the conceptual design of the surface facilities for the company’s projects. This responsibility spans from project evaluation and initial due diligence to project planning, implementation and facility commissioning. He actively participates with the engineering contractors in all phases of the project to ensure that eCORP’s requirements and the conceptual design are preserved.
Prior to joining eCORP in 1999, he held various positions with ICS Triplex, an independent, global company that develops, manufactures, and maintains fault-tolerant control systems. Positions at ICS Triplex included Engineering Manager, Product Engineering Manager and Manufacturing Manager.
Prior to joining ICS/Triplex, he was with Daniel Industries Inc., where he started his career in the mid 70’s. He served as senior project engineer and project manager on several multi-million dollar projects prior to being promoted to engineering manager where he was responsible for the conceptual design, bid preparation, sales support, staffing and final execution of all projects. Mr. Pfrehm holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
MARK V. STAUSS
DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS
Mr. Stauss has over 30 years of Oil and Gas experience. He has served eCORP in many capacities including Director of Commercial Operations for the Stagecoach Natural Gas Storage Facility in New York while it was under ownership by eCORP. In this capacity, he managed Stagecoach’s Tariff responsibilities and the commercial activities with storage customers, including the pursuit of future storage development opportunities. During the construction of Stagecoach, he was responsible for the high voltage electric system, including managing the facility’s regulatory filing with the New York State Public Service Commission that authorized construction and ownership of the 115 kV transmission line; managing the 115 kV Substation, Switch Station and power line contracts; and negotiating and administering the Interconnect Agreement with NYSEG, the local utility.
Prior to joining eCORP in 2001, Mr. Stauss worked with Pipeline Power Partners, the compression development company that designed and constructed the Stagecoach compressor station. He also spent 15 years with the Coastal Corporation and worked for Coastal affiliates including Coastal Gas Marketing (Manager, East Coast Operations); Coastal Multi-Fuels (Manager, Products Marketing); and ANR Pipeline (Manager, Pipeline Natural Gas Pricing). He began his career with Panhandle Eastern Pipeline in the gas control department. Mr. Stauss holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Clarkson University as well as a Masters in Business Administration from Houston Baptist University.
JAMES H. JUNKINS
MANAGER OF OPERATIONS USA
Mr. Junkins has over 35 years experience in the gathering, transmission, processing and storage of natural gas. Prior to joining eCORP, he was the area superintendent at various locations for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Company, a transmission company that transported natural gas from the Midwestern states to the Northeast and the Gulf of Mexico.
He was also employed by Western Gas Resources at facilities in Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota and Texas. While at Western Gas he was the Manger of Operations at various gas storage facilities and was also responsible for a natural gas gathering system and its associated cryogenic plants.
Mr. Junkins has worked at eCORP for over 15 years and was responsible for facility operations as well as hiring, training and management of personnel for the Stuart Natural Gas Storage Facility in Oklahoma. He was part of the eCORP team that designed, built and successfully commissioned the Stagecoach Natural Gas Storage Facility in New York.
Mr. Junkins is an integral part of the design and development team. He actively participates in the evaluation, planning and execution of the company’s projects. His contributions include prospect evaluation, initial due diligence, surface facilities design for operability, equipment selection for operability, personnel selection and training and project startup and commissioning. He also coordinates with the drilling engineers to ensure that permits and site preparations are completed in a timely and professional manner. Mr. Junkins attended Lincoln Christian University.
CHARLES R. VYROSTEK
DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT
Mr. Vyrostek has 37 years of experience in procurement of materials and services for oil and gas exploration and production, oilfield equipment manufacturing, and oil and gas related engineering/construction projects worldwide. At eCORP, Mr. Vyrostek was responsible for the procurement of materials and services for the Chestnut Ridge Natural Gas Storage Facility in Pennsylvania. He was also responsible for procurement of materials and services and assisted in operational management for drilling exploratory gas wells in the Floyd Shale in Mississippi.
Prior to joining eCORP, Mr. Vyrostek was a Senior Project Procurement Manager for FMC/SOFEC, a global manufacturer of marine mooring terminals (CALM Buoys and FPSOs). Prior to FMC/SOFEC, other positions included Purchasing Manager for Sonsub, Inc., Columbia Gas Development, Wainoco Oil &Gas Company, and Senior Buyer for Aramco Services Company. Mr. Vyrostek holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Houston.
SCOTT R. SPERLING
CONTROLLER AND VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Sperling has been with eCORP, LLC and affiliated companies since 1999 serving as Controller. Mr. Sperling is responsible for the financial and tax accounting for the Holding Company and the affiliate companies, including the investment partnerships. He works closely with the outside CPA firm for tax and audit engagements and is also involved in cash management, budgeting, and general and administrative functions in the office.
Prior to joining eCORP, Mr. Sperling was a Division Controller for Philip Services Corporation and its predecessor companies from 1990 through 1999. From 1987 to 1990, he worked as an Accountant with Shell Oil Company. Mr. Sperling holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from The University of Iowa, is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has served on the boards of two local non-profit entities.
DUC T. VIEN
MANAGER OF CAD/GIS
Mr. Vien has extensive experience in the design of hydrocarbon processing facilities. Prior to joining eCORP in 1999, Mr. Vien worked as a piping designer for ABB Lummus, Raytheon and Fluor. His projects included offshore production platform and ethylene plants and he served as a lead designer on several chemical plants.
Mr. Vien has been intimately involved in the design of surface equipment related to eCORP’s natural gas storage facilities. His responsibilities have included all aspects of project documentation and design including mapping, alignment sheets, three dimensional piping systems, facility layouts, and other related materials. He works closely with engineering contractors during the design and construction of these facilities to ensure that the designs and documentation are consistent, complete and meet all company, industry and governmental standards. Mr. Vien holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from the University of Houston.