Don Evans
Chairman
Donald L. Evans was appointed as the 34th U.S. Secretary of the Commerce in 2001 by President George W. Bush, where he served until 2005. He was a strong advocate for the free-enterprise system, free and fair-trade agreements, and responsible corporate stewardship. To encourage job creation, Evans worked closely with President Bush to reduce taxes, open markets for American goods and services, and promote a level playing field abroad. A trusted friend and advisor for more than four decades, Evans worked on President Bush’s successful Texas gubernatorial campaigns in 1994 and 1998 and served as chairman of the 2000 Bush-Cheney Presidential Campaign.
Born in Houston, Texas, Evans attended the University of Texas at Austin, receiving a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1969 and an M.B.A. in 1973. During school breaks, he worked in a Texas steel mill. In 1975, Evans moved to Midland, Texas and began his career as a “roughneck” working on oil rigs for Tom Brown, Inc., a large independent energy company. Ten years later, he became CEO of the company, a role he held until being tapped by President Bush to lead the Commerce Department. From 2007-2018, Evans served as the Chairman of Energy Future Holdings Company, formerly TXU Energy.
In 1995, Evans was appointed to the University of Texas Board of Regents, serving as Chairman from 1997 to 2001. Evans was also a board member of the Scleroderma Research Foundation for eight years. In 2002, he was named a University of Texas Distinguished Engineering Alumnus, inducted into the University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame, and named a Distinguished Alumnus of The University of Texas at Austin. In 2014, Evans was inducted as a Texas Business Hall of Fame Legend and was a 2019 inductee of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor.
Currently, Evans serves as Chairman of the George W. Bush Foundation, as Chairman of the Permian Strategic Partnership, and as senior advisor at Energy Capital Partners. Evans is immediate past Chairman of the Board of Visitors of MD Anderson an continues to serve on the board. Evans has remained active in his hometown community of Midland, Texas and serves on the Midland Memorial Hospital Board of Governors.
His passions in life are his faith, family, and friends. Don and his wife, Penelope Slade Evans, have a family of 6 children and 7 grandchildren. They reside in Midland, Texas.
Tracee Bentley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tracee@permianpartnership.org
Tracee Bentley is the President and CEO of Permian Strategic Partnership, a collaboration between local communities and twenty oil and gas companies operating in the Permian Basin. With extensive experience and leadership within the energy industry, Bentley is a tremendous asset to this first-of-its-kind partnership that aims to strengthen and improve the quality of life for Permian residents.
Before joining PSP as its first CEO, Bentley was the Executive Director of the Colorado Petroleum Council, a division of the American Petroleum Institute, focusing on state and local policy and supporting the development of Colorado’s energy resources.
Before joining the Colorado Petroleum Council in March 2015, Bentley served in several key policy positions, including Legislative Director & Senior Advisor on Energy and Agriculture and Deputy Director of the Colorado Energy Office for Governor John Hickenlooper. Before Bentley’s tenure with the Hickenlooper administration, she was a founding Principal of a bi-partisan lobbying firm that focused on energy, natural resource, and agriculture interests. Bentley also served as the Director of National Affairs for the Colorado Farm Bureau, where her portfolio included energy, immigration, farm policy, and international trade. She was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court Nominating Commission in 2015 and served until 2019, when she moved to the Permian Basin.
She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Colorado State University, and prior to receiving her bachelor’s, Bentley worked in Washington, DC, for U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
Bentley is a firm believer in community building community. She is on the board of directors for The Permian Basin Literacy Coalition, The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Texas 2036, and the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program. She also serves on the Community Advisory Council for the Dallas Fed.
Bentley and her husband Mike have three grown children, twin daughters and a son.
Morgan Hebert
Director of Operations
Morgan@permianpartnership.org
Morgan Hebert has served as the Director of Operations at the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) since 2023 and joined the PSP team in 2021. In her role, Morgan plays a pivotal part in driving strategic initiatives and ensuring the smooth execution of operational processes within the organization.
Prior to joining the Permian Strategic Partnership, Morgan held roles at Concho Resources in Midland, Texas and Tudor Pickering Holt & Co. in Houston, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Texas Tech University.
Morgan, alongside her husband Clay, is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. They share a love for exploring the great outdoors, an interest they now joyfully continue with their young son. They reside in Midland, Texas.
Casey Yates
Senior Director of Finance
Casey@permianpartnership.org
Casey has served as the Senior Director of Finance at Permian Strategic Partnership since June 2023 and joined the PSP team in 2021. Prior to her position with PSP, she served as Finance Manager at Concho Resources for three years. Prior to joining Concho, she was an Associate at CenterOak Partners in Dallas, a private equity firm focused on industrials, business services and consumer products from 2015 to 2018. She started her career with Credit Suisse in their Oil and Gas Investment Banking group from 2013 to 2015.
Casey received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Business Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Finance.
Casey and her husband Jack have three young children and reside in Midland, Texas.
Emily Gordon
Director of Advancement
Emily@permianpartnership.org
Emily Gordon joined the Permian Strategic Partnership team as Director of Advancement in 2024. Emily’s goal is to increase the impact of PSP initiatives for Permian Basin residents by connecting local needs with philanthropic funding sources.
Emily’s career began in education before shifting to a fundraising role at Rice University in 2018. Since then, Emily has held various fundraising and sales positions, including Head of Annual Fund and Individual Giving at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Before joining PSP, Emily worked as a consultant for nonprofits focused on education, healthcare, social services, and arts and culture.
Emily received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Texas A&M and a Master of Arts in religious studies from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. She is currently pursuing a law degree from South Texas College of Law.
Emily has three children and lives in Houston, Texas.
Melissa Ware
Director of Education & Workforce Development
Melissa@permianpartnership.org
Melissa Ware has served as the Director of Education and Workforce Development since 2022.
Melissa has been an active member of the Midland community for 29 years, serving as a parent, volunteer, and educator. She has served in various community roles, such as the MISD Values Project, Midland County Excellence in Education Awards Chairman, Midland Students First Executive Director, 1 to 1 Tutoring Coordinator, Midland ISD PTA, MHS Booster Clubs, Midland Symphony Guild, First Baptist Church, Midland Memorial Hospital Forum Board, and The Junior League of Midland.
Melissa is committed to ensuring that all students in the Permian Basin have access to high-quality education.
Melissa and her husband, Carl, have three children and live in Midland.
Debra Richmond
Director of Road Safety
Debra@permianpartnership.org
Debra Richmond has served as the PSP’s Director of Road Safety Strategic Initiatives since 2019. In this capacity she leads the PSP’s Road Safety Committee, whose mission is to reduce crashes and fatalities, improve road infrastructure, and develop partner relationships. She represents the PSP on road safety and transportation funding issues at all levels of government and with external stakeholders.
Debra also owns and manages a consulting business, Richmond Advisory, LLC, which supports the needs of companies and organizations seeking effective advocacy and strategic counsel in Texas.
Previously, Debra worked for the Texas Department of Transportation’s Government Affairs Division for several years where she managed major projects, built coalitions, and represented the agency at all levels of government. Debra’s leadership resulted in improved business process efficiencies, cost- savings, and over $130 million in competitive federal discretionary grant funds being awarded to TxDOT.
A Houston native, Debra began her career in Washington, D.C. and spent several years as a political fundraiser. Past leadership positions include Finance Director roles at prominent national and state committees.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Baylor University and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®. Debra resides in Austin with her husband and two young daughters.
Kristy Ricks
Special Projects Assistant
Kristy@permianpartnership.org
Kristy Ricks works as a Special Project Assistant at Permian Strategic Partnership, supporting the President/CEO and monitors historical initiatives to ensure impact on Permian Basin communities. Kristy has more than 25 years of experience as an Executive Assistant. Prior to this role, she worked with several financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase and Frost Bank. Kristy graduated with honors from the Executive Secretarial School College of Business in Dallas, Texas.
She and her husband Todd have a blended family of seven adult children and one grandchild. They spend their weekends at their ranch, where they enjoy hunting and the great outdoors.
Lawren Siegel
Executive Assistant
Lawren@permianpartnership.org
Lawren serves as an Executive Assistant at Permian Strategic Partnership since January 2023. She helps facilitate the smooth and efficient operation of executive functions within the organization. Lawren brings a wealth of experience from the energy sector, having previously contributed to Kosmos Energy and Aethon Energy.
Lawren graduated from Texas A&M University and recently moved to Midland from Dallas, Texas. Lawren and her husband, Ethan, have two children and enjoy exploring local hiking trails together.
Heather Brewer
New Mexico Government Relations Liaison
Heather Brewer is the New Mexico government relations director for the Permian Strategic Partnership. Over the past four years, she has worked with PSP to bring statewide attention to regional problems—in order to find solutions. Heather has worked with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to support a streamlined contracting process to expedite Southeast New Mexico road projects and has helped connect local industry and Permian communities with the state’s new broadband programs to ensure improved access and service.
Heather brings to her work more than 20 years of political engagement. She previously served as state director for Sen. Martin Heinrich and began her career in Washington, D.C., providing communications services to members of Congress. For the last nine years she has run her own public affairs business, HB Strategies, which is based in Albuquerque.
Reed Clay
Texas Government Relations Liaison
Reed has earned a reputation as a tireless worker who is trusted for his honest communication, strategic approach, and deep understanding of a broad range of industries and issues. He spent over a decade at the highest levels of government, and during that time, became an expert in how government operates. Since leaving government service, Reed has successfully represented dozens of clients – from Fortune 50 companies to early-stage start-ups across a wide variety of industries. Reed’s approach has led pundits inside Austin and outside of Texas to recognize Reed as one of the top lobbyists in the State of Texas.
Prior to founding Crestline, Reed was the Chief Operating Officer of Texas under Governor Greg Abbott, where he worked daily alongside executive and legislative leadership to implement Governor Abbott’s vision for the State of Texas. From healthcare to energy; technology to transportation; manufacturing to infrastructure; water to waste – Reed has a deep understanding of highly regulated industries and how government action impacts the bottom line.
Reed played an integral role in helping Governor Abbott attract quality leadership to oversee Texas’ executive agencies and worked alongside agency leadership to tackle some of the toughest problems facing the State of Texas. During his time in the state capitol, Reed was also heavily involved in the development and execution of legislative priorities – from policy formation, to bill drafting, to working the legislative process. Because of his legal expertise and hands-on experience implementing legislation at the agency level, Reed is able to clearly see the real-world impact of legislative and rulemaking decisions.
Reed understands government at every level. In particular, he understands the complex interaction between governments. While serving in the Governor’s Office, he managed Texas’ Office of State Federal Relations – the primary point of contact between the State of Texas and the federal government, including Congress.
Lindsey Dingmore
Strategic Consultant
Lindsey Dingmore provides strategic guidance for the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP). Lindsey retired from ExxonMobil where he was engaged in various public affairs assignments – including a contribution to the original concept and design of the PSP. Prior to ExxonMobil, Lindsey was Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs at XTO Energy Inc.
Prior to his career in oil & gas public affairs, Lindsey served in policymaking and public engagement roles in the offices of US Senator Phil Gramm, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry, Texas Railroad Commissioner Barry Williamson and Texas State Senator Teel Bivins.
Rich Hagen
Human Resources Consultant
Rich provides HR guidance for the Permian Strategic Partnership. Rich retired from ExxonMobil where he was the Global HR Manager for Unconventional Oil & Gas. Prior to ExxonMobil, Rich worked in HR roles at XTO Energy and Burlington Resources.