Mr. Pegula currently serves as our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Pegula is one of the most experienced Chief Executive Officers in the Appalachian Basin, with over 40 years of success forming multiple oil & gas companies. Mr. Pegula has a proven operating and investing track record in the energy sector. In 2010, he sold assets of East Resources, Inc. to Royal Dutch Shell plc (“Shell”) for $4.7 billion. In 2014, he was the majority owner of assets sold by HG Energy, LLC (“HG Energy”) to American Energy Partners, LP (“American Energy Partners”) for $1.75 billion. At the respective times that both divestures occurred, East Resources, Inc. was not burdened with significant debt. Mr. Pegula has experience operating all segments of the value chain, including upstream, midstream, processing and local distribution company assets. Mr. Pegula is currently the Owner and Vice President of East Management Services, an affiliate of our sponsor. Mr. Pegula also currently owns entities operating small assets in Texas, Colorado and Wyoming. Mr. Pegula is married to Kim Pegula, who currently serves as a Director. Mr. and Ms. Pegula also own the Buffalo Sabres professional hockey team and the Buffalo Bills professional football team.
Mr. Pegula graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 1973 with a degree in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering. In 2007 he was the recipient of the University’s prestigious C. Drew Stahl Distinguished Achievement Award in Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering. In 2011 he was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett to his Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission and was also named Penn State’s Philanthropist of the Year in recognition of his past support and for the gift that provided the funds for the University to construct the Pegula Ice Arena and develop an NCAA Division I hockey program. In 2014 he received Penn State’s Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2018 he was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to Penn State’s Board of Trustees, on which he still serves. Finally, in 2020 he was appointed by the Department of Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette to serve on the National Petroleum Counsel. Mr. Pegula is well qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive experience in investment and management of oil and gas companies.