Meet Our Speakers

Dr. Holly Krutka, Executive Director, UW School of Energy Resources

Holly Krutka is the Executive Director of the School of Energy Resources at the University of Wyoming. She came to the university after serving as the Vice President for coal generation and emissions technologies at Peabody, the world’s largest private-sector coal producer. Dr. Krutka has spent much of her career focusing on technology and policy pathways to advance carbon capture as well as identifying nontraditional coal-consumption opportunities. Before joining Peabody, she worked as a senior research and development analyst for Tri-State Generation and Transmission, an electric generation and transmission cooperative based in Westminster, Colo.; as executive editor of Cornerstone, The Official Journal of the World Coal Industry, employed by the Chinese state-owned energy company Shenhua Group; and as a research scientist and senior research engineer with ADA Environmental Solutions in Highlands Ranch, Colo., where she was tasked with launching a carbon capture research program.

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John Kaszuba, John and Jane Wold Centennial Chair in Energy and School of Energy Resources Professor of Geology and Geophysics

John Kaszuba is the John and Jane Wold Centennial Chair in Energy and a School of Energy Resources Professor of Geology and Geophysics. A prominent expert in hydrothermal and multiphase fluid-rock reactions, Kaszuba has forged a path of excellence throughout his career, both in his research and in his dedication to student instruction. Before joining UW in 2008, Kaszuba earned his B.S. in geology from Beloit College (1982), followed by his M.S. from Virginia Tech University (1986). He later earned his Ph.D. in geochemistry from Colorado School of Mines (1997) before working as a research scientist in the Los Alamos National Laboratory for over a decade.

Since joining UW, his research has focused largely on Wyoming energy production, with extensive industry collaboration, and he has garnered an impeccable reputation as an esteemed professor. He was awarded tenure in 2012 and promoted to full professor in 2019.

During his tenure at UW, Kaszuba has continued to teach a full course load, all with an emphasis on energy education. Additionally, he supervises and leads a research group focused on a wide variety of projects regarding the geochemistry of fluid-rock interactions in the shallow to middle crust. Over 25 students have made contributions through their research in the energy sector and thrived under his tutelage and mentorship.

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Peter Wold, Owner, Wold Oil Properties, Inc. and Member of the Board of Directors, Wold Foundation

Peter Wold is the President and Owner of Wold Oil Properties, Inc. which operates as an oil and gas company offering oil and gas production and exploration services in Wyoming and Colorado. A Casper native, Wold earned a biological science degree from Colorado State University and went to work at a trout farm in Idaho.  Searching for more challenging endeavors, Peter returned to Wyoming and went to work for the late Tom Stroock as a landman. In 1981, he joined forces with his father John and brother Jack with Wold Oil Properties. The brothers bought the company from John in 1993 and have managed it since.

He is one of three children of John and Jane Wold, and serves on the Board of Directors for the families charitable organization, the Wold Foundation.

William B. Berry, Chief Executive Officer, Continental Resources

Bill B. Berry has been with Continental Resources since January 1, 2020.

William B. Berry served as Lead Director from the 2016 Annual Meeting through the 2017 Annual Meeting. Mr. Berry served as Executive Vice President, Exploration and Production, of ConocoPhillips Company (“ConocoPhillips”), a major international integrated energy company, from 2003 until 2008. He has over 30 years of experience with ConocoPhillips and Phillips Petroleum Company, which became a part of ConocoPhillips in August 2002. While with these companies, he served at various times in other executive positions including President, Asia Pacific; Senior Vice President of Exploration and Production, Eurasia-Middle East; Vice President of Exploration and Production, Eurasia; and Vice President of International Exploration and Production, New Ventures. While at ConocoPhillips and Phillips Petroleum Company, he served in various locations in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Mr. Berry was recognized by the government of China as one of the 31 outstanding foreign experts in 1996. He has served on the board of directors of Oceaneering International, Inc., since June 2016. He served on the board of directors of Nexen Inc. from December 2008 to June 2013; Willbros Group, Inc. (“Willbros”) from February 2008 to May 2014; Access Midstream Partners, L.P., from June 2013 to May 2014; and Teekay Corporation from June 2012 to December 2015. Mr. Berry holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in petroleum engineering from Mississippi State University.

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Dr. Erin Campbell, Wyoming State Geologist and Director, Wyoming State Geological Survey

Erin Campbell was appointed as Wyoming State Geologist and Director of the WSGS in 2017. She has a B.S. degree in geology from Occidental College and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Wyoming, specializing in structural geology. She worked as a geologist for Chevron for several years in Louisiana and California before returning to Wyoming to teach at the University of Wyoming. During her 15 years at UW, she taught undergraduate and graduate courses, directed the Geology Field Camp, and conducted research in structural geology and geomechanics. She spent one year as the manager of the Energy and Mineral Resources division at the WSGS before being appointed as state geologist.

In her current position, Dr. Campbell directs the WSGS, serves as a cabinet member for the governor of Wyoming, and is a commissioner for the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and the Enhanced Oil Recovery Commission. She is also a board member for the Wyoming Board of Professional Geologists and a member of the Wyoming Consensus Revenue Estimating Group.

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Travis Deti, Executive Director, Wyoming Mining Association

Travis Deti is the Executive Director of the Wyoming Mining Association (WMA). A native of Laramie, Deti holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Wyoming. Prior to joining WMA in 2011, he worked as legislative assistant and field representative to US Senators Craig Thomas and John Barrasso in both Washington, DC and Cheyenne focusing on national defense and veterans issues, foreign affairs, immigration, and governmental affairs. Deti is a former sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was appointed to the Wyoming Veterans Commission by Governor Matt Mead in 2011, and is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Wyoming.

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Patrick Forkin, Chief Development Officer, Peabody

Patrick Forkin is Chief Development Officer for Peabody. He leads global strategy, mergers and acquisitions, portfolio management, U.S. thermal coal sales and renewable energy development. Mr. Forkin also serves as Chairman of the Board of R3 Renewables LLC, a joint venture formed between Peabody, Riverstone Holdings and Summit Partners with the intent of developing various sites, including certain former mining lands held in the Midwest, for utility-scale photovoltaic solar generation and battery storage.

Mr. Forkin joined Peabody in 2010 and has served in a variety of roles with the Company. He has an extensive background in the energy industry, mergers and acquisitions and equity market research. Prior to joining Peabody, he was in senior leadership roles at a U.S. solar development company and boutique investment banking firms specializing in renewable and conventional energy research. Mr. Forkin began his career at Deloitte LLP.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a Certified Public Accountant.

 

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Jada Garofalo, Esq., Environmental Policy & Governance Associate, Abt Associates

Jada Garofalo is an Environmental Policy & Governance Associate for Abt Associates. In her current role she is engaged in interdisciplinary project leadership, management, and development on issues related to climate impacts and adaptation to the energy, environment, health, and water sectors.

Garofalo is a 2019 graduate of the University of Wyoming College of Law. She earned her BS in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Colorado State University in 2010, followed by her MS in Climate Science and Policy from Bard College in 2014.

Prior to attending law school, she worked for over 3 years as a Climate Policy Fellow for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, CO developing communications materials and publishing various works.

Following law school, Ms. Garofalo held a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Herman Walker, Jr. in Anchorage, AK before taking a position as a Research Scientist in the UW School of Energy Resources Center for Energy Regulation & Policy Analysis. In her role, Ms. Garofalo analyzed legal frameworks, suggesting changes to facilitate deployment of low carbon technologies in the electricity generation sector, the acquisition of water resources for energy development projects, and the expansion of a Wyoming-sourced market for rare earth elements, among other research projects.

Ms. Garofalo served as an adjunct lecturer for the University of Wyoming's School of Energy Resources Professional Land Management Concentration, teaching the law of contracts, and worked in private practice before joining Abt Associates.

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Ken Lay, Former Vice President, World Bank Group

Ken Lay spent 28 years working with IBRD, a cornerstone institution of the World Bank Group that manages globally diversified portfolios of public and private assets for about 50 major institutional investors. He financed and managed the bank’s reserves and oversaw operations in emerging-market countries. Lay served as director for operations in several countries in Southeast Europe and as head of the bank’s financial sector expert practice.

Earlier in his career, he was an attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, heading its Branch of Corporation Finance Enforcement and representing the agency in investigations and in litigation in administrative tribunals and the federal courts.

For the past 25 years, Lay has owned and supervised operations on White Creek Ranch in the northern Laramie Mountains in central Wyoming. The ranch is a hay and cattle operation.

He received his Juris Doctor from George Washington University and his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College.

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Chris Levesque, President and Chief Executive Officer, TerraPower

Chris Levesque is president and chief executive officer of TerraPower, and also serves as a member of the TerraPower Board. He was appointed to that position in November 2018 after having served as president of TerraPower since 2015. Levesque leads this nuclear innovation company in the pursuit of next-generation nuclear energy solutions and also oversees TerraPower’s new venture into therapeutic medical isotopes. His proven track record in scoping, planning and implementing complex projects began with his service in the U.S. Nuclear Navy and features more than 30 years of experience in the nuclear field.

Prior to joining TerraPower, Levesque led major new reactor build efforts at both Westinghouse and AREVA, overseeing projects in both the U.S. and Finland. Before his assignment in Finland, he led the formation of AREVA’s joint venture with Newport News Shipbuilding, AREVA Newport News, for which he served as chairman of the Board and president.

Levesque has extensive experience with the nuclear industrial base and nuclear component manufacturing. Earlier in his career, Levesque served as the manager of engineering and manufacturing at Westinghouse’s Newington, New Hampshire, component manufacturing facility, and he has served in multiple management positions at two nuclear-capable shipyards. Levesque began his career as a nuclear submarine officer and served on both the USS Boise (SSN 764) and the USS Will Rogers (SSBN 659). On Boise, he supervised initial criticality and reactor startup testing, and qualified as chief engineer.

Levesque holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Master of Science in mechanical engineering and a Naval Engineer degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also serves on the Board of the Nuclear Energy Institute.

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Justin Loyka, Energy Programs Manager, The Nature Conservancy

Originally from Maryland, Loyka earned a mining engineering degree from Virginia Tech in 2009, before moving to Gillette to be an engineer for Peabody Energy. Justin has been working as a professional civil engineer throughout the state for the better part of the last decade, focusing on infrastructure development and long-range planning. In 2021 he began working for The Nature Conservancy as the Wyoming Field Office’s Energy Programs Manager. He focuses on programs that can mitigate the effects of climate change while protecting natural habitat, wildlife, and human communities.

 

Steve Melzer, Consulting Engineer, Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute

Steve Melzer is a consulting engineer in Midland, Texas specializing in understanding the reservoirs below the oil/water contacts as well as CO2 injection projects and enhanced oil recovery (EOR). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in geological engineering from Texas A&M, and his Master’s degree in engineering from Purdue University. Working with The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, he led a cross discipline team to research the origins, properties and distribution of residual oil zones in the Permian Basin under the sponsorship of RPSEA.

In his current role, he provides engineering and business planning services for a variety of U.S. and International commercial clients in the oil and gas, industrial gas, coal and power sectors as well as advising policy makers and non-governmental organizations on the subject of CO2 EOR and carbon capture and storage.

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Glen Murrell, Executive Director, Wyoming Energy Authority

Originally from New Zealand, Dr. Murrell graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Earth Science and his Master of Science in Geology from the University of Waikato. He received his Doctorate in Geology from Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. He has over two decades of experience in the oil and gas industry and is the inaugural Executive Director for the Wyoming Energy Authority. He previously worked for the University of Wyoming Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute, launching their reservoir data program and leading programs analyzing the CO2 EOR industry in the State. Dr. Murrell has also served in a variety of leadership roles aimed at advancing projects and technologies in the oil and gas industry for General Electric and Baker Hughes.

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Trina Pfeiffer, Director, School of Energy Resources Center for Carbon Capture and Conversion

Trina Pfeiffer is the Director of the Center for Carbon Capture and Conversion in the School of Energy Resources. Originally from Denver, Pfeiffer earned both her B.S. and M.Sc. in Chemical and Petroleum Refining Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1980 and 1990, respectively.

Following the completion of her education, Pfeiffer immediately began working for an engineering corporation for over a decade before starting her own consulting company and served as the very first female local section chair for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) in the Denver area.

Pfeiffer has been instrumental in making the center’s patent-pending thermo-chemical process technology a reality. She brings forty years of technical experience with her to SER and a wealth of knowledge to help move projects in the CCCC closer to commercialization by finding alternative, high volume uses for Wyoming coal.

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Erin Phillips, Program Manager, School of Energy Resources Center for Economic Geology Research

Originally from the Black Hills of South Dakota, Dr. Phillips earned her bachelor’s degree in geology in 2000 from Macalester College followed by her master’s degree in 2004 from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. She worked for the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources working on waste rock pile characterization and spent several years as a research associate for Black Hills State University before deciding to pursue her Ph.D. at the University of Wyoming.

After completing her Ph.D. in 2017, Phillips immediately went to work for the School of Energy Resources in the Center for Economic Geology Research where she has played a fundamental role on the CarbonSAFE project, and she is the Principal Investigator on the Carbon Ore, Rare Earth and Critical Mineral (CORE-CM) grant that was awarded by the Department of Energy in 2021.

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Vamegh Rasouli, LeNorman Endowed Leadership Chair in Petroleum Engineering, Professor and Department Head, University of Wyoming Petroleum Engineering

Vamegh Rasouli is the Department Head of Petroleum Engineering in the University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the LeNorman Endowed Leadership Chair in Petroleum Engineering. He joined the faculty in 2022. After completing his Ph.D. in 2002 from Imperial College, London, Dr. Rasouli was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering in Iran. In 2006 Vamegh joined the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Curtin University in western Australia to add support to the delivery of the Departments Master of Petroleum Well Engineering degree, and to carry out research in his specialist area of wellbore stability, sanding, hydraulic fracturing. He established the Curtin Petroleum Geomechanics Group (CPGG) where he supervised multiple students and achieved a number of successful research and consulting projects, and later served as the head of Department of prior to his move to the States.

Prior to joining UW, he served as the Department Chair and Continental Resources distinguished Professor at the Department of Petroleum Engineering at the University of North Dakota. Dr. Rasouli has also been a consulting engineer on various Geomechanics related projects with Schlumbergers Data and Consulting Services (DCS) in Perth. He is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) and is a registered engineer with the National Professional Engineers Register (NPER) of Australia.

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Tara Righetti, School of Energy Resources Professor of Law and Co-Director, Nuclear Energy Research Center

Tara Righetti is an SER Professor of Law in the College of Law. She teaches core courses in energy law at the College of Law and in the School of Energy Resources Professional Land Management Concentration. She served as the director for the Professional Land Management concentration from January 2016 to August 2020. Righetti earned both her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado, Boulder with honors. Prior to joining the University of Wyoming College of Law and SER faculty in the fall of 2014, she served as CEO and general counsel of a privately-owned upstream oil and gas company. She is a member of the state bars of Texas and California, and a Certified Professional Landman and member of the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL).

Righetti is an expert in energy law and policy. Her research focuses on policy and regulation related to energy systems, including raw fuel production, generation, industrial decarbonization, energy justice, and climate governance.

In addition to teaching, Righetti serves as a co-Director of the Nuclear Energy Research Center (NERC) at UW focused on nuclear capacity building. She has been engaged in nuclear-related research at UW, serving as the lead investigator for the University of Wyoming’s engagement in the Emerging Market Analysis (EMA) initiative. Through her efforts, she has expanded the reach of the project to other social-science faculty on campus and developed relationships with nuclear energy researchers and key personnel in academia, government agencies, industry, nuclear energy think tanks, and national laboratories.

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Randall Scott, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Rare Element Resources

Randy Scott is a metallurgical engineer with over 35 years of experience in the mining industry. His experience includes leading performance teams in operations, administration, project development, program management, business development and major improvement initiatives.  

Mr. Scott was appointed as a director of the Company in February 2012 and as President and CEO in December 2011. Mr. Scott previously worked for Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. as Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Strategy from May 2011 to November 2011, as Director, Strategic Management from August 2010 to May 2011 and as Project Sponsor, Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation from January 2010 to August 2010. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Metals Norwest Corporation during January 2010. From 2002 until 2009, he served as the Principal Real Estate Agent and Team Leader for Scott Home and Land Real Estate Team. Mr. Scott held senior management positions with Cyprus Amax Coal Company and RAG American Coal Company from 1995 to 2001, and prior to that Mr. Scott held senior management positions with Cyprus Metals Company from 1989 until 1995.  

Mr. Scott received his Bachelor of Science degree in metallurgical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Arizona.

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Mary Throne, Commissioner, Wyoming Public Service Commission

Mary Throne, a Commissioner on the Wyoming Public Service Commission since 2019, has focused her career on Wyoming energy issues in both public service and private law practice. For ten years, Mary served in the Wyoming House, four years as Minority Leader. While there she helped author Wyoming’s original carbon capture and sequestration laws as a member of a select committee. In 2018, she lost to Governor Mark Gordon, who appointed her to the PSC—only in Wyoming. Mary is Wyoming’s representative to the Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Board (WIRAB) and a Vice- Chair of the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). She received her BA from Princeton University and her JD from Columbia Law School.

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Lon Whitman, Director, Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute

Mr. Whitman has a degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Wyoming and over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. His professional career includes both offshore and onshore experience in reservoir engineering and business development. He has an extensive background in enhanced oil recovery principles and technologies and worked for nearly 10 years as a private consultant in EOR and IOR projects in Wyoming, Texas and North Dakota. Lon also has professional experience in environmental due diligence as a consultant for oil and gas acquisitions and divestitures.

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