OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM
The management team at Black Stone Minerals brings multidisciplinary expertise to managing our assets, growing our mineral footprint, and maximizing returns for our unitholders.
Mr. Carter has served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the General Partner since November 2014, and as President from November 2014 to June 2018. Mr. Carter founded BSMC, our predecessor, and served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Black Stone Natural Resources, L.L.C. ("BSNR"), the former general partner of BSMC, from 1998 to 2015. Mr. Carter served as Managing General Partner of W.T. Carter & Bro. from 1987 to 1992 and Black Stone Energy Company from 1980 to present, both of which preceded the General Partner. Mr. Carter founded Black Stone Energy Company, BSMC’s operating and exploration subsidiary, in 1980. From 1978 to 1980, Mr. Carter served as a lending officer in the Energy Department of Texas Commerce Bank in Houston, Texas, after serving in various other roles from 1975. Mr. Carter received M.B.A. and B.B.A. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Carter has been a director of Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc. since 2005. He has served as a Trustee of St. Edward’s University since 2009. Mr. Carter has been a trustee of a nonprofit since 1998, and was elected to a four-year term as president of the board of trustees of the nonprofit in 2013. Mr. Carter also serves on the University of Texas at Austin Internal Audit Committee and the University Lands Advisory Board.
Mr. Putman has served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of our general partner or its predecessor since 2013. Prior to joining BSM, Mr. Putman was Managing Director and General Counsel of Quintana Capital Group from 2008 to 2013 and Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Quintana Maritime Limited from 2005 to 2008. He also worked as an associate at Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. from 2001 to 2005 and Mayer Brown LLP from 2000 to 2001. Mr. Putman received a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Chicago. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Texas and Illinois.
Ms. Clark has served as Senior Vice President, Land & Legal of our general partner since 2021. Prior to joining BSM, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of University Lands, a company within the University of Texas System that manages over 2 million acres of surface and mineral interests in West Texas. Before joining University Lands, Ms. Clark was Deputy General Counsel at Talos Energy, LLC, now a public offshore exploration and production company, where she headed land. Before Talos, she served as Vice President, Land & Legal at EnerVest Operating LLC, a private operator, where she oversaw land and legal and managed acquisitions and divestitures. Ms. Clark began her career in land and legal roles at Shell Oil Company and a Texas-based electric cooperative. She has a JD from the University of Houston Law Center and a BBA in Petroleum Land Management and Finance from Texas Tech University.
Mr. Kiefer was appointed Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in March 2023. Mr. Kiefer has over 14 years of finance and accounting experience. He has been employed at the Partnership since 2013 and has served as Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations of the General Partner since 2021. He previously served as Director, Finance & Investor Relations and Manager, Finance. Before joining Black Stone, Mr. Kiefer worked at KPMG US LLP as an Associate in the Economic Valuation & Services Group. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and is a CFA charterholder.
Ms. Smajstrla joined Black Stone Minerals as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer in September 2015. Prior to joining the company, she was employed at LRR Energy, LP from December 2013 to September 2015 as Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. She also worked at Goodrich Petroleum from 2010 through 2013 as Vice President, Controller and Principal Accounting Officer. Ms. Smajstrla was employed by Anadarko Petroleum from 2008 to 2010 in SEC reporting and corporate audit roles. Prior to joining Anadarko, Ms. Smajstrla worked in SEC reporting and corporate accounting roles for 13 years. Ms. Smajstrla received a Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Houston. Ms. Smajstrla is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Gremillion has served as Vice President of Engineering and Geology at Black Stone Minerals since March 2021. Previously, he served as Director of Engineering beginning in 2013 and has been with the company since 2008. Prior to joining Black Stone, Mr. Gremillion was employed at Baker Hughes INTEQ as a field engineer. He was also employed as a commercial banking officer at Whitney National Bank from 2004 to 2007. Mr. Gremillion received a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Orleans in 2004 and a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering from the University of Mississippi in 2002.
Mr. Gearing has served as Vice President, Information Technology at Black Stone Minerals since March 2021. Previously, he served as Director, Information Technology since September 2016. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Gearing has been employed in Information Technology leadership roles since 1998, most recently serving as CIO and VP of IT and Operations in the distribution sector from 2011 – 2016. He was also employed in IT and software development management roles at ADP from 1997 - 2011. Mr. Gearing is a veteran of the United States Navy and earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Houston–Clear Lake in 1997.
Mr. Montgomery has served as Vice President, Land of Black Stone Minerals since March 2022. Previously, he served as Director, Land since July 2021, Land Manager since March 2020, and joined the company as Senior Landman in October of 2013. Prior to joining Black Stone, Mr. Montgomery was Project Manager at HPS Oil & Gas Properties. He was also employed by GLS, LLC which focused primarily on generating and drilling oil & gas prospects in South Louisiana from 3D Seismic. Mr. Montgomery received his Bachelor of Business Finance from the University of Louisiana where he also pitched for the nationally ranked Ragin Cajun baseball team.
Ms. Wiggs was appointed Vice President, Human Resources at Black Stone Minerals in 2019. Previously, she served as Director, Human Resources since February 2016 and Manager, Human Resources since May 2014. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Wiggs has been employed in Human Resources roles since 2000 in the oil and gas industry along with distribution and manufacturing sectors. She received her Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and is SHRM-SCP certified.