Introduction of New President

With receding hairlines and slowing steps, my partner Arthur Budge and I agreed that we needed to bring aboard someone into Five States with the knowledge, experience and character to serve on our senior management team. Following an active search, we identified and have added the person who we believe can lead the company into a period of renewed growth and expansion. 

John Kiser, 58, is precisely the individual we had been seeking. John is a petroleum engineer graduate of TAMU with an MBA from SMU. He began his career with Exxon in west Texas in 1987, and subsequently has filled a number of positions requiring leadership and innovation.

I first met John several years ago when he served as Dr. Bobby Lyle’s Vice President during Lyco’s successful, early development of the Montana Bakken. Later, he became an Associate Dean in the Lyle School of Engineering where he led the school’s strategic planning initiative and ran the Hart Center for Engineering Leadership. Most recently he was the president and CEO of SDL Citadel, a research venture producing diesel from waste plastic. 

As the newly named president of Five States, he is charged with the operational oversight of every aspect of our business. He will also be leading strategic and succession planning initiatives that, along with the Five States management team, will chart the future course of the business. 

Arthur Budge and I will remain with the company to assist John with making a seamless and successful transition. I will continue as Chairman, primarily to meet with industry contacts and identify new acquisition candidates. Arthur will remain CEO of Five States where he will provide continuity with our business partners and investors and grow the investor network.