At Meritum Energy Holdings, every member of our team is experienced, knowledgeable, and committed to our mission and values. We are dedicated to providing value, service and results for our clients. We put our skills and dedication to work every day for you.
Prior to co-founding Meritum Energy Holdings in 2015, Chris was a co-founder of JP Energy Partners (JPEP). He served as President of Pinnacle Propane where he was responsible for the growth and operations of the NGL segment of JPEP, including Pinnacle Propane, Pinnacle Propane Express (barbecue cylinder exchange) and JP Liquids (NGL transport business).
Prior to co-founding JP Energy Partners, Chris was a VP at DH Investment Co. and Cordillera Ranch Development Corporation, where he was responsible for the development and sales of several new residential communities including Cordillera Ranch, an 8,700-acre community in the Texas hill country featuring a private club and Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. Prior to his work with Cordillera Ranch, Chris worked for Creekstone Builders on various luxury apartment developments throughout the U.S.
Chris holds a BBA in Finance from Texas Tech University.
Prior to co-founding Meritum Energy Holdings in 2015, Rob was SVP of Corporate/Business Development-NGL for JP Energy Partners. His responsibilities included sourcing, valuing, and negotiating acquisitions as well as developing and leading the NGL sales team. In response to the need for direct attention and oversight, Rob developed and led the risk management function for the NGL group.
Prior to joining JP Energy, Rob was a Managing Director at FTI Consulting specializing in the energy sector. In this role Rob advised both lenders and executive management teams through numerous restructurings. Representative engagements include numerous public and private clients from E&P and midstream to marketing and refining clients.
Rob graduated with a BS in engineering from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from SMU. Rob is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Prior to joining Meritum, Tom served as EVP of Ferrell North America (FNA), a division of Ferrellgas. Responsibilities included supply, logistics (truck, rail, storage, and pipeline operations), risk management, wholesale and business development while also supporting various midstream operations. Tom led transition/integration of Sable Environmental, a salt-water disposal company, including implementation and development of a total company sales and operational structure and acquiring and building new disposal wells.
Following acquisition of Bridger, a national crude logistics company, led company synergy coordination with Bridger Executive team. Tom is also heavily involved in industry associations including past Chairman of the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) and of various committees and task forces with the National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA).
Prior to FNA, Tom served in the U.S. Army earning the rank of Captain in the Chemical Corps after he graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment Fund in Kansas City, is a life member of the Army War College Foundation and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Prior to Josh joining the Meritum Energy Family, he served as Vice President of McAdams Propane Company, where he oversaw all aspects of company operations. In this role, he managed commercial customer relationships, directed supply agreements, and led acquisition initiatives, helping guide the company’s growth and long-term stability.
In 2014, Josh became a Founding Partner of a Midstream Transportation Company, a position he held through 2025. His responsibilities included overseeing the transportation and logistics of natural gas liquids (NGLs) across the Gulf Coast, managing railcar transloading operations, and supporting wholesale propane activities.
Prior to these roles, Josh served as a Distribution Coordinator and Wholesale Propane Representative with Enterprise Products, where he coordinated truck distribution of propane throughout the Midcontinent and Northeast regions. He also marketed wholesale propane on the Dixie Pipeline and managed pipeline allocation. Josh is a past president of the Texas Propane Gas Association and serves on the Sabine River Authority of Texas.
Josh is a graduate of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
Stephen Southward is the CEO of Cleveland Petroleum Products, leading multi-location fuel and propane operations across Oklahoma and the Midwest. He has overseen major company transitions, large-scale supply projects, and multi-million-dollar asset negotiations while building strong partnerships with regional refineries and transport providers.
Stephen is committed to community impact, including charity work, youth mentorship, and cultural history initiatives such as preserving oral histories from Oklahoma’s tribal nations. He studied at St. Gregory’s University and continues to blend business leadership with service, integrity, and long-term strategic vision.
Brent joined Meritum with significant experience in key areas of accounting and financial reporting for many different-sized companies. Brent has been involved in everything from external auditing to managing internal audits, SOX compliance and financial reporting for large public companies.
In addition, Brent has been a part of companies that have grown through aggressive acquisition strategies, as well as having been a part of companies that have been acquired. His experience and approach to business is very well aligned with our culture and strategy.
Prior to joining Meritum Energy, Hunter was Director of Oil & Gas Sales for Pinnacle Propane and JP Energy Partners. He successfully developed Pinnacle Propane’s oil and gas market share in Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico with a focus on propane powered natural gas power generation and remote micro-grid solutions. A seasoned veteran in both boom-and-bust cycles, Hunter developed targeted growth strategies that were unimpacted by commodity cycles, adding consistent value to the business.
Prior to joining JP Energy (Pinnacle Propane), Hunter co-founded AIH Petroleum for the purpose of acquiring and developing Saltwater Disposals (SWDs) and commercial water wells in the Eagle Ford Shale. Hunter led drilling, completions, and facilities design for new drills, facilities optimization for acquisition wells, and sales and marketing plans for each asset.
Prior to AIH Petroleum Hunter, Hunter joined Supreme Vacuum Services (SVS), an oilfield fluid trucking and rental company, to develop and lead the Sales and Business Development team throughout the Eagle Ford Shale. Hunter led business development efforts with major Exploration and Production (E&P) companies to assist in drilling, completion, production, and midstream development.
Hunter graduated with a BA in English from Sewanee: The University of the South.
Dan has spent over 25 years in the power generation industry, focused mostly with propane and natural gas in the residential and commercial markets.
Prior to joining Meritum, Dan held various business development and marketing roles in management and executive positions at Generac, Kohler, and Gridiron. His accomplishments in product development, channel expansion, and category awareness grew national market penetration, captured market share, and increased revenue.
During his career, Dan worked with various propane marketers and the Propane Council to further the use of propane in power generation. Examples include helping companies become dealers and equipment distributors and working with PERC to develop product and promote the category.
While at Meritum, Dan has launched various residential and commercial power products at PICO locations to increase propane sales and displace diesel. He is currently the vice chair of the Propane Council’s Research and Technology Development Group. Dan graduated with a BS in Marketing from Michigan Technological University.
Prior to joining Meritum Energy Holdings in 2020, Ben was an Associate Research Analyst at Piper Sandler covering the midstream and oilfield service sectors. His responsibilities included financial modeling, valuation, and equity research across a broad set of public and private energy companies.
At Meritum, Ben serves as Vice President of Finance and Treasury, helping to oversee financial planning and analysis, treasury, M&A and capital strategy. He has played a key role in supporting the company’s growth through disciplined capital management, financing initiatives, and enterprise risk oversight.
Ben graduated from Baylor University with a BBA in Finance and Real Estate and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
