George H. Solich
President & CEO
Twenty-five years of oil and gas industry experience in E & P and acquisitions and divestitures. Received a B.S. degree from University of Colorado in May of 1983 and M.S. degree from University of Colorado-Denver in December of 1991. Started as a Petroleum Landman with Apache Corporation in January of 1984 holding various positions in the Rocky Mountain region land department. In 1991, promoted to manager of Business Development in Houston, Texas. Promoted to Director of Business Development in July of 1994. Coordinated the purchase and sale of over 14,000 wells accounting for $2.1 billion in capital deployed and $470 million in sales proceeds. In 1997, accepted position of VP Acquisitions and Divestitures with HS Resources, Inc. In three years from 1997 to 1999, coordinated acquisition transactions totaling $335 million. Formed Cordillera Energy Partners, LLC in February of 2000 and coordinated successful sale of the company to Patina Oil & Gas Corporation for $245 million in October of 2003. Formed Cordillera Energy Partners II, LLC in January of 2004 and sold it in September, 2008 for $1.025 billion. Formed Cordillera Energy Partners III, LLC with $500 million of private equity capital in August of 2007. Cordillera III currently has 35 employees and has operations in the Anadarko Basin, the East Texas Basin, and the Appalachian Basin. Has served on the Board of Directors of IPAMS since 1998 and on the Executive Committee since 2002, serving as president in 2009 to 2010. Also serves on the Board of Trustees of the ACE Scholarships, the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts, the Board of Directors of Colorado UpLift, and the Board of Directors of the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation.
Tad Herz
Executive Vice President & Chief
Financial Officer
Received B.S. degree from the University of Wyoming in 1985 and is a Certified Public Accountant. Upon graduation, worked as a senior auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co. in Denver, Colorado. His client base included numerous companies engaged in the oil and gas industry. In 1989, he joined Apache Corporation as an Accounting Supervisor. Through March 2001, he held various managerial positions within the Apache accounting organization culminating with the position of Assistant Controller in March 1995. He was extensively involved in the accounting, due diligence and transition support of North American acquisition transactions totaling over $3.5 billion. Accounting experience included a balance of work in the operational accounting and financial reporting areas including the implementation of an enterprise-wide oil and gas administrative system. Joined Cordillera in March 2001 in his present capacity and participated in the successful sale of Cordillera I to Patina Oil & Gas Corporation for $245 million in 2003. Formed Cordillera Energy Partners II in 2004 and sold it in 2008 for $1.025 billion. Raised $500 million in private equity capital for Cordillera Energy Partners III, LLC and assembled a $600 million credit facility with a group of six commercial banks.
Kamil Tazi
Vice President of Engineering &
Planning
Received B.S. degree in Petroleum and Natural Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1978 and M.B.A. degree in Finance from the University of Denver in 1990. Obtained his P.E. registration in the State of Colorado in 1985. His career began with Texaco as a reservoir engineer, working the offshore Gulf of Mexico region. He subsequently held engineering and management positions at Petro-Lewis Corporation and Apache Corporation, working the various Rocky Mountain Basins where his responsibilities included reserve determination for year-end reserve reports and borrowing base determination, play evaluations, project economics and risk decision analysis. Prior to joining Cordillera, Tazi was the Western Regional Manager for Cimarex Energy Co. where he directed all exploration and development activities of the Western Region. He also assisted the M&A group with quantifying the upside associated with acquisition targets, and presented and obtained annual capital budget allocations. In 2006, he joined Cordillera Energy Partners II, LLC. His responsibilities include the supervision of the engineering and geologic staff, the coordination and integrity of all engineering evaluation activities and the administration of all reserve reporting functions.
Steve Fitzgerald
Vice President of Business
Development
Steve Fitzgerald is a 1980 graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a BBA in Petroleum Land Management. Upon graduation, he worked 8 years with a small independent oil and gas company in Oklahoma City, where he was involved in all phases of land work from prospect generation through drilling, completing and operating wells. In 1988, he went to work for Shearson Lehman Brothers earning his Certified Financial Planner license along with the Series 7, 22 and 63 securities license designations. In 1995, he joined TradeBank, Inc., a company formed to facilitate trading of interests in oil and gas properties by and between member companies, as its Vice President. With the company’s growth and success, he became its President in 1997. Having grown the size of the company from six member oil and gas companies in 1995 to 58 members, TradeBank was renamed Petro TradeLinks in 1999 and sold to Petroleum Place, Inc. of Denver. Fitzgerald remained the President of Petro TradeLinks and also assumed the role of Vice President, Business Development for Petroleum Place Energy Advisors. Fitzgerald joined Cordillera II at its inception, serving in his current capacity as VP of Business Development. Fitzgerald coordinated over 10 producing property acquisions in Cordillera II and Cordillera III.
Frank Nessinger
Vice President of Land
Received B.S. degree in Mineral Land Management from University of Colorado in 1984. Obtained extensive oil and gas industry experience by initially working as an Independent Petroleum Landman and an A&D due diligence consultant. In 1987, Nessinger worked for Ladd Petroleum Corporation as an Exploration Landman focusing on the San Juan, Powder River and Williston Basins as well as Canada. From 1991 through 1993, he was a District Landman with McKenzie Methane Corporation responsible for development of the Fruitland Coal in the San Juan Basin. From 1994 through 1996, he was a District Landman with KN Production Company responsible for KN’s development of the Piceance and Uintah Basins. From 1996 through 2001, Nessinger shifted his focus from the upstream E&P sector to the midstream sector as a Business Development Manager. This shift occurred while employed with Wildhorse Energy Partners, LLC (a jointly owned venture by KN Energy, Inc. and Tom Brown, Inc.) and Thunder Creek Gas Services, LLC (a jointly owned venture by KN Energy, Inc. and Devon Energy, Inc.). Nessinger was extensively involved with all aspects of the gathering and transportation business conducted by these companies. In 2001, Nessinger joined Cordillera I as Land Manager. In December, 2004, Nessinger was promoted to Vice President of Land where he currently oversees all land functions and acquisition due diligence and negotiations.
Joel Hendrickson
Land Manager
Joel Hendrickson is a 1978 graduate of Colorado State University with a BA in History. He started in the oil and gas business in February 1980 as a Landman for Texaco in Denver and spent the first 3 years of his career in courthouses, at kitchen tables and in the office negotiating contracts. From 1983 through 1989 he was the Land Manager for the Rocky Mountain area overseeing land work for a wide ranging exploration and development drilling program. In 1989 and 1990, his focus broadened as Land Manager of Exploration and Exploitation for the Rocky Mountain, Mid-Continent and Permian Basin Areas. From 1990 through 1997 he began a shift towards transactional work as the Land Manager for Operations and Property Sales / Acquisitions, completing that shift during 1997 through 2001 as Land and Transaction Coordinator for Texaco’s Corporate Business Development Group. During his career at Texaco, he was involved in diverse transactions valued at over $3.4 billion. After a yearlong transition period in Houston aiding in the Chevron-Texaco merger, he retired in April 2003. He returned to the business in November, 2003 as a Senior Landman for Medicine Bow Energy Corporation, working in the Powder River, San Juan and Hugoton Basins until Medicine Bow was purchased by El Paso in August 2005. He joined Cordillera Energy Partners II, LLC in January 2006 as Senior Landman. His responsibilities encompass all phases of land including input on title, contracts and transactions. In January of 2010, Hendrickson was promoted to Land Manager of Cordillera Energy Partners III, LLC.
Barry McBride
Manager of Geology
Received B.S. degree from Furman University in 1985, a M.S. degree from Western Michigan University in 1988, and a Ph. D. from the University of Colorado in 1997. Started as Geologist for Mobil Exploration & Producing, U.S. Inc. in 1988, holding various positions in the exploration departments of the Rocky Mountain region, North Slope of Alaska and onshore Germany. In 1992, he was promoted to Mobil’s Global Geology Team working on major projects throughout the world. In 1993, McBride began his doctorate research on the petroleum systems of the Gulf of Mexico as part of a consortium funded by 25 major & independent oil companies. From 1996 to 1997, McBride helped design geological and geophysical interpretation software for CogniSeis Development. From 1997 to 2000, he was Exploration Geologist for HS Resources’ Northern Business District. From 2000 to 2003, McBride was Exploration Geologist for Alberta Energy Company and then promoted to Exploration Group Leader when the company became EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. From 2003 to 2005, McBride was the Geoscience Manager for Medicine Bow Energy Corporation until its successful sale to El Paso. McBride joined Cordillera Energy Partners II, LLC in 2006 as their Manager of Geology, where he oversees the company's geologic exploration and evaluation activities.
Jeff Simmons
Reservoir Engineering Manager
Twenty three years of oil and gas industry experience in economic evaluation and planning with experience in acquisition/divestiture analysis, capital project planning and exploitation, and technical field studies. Received a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1985. Started his career in Dallas, Texas in Reservoir Engineering with Placid Oil Company, Lyco Energy Corporation, and then Snyder Oil Corporation from 1986 through 1992 working projects in the Texas Panhandle, Offshore Texas, and the DJ Basin. Moved to Denver in 1992 with Snyder Oil as a Reservoir Engineer responsible for exploitation efforts in the DJ Basin with over 1,850 operated wells and 31 MMBOE proved reserves representing 33% of Snyder’s reserve base. Participated in the due-diligence team for the merger of Snyder and Gerrity into Patina Oil and Gas during 1996, resulting in the new $380MM company. He moved to HS Resources in 1996 with responsibility for DJ Basin exploitation efforts resulting in the initiation of a 1,200 well refrac program in the Codell sand, and a 600 well infill drilling program in the J sand adding over 350 BCFE net reserves to the company in six years. Simmons joined Encana Oil and Gas in 2002 as Senior Reservoir Engineer responsible for assets in the North Piceance Basin ranging from the Uinta Basin south to Parachute, CO. Promoted to Development Group Leader for the South Piceance Team in 2003 with responsibility for project management of $400MM per year development program (~250 wells drilled per year) on 240M net acres in western Colorado. He began his career at Cordillera Energy Partners II, LLC in 2005 as Senior Reservoir Engineer primarily responsible for acquisition and divestiture efforts. Promoted to Reservoir Engineering Manager in 2007. Member of CSM Alumni Association and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Scott Goodwin Jr. 
Production Manager
Received a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1996. Goodwin began his career in the oil and gas industry with Marathon Oil Company in 1996. He held multiple engineering and supervisory roles with Marathon and was responsible for various drilling, completion, and production projects located Offshore West Africa, Offshore Gulf of Mexico, and Onshore U.S. Midcontinent. Prior to joining Cordillera III, Goodwin was the Operations Manager for Questar Exploration and Production Company's Rockies Legacy Division where he supervised an engineering and operations team responsible for production, expenses, completions, recompletions, workovers, and facilities for approximately 400 oil and gas properties in the San Juan, Paradox, Greater Green River, Washita, Powder River, and Williston Basins. Most notably, he planned the operations strategy for Questar's highly successful entry into the Williston Basin and executed the industry's first modern high pressure well completions in the Baxter Shale. Goodwin is responsible for planning and implementing Cordillera III's gas and oil production strategy which includes maintaining base production, controlling lease operating expenses, expanding production and reserves by optimizing recompletions, workovers, artificial lift, and facilities, while maintaining an excellent safety and environment record. He is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and is IADC certified in well control operations.
Cal Crawley
Completions Manager
Started Petroleum Engineering career over 25 years ago in the Rocky Mountain region. An innovative manager/engineer with proven financial, operational, leadership, and technical skills gained with independent operators, industry professionals, and major oil companies. Received degrees in mathematics, petroleum engineering, and civil engineering from Montana State University. Work experience includes direct field activity and project execution in all major basins of the Rocky Mountains, Mid- Continent, East US, East Texas, and various fields.
Held various leadership roles including Division Production Manager for Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions for Texaco, and was responsible for supervising asset development, reservoir evaluation, facility and well completion design teams, and multiple field based operations responsible for all aspects of production, new well drilling, enhanced recovery, field gas handling, safety and environmental stewardship.
Consulted in drilling and completions engineering, drilling and production operations, and manager for well-site supervision firm while managing exploration and development drilling wells for EnCana in the Piceance Basin in 2003-04. Executed drilling and completion activity in Mid-Continent and Appalacian fields for several independents during 2004-05. Worked in-house as Operations and Engineering consultant for Noble Energy 2005-06.
Joined Cordillera Energy Partners in 2006 as Completions Manager, with responsibility for drilling and production operations in the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma. Doubled Panhandle production in 2006, and doubled production again in 2007 by executing the majority of a $100 million drilling and recompletion program. In 2008, was responsible for all Well Completions in Panhandle, East Texas, and Oklahoma with special emphasis on horizontal well design and stimulation.
Holds patents in cogeneration design and horizontal well stimulation techniques. Served as a member of the Executive Committee of Petroleum Association of Wyoming; as a Wyoming legislative liaison for a Public and Government Affairs department; and a Denver credit union Board of Directors.
Mike Videtich
Drilling Manager
Twenty nine years of oil and gas industry experience in E & P that includes engineering and management roles in Drilling, Completions, and Production activities. Received BS degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1980. Started that same year with Texaco Inc. in Cortez, Colorado as a field engineer responsible for Aneth Unit water flood expansion project. Coordinated integration of acquisitions of Dome Petroleum and Getty Oil Co. properties into existing area operations. Held position of Area Engineer responsible for all engineering activities and Area Supervisor responsible for all production activities in the area. Promoted to District Drilling Engineer in Casper, Wyoming in 1988, responsible for engineering of all wells drilled in Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado, Utah, and Northern New Mexico. Accepted position of Area Supervisor in Ventura, California in 1992 responsible for all production and engineering activities in the Ventura Avenue Field as well as LA Basin. Relocated back to Denver, Colorado in 1994. Member of Denver Division Deep Well Team responsible for the drilling of all wells deeper than 14,000 ft in the Rocky Mountains and Mid-Continent.
Joined Shell Rocky Mountain Production Co. as independent drilling consultant assisting in development of Pinedale Anticline assets in southwest Wyoming in 2001. Primary role was drilling optimization. Moved to EnCana in 2003 as Sr. Drilling Engineer in New Ventures Group. Started up drilling operations in Barnett Shale near Dallas, Texas and Columbia River Basin in Washington State. Moved to Ultra Petroleum Inc. in 2004 and was promoted to Drilling Manager, ultimately responsible for 15 rig program and building staff to efficiently spend $300 MM annual drilling budget in Pinedale, WY. Joined Cordillera Energy Partners II, LLC in August of 2007 as Drilling Manager, coordinating all drilling activities in Texas Panhandle, East Texas and Oklahoma, including horizontal drilling in Cotton Valley sands of East Texas and Granite Wash and Morrow formations in the Texas Panhandle.
Past President of Denver Chapter of American Association of Drilling Engineers. Member of IADC and SPE.