National Leadership
2024-2025 Board of Directors
John Stephens
President - Dallas, TEXAS
John has spent the past 30+ years as an Independent with the company he founded which has principally concentrated its efforts in Texas and Oklahoma. He has been active in the Dallas geoscience community, previously serving on the boards of both the Dallas Geological Society (Membership, Secretary, AAPG Delegate & President) and the Dallas Chapter of SIPES (Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-Chairman & Chairman). John has a B.S. in geology from Texas Tech University and an MLS – Oil & Gas Law from OU.
Thomas G. Pronold
Vice President - Wichita, Kansas
Tom lives in Wichita, and is the manager of Bitter Spar LLC, an exploration and development company specializing in Kansas conventional drilling prospects. He has been active in the SIPES Wichita Chapter for more than 10 years. He is a graduate of SMU with a Master’s degree in geology. Tom carries a Kansas Geological license and is a member of AAPG. In addition to his role as SIPES secretary, Tom is President of the SIPES Foundation.
David Cromwell
VP National Energy - Midland, Texas
David has more than 50 years of exploration and exploitation petroleum geological experience, mainly in the Permian Basin and New Mexico. He has BA in Geology from UC Santa Barbara and an MS in Geology from the University of Oklahoma. David is an Honorary Life Member of the West Texas Geological Society. Prior to becoming an independent, he worked for Burlington Resources, Energen Resources and BC Operating.
Steve M. Smith
Secretary - Houston, Texas
Steve is the managing partner of SMS Exploration, LLC in Houston. He has an extensive background as an exploration manager for several companies, including Line Energy and Trek Oil & Gas. Steve has an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a BS in geology from Baylor. He is a past chairman of the SIPES Houston Chapter, and sits on the board of the SIPES Foundation.
Monte Meers
Treasurer - Fort Worth, Texas
Monte received his geology degree from Texas Tech. He has worked for several independent oil companies and made many wildcat discoveries. In 1998, he developed the Meers Microseep geochemical exploration technique and started his own company. Meers Microseep Surveys Inc. has been an integral part of finding more than 15 million barrels of oil in North Texas. Monte is a licensed professional geoscientist.