During his career, Steve Herron has been involved in the launch and building of a number of successful industrial minerals and logistics businesses. Steve was educated at Hanover College, Ball State University, and Harvard Business School. He is a licensed geologist and has spoken and published extensively on the geology of industrial minerals, sustainable development, stakeholder engagement, and urban resource development.

Following his tenure as a geologist, Steve worked as a regulatory affairs consultant for a short time then returned to operations where he served in numerous capacities ranging from Director of Technical Services to Director of Sales and Marketing. Steve has founded several successful businesses revolving around large-scale industrial sand supply and distribution in the oil and gas industry. He has been credited with the geologic discovery of the first regional sand play in Nebraska, the first pure-play sand logistics company, and he was the first geologist to commercialize the West Texas Sandhills. The commercialization of the Sandhills has been credited as one of the most significant discoveries of oilfield minerals in the past several decades.

Steve has served as vice-chair/chair of several committees of the SME and IMA-NA and served on various non-profit boards including Emerald Mountain School and Steamboat Mountain School. When not working with Vista, Steve lives in Steamboat Springs, CO with his family, and continues to incubate and innovate new businesses in and out of the Patch.

Brad Goebel is the Chief Executive Officer for Vista. Prior to joining Vista as the CEO, Brad served as Manager of Category Management & Strategic Sourcing for Chesapeake Energy where his team was responsible for supplier negotiation, development, strategy and process. In addition to his oil and gas operator experience, Brad previously held roles within the sand industry at Fairmount Santrol, US Silica and SandBox.

Brad holds an MBA from Texas Tech University and BA in Communications from the University of Northern Iowa.

Mrs. Whitley-Smith began her career in public accounting with Whitley Penn where she worked for 10 years. Working closely with Vista Proppants and Logistics as one of her clients, she became knowledgeable of the different aspects involved in the oil and gas industry. Mrs. Whitley-Smith joined Vista in August 2016 in the role of Chief Accounting Officer and less than a year later was named Chief Financial Officer.

 

Mrs. Whitley-Smith graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with her B.A. in Business Administration. Most recently, she received her Master’s from Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scotty, two daughters, Taylor and Sophia, and their two doodles, Sammy and Dexter. Their family enjoys traveling, spending time on the lake and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House.

Joseph Drew – Joseph (Joe) has been with Vista since 2013 and holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Missouri – Rolla (now the Missouri University of Science and Technology). Joe is a Licensed Professional Geoscientist (PG) in the State of Texas and an active Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM) and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME). Joe has over twenty years of resource exploration and mining experience, specifically in the industrial minerals sector, including titanium, zircon, chromite, zircon, garnet, kyanite, and silica sands. Joe has reported exploration results and reserve/resources statements as a Competent Person (JORC 2012) on the ASX and prepared or helped prepare the same for Vista internally and for the SEC. Joe is currently the treasurer and long-time board member of the Hood County Clean Air Coalition.

Debbie joined Vista in April 2018 and oversees all areas of Human Resources. She brings more than 25 years of HR experience. Debbie has spent her career predominantly in the oil and gas sector. Prior to joining Vista, Debbie held leadership positions with BNSF Railway, Chesapeake Energy, Weir Oil and Gas, and AZZ, Inc.

Debbie graduated from Tarleton State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She is a member of the Fort Worth Human Resources Association and the Society for Human Resource Management. Debbie currently serves on the Finance committee at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

In her free time, Debbie enjoys spending time with her family, playing golf, and watching college football.