Bud founded his first company, Brigham Exploration Company in 1990, on $30,000. Brigham Exploration was an early pioneer of aggressive technological innovation in oil and gas exploration, from 3-D seismic exploration in various basins during the 1990’s, to its industry leadership and success with horizontal drilling and fracking in the Bakken of North Dakota. Bud led the company as CEO through a successful initial public offering in 1997 and until 2011 when Brigham Exploration was sold to Statoil (now Equinor) for $4.7 billion.

Fast forwarding to today, Bud has founded six energy companies, three of which have successfully completed initial public offerings, and three of which have had successful exits totaling approximately $9 billion. Bud founded, provided seed capital to, and serves as CEO and Chairman of Atlas Energy Solutions, which went public earlier this year with a market cap of $1.8 billion.

Bud is also currently Chairman of three private companies, a new Brigham Exploration Company(2018), that is the largest private Permian Basin non-operating company, Brigham Royalties (2023), which acquires mineral royalty rights, and Langford Energy Partners (2021), which purses operated assets. Collectively, the Brigham platform of private companies manages north of $1 billion of assets.

Jeff Sparks grew up in Midland and served on the Midland City Council from 2010-2018. He attended Midland’s public schools, graduating from Lee High School in 1979. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering in 1983.

After graduation, he returned to Midland where he and his wife Val have reared their 4 children- Jarrod, Joshua, Justin & Kristina. They now have eight grandchildren. Jeff and Val attend First Baptist Church of Midland where he also has served as a Junior High Sunday School leader for over 25 years. Jeff enjoys singing in the First Baptist Church choir and has done so for many years.

Jeff has been a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas since February 1988 and is the Chief Operating Officer at Discovery Operating, Inc., a family owned oil & gas business. He is the regional VP of the Permian Basin region for Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA). Jeff is also Chairman elect for the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA). He has served as the chairman of the Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers (PBPP) and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). Jeff has served on the External Advisory Committee for the Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering Dept. at the University of Texas at Austin and currently sits on the Engineering Advisory Board also for UT Austin. In 2017 the Permian Basin chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers honored Jeff with the Engineer of the Year Award. The University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering honored Jeff as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate. Jeff is a board member of the America Energy Association (AEA).

Jeff served as the “Nation Chief” in both the local YMCA Indian Guides and Indian Princess organizations while his children were going through the program. He also served as an officer in band & football booster clubs at Midland High. Jeff serves on the board of Live on Stage-Permian Basin, a nonprofit that brings professional live entertainment to the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center at a nonprofit ticket price.

Jeff is proud to be a part of a legacy of professional engineers. His father Don L. Sparks has been a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas since 1969. Jeff’s son Jarrod has been a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas since 2014 and his son Joshua received his seal in 2016. All four men have received Engineering Degrees from The University of Texas at Austin.

John Mabee manages the Mabee Ranch minerals, surface and water assets. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board for the Mabee Foundation.

He and his wife, Gayla, have been married 37 years and enjoy three sons with their wives and ten grandchildren.

Tracy Marshall is the Executive Director and Board President of Transparency USA, an organization dedicated to making it easy for citizens to get answers about money in state politics. She also serves on the board of Grace School of Theology, and as a Club for Growth Foundation Fellow.

Tracy received both her B.A. and her law degree from Duke University. She practiced employment law in Dallas before moving with her family to Midland, Texas, where she helped found the Grammar School at Midland Classical Academy. Since 2016, she’s worked to promote ethical, transparent state governments.

Tracy and her husband, Billy, have four adult children and live in Dallas. Any free time she can find is spent with her family, exercising, and dreaming up ways to bring Transparency USA to even more of the country.