Business and People Notes June 2019

Tulsa-based Laredo Petroleum, Inc. has announced Mikell J. (“Jason”) Pigott as its new president and a member of the board of directors.
Pigott succeeds Laredo founder Randy A. Foutch as the company’s chief executive officer during the fourth quarter of 2019.
“Jason’s appointment is the culmination of a comprehensive succession planning process that has been years in the making and that we began implementing in October of 2018,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Foutch. “His extensive background in leading multi-disciplinary operational and technical organizations as well as experience contributing to executive-level strategic decisions will be invaluable as he begins to assume leadership of the company and transitions into the CEO role.”
“The opportunity to lead a company like Laredo is a once-in-a-lifetime honor,” said Pigott. “Randy built a company designed for long-term success, amassing a contiguous acreage position in a world-class basin, investing in cost-reducing field infrastructure and maintaining a strong balance sheet. I am excited to lead Laredo as we strive to build upon this foundation and drive long-term value for our shareholders.”
Pigott has more than 20 years of experience in the energy exploration and production industry, most recently serving as executive vice president of operations and technical services for Chesapeake Energy, where he oversaw a drilling, completion and facilities budget that exceeded $2.0 billion annually while also leading the digital operations, supply chain and land efforts. Prior to joining Chesapeake in 2013, he was with Anadarko Petroleum for 14 years, serving in positions of increasing responsibility.
Pigott holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler School of Business.
The Tulsa branch of Wells Fargo Advisors announces that Michael B. Alsup has joined the branch as first vice president–investment officer.
Wells Fargo Advisors’ Tulsa office can be reached at 918-742-8000 and is located at 6060 S. American Plaza, St E., Suite 400 in Tulsa.
With $1.6 trillion in client assets as of March 31, 2017, Wells Fargo Advisors provides investment advice and guidance to clients through 14,657 full-service financial advisors and 4,093 licensed bankers. For more information, visit www.wellsfargoadvisors.com.
Green Country Marketing Association has announced that Teri Bowers is joining the staff as partner development director.
Green Country is a regional tourism organization representing 18 counties in northeast Oklahoma. Bowers will work with attractions on creative strategies to increase visitation and the related economic benefit locally and statewide, according to Jackie Stewart, executive director of Green Country.
Bowers has broad experience in both tourism and the media, with 11 years at the Oklahoma Aquarium and 15 years at KTUL. She also has continuing and past service on multiple boards and committees, including Association for Women in Communications, Waterworks Art Center, Tulsa Regional Chamber One Voice Agenda, and Green Country Marketing Association.
“Teri has been a valued member of our board of directors for the past 10 years, so the transition to staff member is a welcome and exciting move,” Stewart said. “Teri brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the great stories to tell throughout Green Country, and I know our partners will enjoy working with her to better promote their attractions.”
Green Country Marketing Association works with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the Oklahoma Travel Industry Assn. and others to promote the state tourism industry. For more information, contact Stewart at 918-744-0588.
Griffin Communications, an Oklahoma-owned multimedia company, recently announced that Randy Smith has joined its team as director of radio sales. In this role, Smith will integrate with the overall Griffin sales team and report to Vice President of Sales Wade Deaver.
With more than 35 years of marketing and integrated radio and television media sales management experience, Smith has served as director of marketing/merchandising, vice president of sales/marketing and director of sales-radio for a variety of Tulsa companies including Cox Media Group, 7-Eleven Convenience Stores and LDF Companies.
Smith previously served as director of sales-radio for Cox Media Group where he managed inventory and rate structures to exceed a $15 million annual revenue budget with five radio stations, digital revenue and event revenue streams. He also successfully increased revenue for companies such as Clear Channel Radio and E.W. Scripps Company, showing revenue growth by 18 percent and 22 percent, respectively. Smith received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma-based law firm Hall Estill has announced that Kyle D. Freeman and Kent A. Gilliland have been elected as new members of the firm’s Executive Committee.
Freeman joined the firm in 1998 and concentrates his practice in the corporate/commercial area where he has led negotiations for the drafting of: energy related agreements, primarily focused in the mid-stream business; multi-million dollar software licensing, development, services and hosting agreements; multi-million dollar asset and equity acquisitions; numerous commercial leases and related real property agreements.
Gilliland has more than 30 years of legal experience, joining Hall Estill in 2001. He practices primarily in the banking and commercial finance arenas, with emphasis on energy lending involving a mix of debt and equity structures, real estate construction and permanent loans, government lending, and dealer floor plan financing. He also represents clients in real estate acquisitions, sales, leasing and development matters.  Gilliland has an individual attorney AV Preeminent rating through Martindale-Hubbell, has been selected as a Best Lawyer in Banking & Finance Law, and is an Oklahoma Super Lawyer in Banking.
AAON, Inc. has announced that Jack E. Short will retire from the company’s board of directors following the end of his current term at AAON’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. 
The company also announced that Short stepped down as chair of the company’s audit committee, and that Caron Lawhorn was appointed as chair to fill the vacancy, effective immediately.  Short will serve as a member of the audit committee during the remainder of his term on the board, and also continues to serve as a member of the company’s governance committee, as well as the company’s lead independent director.
Norman H. Asbjornson, CEO, stated, “It has been a true pleasure to work with Jack for the past 15 years.  We look forward to his continued contributions to the board as he completes his current term and helps facilitate Caron’s succession as chair of our audit committee.”