About Us

Kym Bolado
Founder, President, CEO

As the publisher and CEO of SHALE Magazine and the host of In the Oil Patch radio show, Kym Bolado has conducted more than 650 interviews with energy experts. With 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, Kym Bolado started SHALE Magazine in 2013 as a result of her interest in the economic development taking place in Texas. The magazine thrived early on and has seen exponential growth since. Along with the growth of the magazine, Bolado took on the new challenge of becoming a radio talk show host on In the Oil Patch. In the Oil Patch was started in 2015 on San Antonioʼs KTSA 550 AM. Within six months the show was in syndication. The show now airs on iHeartʼs KTRH 740 AM in Houston, the number one talk radio station in the U.S. The radio show also airs in major metropolitan areas in Texas including Dallas, Midland, San Antonio, Austin, and Corpus Christi, as well as parts of New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mexico.

Robert RapierRobert Rapier
Editor in Chief

Robert Rapier is a chemical engineer in the energy industry. Robert has 30 years of international engineering experience in the chemicals, oil and gas, and renewable energy industries, and holds several patents related to his work. He has worked in the areas of oil refining, oil production, synthetic fuels, biomass to energy, and alcohol production. He is the author of Utility Forecaster at Investing Daily, and of the book Power Plays: Energy Options in the Age of Peak Oil. Robert has appeared on 60 Minutes, The History Channel, CNBC, Business News Network, CBC, and PBS, and his energy-themed articles have appeared in numerous media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Christian Science Monitor, and The Economist.

David Porter
Editor

Experienced President with a demonstrated history of working in the accounting industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Budgeting, Analytical Skills, Government, and Public Speaking. Strong business development professional with a Bachelor of Science (BS) focused in Accounting from Harding University. Immediate Past Commissioner of the Texas Railroad Commission.

Tyler Reed
Writer

Tyler Reed began his career in the world of finance managing a portfolio of municipal bonds at the Bank of New York Mellon. Four years later, he led the Marketing and Business Development team at a high-profile civil engineering firm. He had a focus on energy development in federal, state, and local pursuits. He picked up an Executive MBA from the University of Florida along the way. Following an entrepreneurial spirit, he founded a content writing agency. There, they service marketing agencies, PR firms, and enterprise accounts on a global scale. A sought-aer television personality and featured writer in too many leading publications to list, his penchant for research delivers crisp and intelligent prose his audience continually craves.

Felicity Bradstock
Writer

Felicity Bradstock is a freelance writer specializing in Energy and Industry. She has a Masterʼs in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK, and is now based in Mexico City.

Fernando Guerra
Senior Vice President of Digital Communication

I currently produce the “In The Oil Patch” Radio Show. I handle the scheduling, scripting, recording, pre/post production and engineering aspects of the show. I also handle posting the podcast of each show online, giving a synopsis of each show.

Amanda Villarreal
Digital Communications Manager

Amanda Villarreal is a dynamic professional with a broad skill set, specializing in marketing, branding, UI/UX design, and editing. Boasting extensive experience across diverse industries, including oil/gas, advertising/media, and digital marketing, Amanda has proven her versatility and commitment to excellence.

In her role as the Digital Communications Manager at Energy Network Media Group, Amanda is a key contributor to the success of the organization. Beyond managing digital communications, she plays a pivotal role in multimedia design, contributing significantly to the visual identity of the company. Amanda is the creative force behind the design of the newsletter and social media graphics, as well as editing content for prominent platforms such as Shale Magazine and In The Oil Patch Radio.

Elisa Giordano
Senior Graphics Designer

Energy Network Media Group Jan 2013 to present

Michael Giordano
Senior Cover Photographer

Jan 2012 to Present
Energy Network Media Group

Teresa Tippin
Public Relations

Over the course of my career, my experience in technology sales and as a marketing consultant allowed me opportunities to work with clients at small brick-and-mortar companies to Fortune 500’s and international organizations. The value of relationships and communication has always been at the foundation of these projects. I became heavily engaged in using digital marketing and social media as resources for communicating and connecting years ago and have worked with clients in a range of industries. My favorite area of expertise lies in helping businesses and individuals utilize digital marketing, social media, and other communications tools to successfully engage with their target audiences. One of my strengths lies in helping clients evaluate objectives and utilize both traditional and online resources in a manner that is optimal for their specific environment. I am forward-thinking and will work with our clients to implement models that are successful in the current environment but are also adaptable to future innovations and trends.

Gargi Bhowal
Social Media Manager

Personable, self–motivated and result-oriented professional with substantiated organizational, cultural and community development success. Strong interpersonal skills eager to lead public relations, marketing and business development initiatives, and enhance customer relationships for business growth and developments.

Mike Dusek
Account Executive

Account Executive- Energy Network Media Group Nov 2022
Texas Christian
Bachelor’s Degree https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethmdusek

Barry Besse
Executive Producer, In the Oil Patch Radio Show

March 2015
Executive Producer 930 The Answer Salem Media Energy Network Media Group

Calum Reed
Producer/Board Operator

Assistant Program Director 950 KPRC -AM IHEART -Houston

Board Advisors

Omar Garcia
Chief External Affairs Officer, Port of Corpus Christi Authority

An experienced industry leader, Garcia is an expert on business opportunities associated with the Eagle Ford Shale.

Garcia works directly with the oil and natural gas industry, local officials, community members, regional stakeholders, educational institutions and economic development organizations to ensure that the oil and natural gas industry in South Texas is advancing in a positive way that is mutually beneficial to both the community and the industry.

Garcia is a former vice president of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, and has over 12 years of Economic Development experience in working for the Texas Governor’s Office, TIP Strategies, Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development, the City of San Antonio Economic Development Department, and the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation. In addition to his economic development experience, Garcia spent two years working for Bank of America as Vice President of Business Development for their Treasury Management division.

In 2010, Governor Perry appointed Garcia to the Texas Economic Development Corporation. Garcia is a certified economic development finance professional through the National Development Council. He is a Graduate of St. Edwards University with a degree in International Business & Spanish

Mike Howard
CEO/Chairman Howard Energy

Mike Howard is Chairman and CEO of Howard Midstream Energy Partners, LLC (HEP). He co-founded the company in June 2011 and has led the company in over $2 billion of midstream acquisitions and organic growth projects in 3 states and 2 countries. Mike was formerly President of Midstream for the largest division of a Fortune 100 company and a 2017 EY Central Texas Entrepreneur of the Year recipient and National Finalist. Mike holds a bachelorʼs degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and three children. Mike serves on the Board of Trustees of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Foundation, the Texas Pipeline Association, the United Way of Bexar County and active in many other civic organizations.

David Porter
Past Railroad Commissioner

Experienced President with a demonstrated history of working in the accounting industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Budgeting, Analytical Skills, Government, and Public Speaking. Strong business development professional with a Bachelor of Science (BS) focused in Accounting from Harding University. Immediate Past Commissioner of the Texas Railroad Commission.

Brook Simmons
President, The Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma; Executive Director, Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Foundation; Executive Director, Oklahoma Energy Education Foundation

Experienced leader with a demonstrated history of success in the petroleum industry and across a broad range of public policy, including agriculture, appropriations, conservation, defense, energy, emerging technologies and tax. Skilled in public affairs, government, legislative relations, public relations, campaigns, trade association management, PAC management/deployment and politics. Strong business and government affairs professional with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Oklahoma

Paul Sheppard
VP Halliburton

Paul Sheppard is Southeast Area Vice President of Halliburton. In this role, he is responsible for Health, Safety, and Environmental performance, service quality execution, cost control, market share growth, and financial performance for all Product Service Lines in the U.S. Southeast Area. In addition to Mr. Sheppard’s responsibility over the SE area, he manages business development for U.S. land-based customers in Houston, Dallas- Fort Worth, San Antonio, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Tyler, Texas.

Before joining Halliburton in 2012 in his current role, Mr. Sheppard was Vice President of Sales – U.S. Land for a competitor. He came to that position after 30 years with a company that was acquired, where he had served in a variety of positions in sales management, account management, and engineering.

Mr. Sheppard holds a Bachelor of Science in Park Administration from Texas Tech University and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.