The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) appointed Steven H. Pruett, president and CEO of Elevation Resources LLC, as board chairman for the 2022-2024 term, the association said in a Dec. 6 press release. 

Pruett comes into this role after serving the past term as the association’s vice chairman.  

Pruett, an industry veteran with 38 years of operating, financial and management experience, is a co-founder of Elevation Resources, a Permian Basin E&P.  He also co-founded Legacy Reserves LP, a public upstream MLP where he also served as president and CFO. 

As IPAA’s vice chairman, Pruett worked with the previous chairman, Jim Wilkes, the president, director and co-owner of Texland Petroleum. 

The two “made for a great leadership team, helping to guide IPAA through challenging times including price shocks and the pandemic,” said Jess Eshelman, IPAA president and CEO. 

“My primary goal is to ensure the financial sustainability of the IPAA by reengaging our existing members and recruiting new members,” Pruett said. “I believe that IPAA has a greater impact on federal upstream legislation and regulation than any other association. My job is to help communicate that to our members and to join arms with our staff and members when we are needed in Washington.”

In the upcoming session, Pruett’s plan is to educate members of Congress and elevate dialogue with federal agencies regulating the petroleum industry, Pruett said.