| Southern Star, headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky, is a natural gas transmission system spanning over 6,000 miles in the Midwest and Mid-continent regions of the United States. Southern Star’s 500 employees and its pipeline system and facilities are located throughout Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, and Kentucky. It serves major markets such as St. Louis, Wichita, and Kansas City. Southern Star is a locally managed private company owned by GE’s Energy Financial Services business and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners.
Southern Star has provided over 100 years of continuous, quality service since its formation in 1904. Highly sought after due to its consistently strong performance, desirable location in America’s heartland, and quality of service, Southern Star has enjoyed various owners and undergone several name changes over the last century; however, one thing has remained constant: its reputation for continuous, safe, quality service. That is our mission and our goal for our customers, employees, and the communities in which we operate.
We’re also committed to our communities. You’ll see Southern Star employees serving as mentors to students, helping reconstruct towns after natural disasters, volunteering with local charitable organizations, and coaching children’s teams. We’re your neighbors, and we’re your friends. Southern Star supports its employees’ volunteerism and makes every effort to provide time for employees to make a difference where they work and live.
This corporate character extends to how we treat the environment and approach our work. Southern Star is a steward of environmental awareness and cooperation with landowners and the government. It believes in honesty in its dealings and seeks out like-minded companies with which to do business.
|
| Name |
Age |
Position |
| Mark T. Mellana |
46 |
Director |
| John V. Veech |
52 |
Director |
John B. Watt |
54 |
Director |
Tyson R. Yates |
42 |
Director |
Mark T. Mellana was appointed to the Board of Directors, or the Board, effective July 27, 2010. Mr. Mellana currently serves as Managing Director of the Midstream and International portfolio group at GE Energy Financial Services, Inc., or GE-EFS, a position he assumed in May 2007. During the past 11 years, Mr. Mellana has held a variety of positions at GE-EFS, including Managing Director of the Power investment group. In his current position, Mr. Mellana serves on a number of Boards which currently includes Source Gas Holdings Inc., a local gas distribution company headquartered in Colorado. In the past, Mr. Mellana served on the board of Regency Energy Partners, a publicly traded MLP headquartered in Dallas, TX with gas transportation, gathering and processing operations. Mr. Mellana holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University and a Master of Business Administration, or M.B.A., in Finance from Boston University.
John V. Veech was appointed to the Board effective March 9, 2010. Mr. Veech has been a Managing Director and head of the Americas region for Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners and certain other affiliated investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure, Inc., or MSIP, since February 1, 2009. Prior to joining MSIP, he was a Managing Director in the Investment Management Division of Lehman Brothers from December 1, 2007 until January 31, 2009 (which became Neuberger Investment Management in December 2008), and a Managing Director of Lehman Brothers Global Infrastructure Partners. Prior thereto, he was the global head of Project Finance at Lehman Brothers from 1997 to November 2007, a Managing Director from December 2001 to November 2007, and a Senior Vice President from 1997 to November 2001. He was previously a Vice President in the Fixed Income Division of Salomon Brothers, and an attorney with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Mr. Veech's experience involves investing in and managing infrastructure assets, generally in the energy, utilities and transportation sectors, as well as financings and acquisitions of such assets. Mr. Veech received a B.S., magna cum laude, in Accounting from Lehigh University in 1980, and a Jurist Doctorate, or J.D., cum laude, from Boston University School of Law in 1983.
John B. Watt was appointed to the Board effective March 9, 2010. Mr. Watt currently serves as Head of Asset Management for MSIP, a position he assumed in July 2007. From May 2004 to June 2007, he was a Director in the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Infrastructure Group in Toronto, Canada where he was responsible for making investments primarily in the energy sector. From September 2000 to April 2004, he was Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Ontario Power Generation in Toronto, Canada where he was responsible for divesting power plants and related businesses. From 1996 to 2000, he was a Director in the Generation Group at TransAlta Corporation, a large, regulated power utility in Calgary, Alberta where he was responsible for the engineering and regulatory activities for the Alberta-based regulated power plants. He also held a position in the corporate development group where he was responsible for acquiring and divesting various power assets. From 1985 to 1996, Mr. Watt worked for Amoco Corporation, a large, multinational integrated oil major, in various roles in different groups and locations, including strategic planning, evaluations, treasury, financial management, and business development in Calgary, Chicago, and Houston. From 1981 to 1985, Mr. Watt worked as a Process Engineer for Union Carbide Canada in Alberta, Canada. He received a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, or B.A.Sc., in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1978 and his M.B.A. from the University of Western Ontario in Canada in 1981, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Alberta, Canada.
Tyson R. Yates was appointed to the Board effective April 28, 2010. Mr. Yates is currently Managing Director of the Midstream portfolio group at GE-EFS in Stamford, CT, a position he has held since March 2007. From 2003 to March 2007, Mr. Yates was Vice President, and later Senior Vice President of the GEEFS Risk Management Group primarily in the midstream sector. Prior to joining GE-EFS, Mr. Yates held the position of Senior Manager in the Special Acquisition Services and Audit practice at Deloitte LLP. Mr. Yates holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Florida and is a CPA.
| Name |
Age |
Position |
| Jerry L. Morris |
55 |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
| Robert S. Bahnick |
51 |
Vice President & Chief Operations Officer |
| Robert W. Carlton |
50 |
Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer |
| David L. Finley |
46 |
Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer |
| Susanne W. Harris |
52 |
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer |
| Philip A. Rullman |
52 |
Vice President & Chief Commercial Services Officer |
| Beverly H. Griffith |
56 |
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary |
| Daryl R. Johnson |
57 |
Vice President, Rates and Gas Management |
Jerry L. Morris became President and CEO of Southern Star and Central in August 2005. He had been President and Chief Operating Officer, or COO, of Central since February 2004. Previously, he served as Central's Vice President/Director of Business Development since 2001, and held the position of Director of Rates and Strategic Planning for Central and/or its predecessors or affiliates since 1987. Mr. Morris has held a variety of positions in accounting, business development and rates during his 32 years in the interstate natural gas pipeline industry. He received his B.S. in Accounting from Murray State University in 1977, and his M.B.A. from the same institution in 1985. He is active in several industry organizations.
Robert S. Bahnick became Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of Central in February 2011. Previously he served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Technical Services for Central since July 2003 and Vice President of Operations and Technical Services since November 2002, Vice President of Operations for Central since 1998, and prior to that time, served in a similar position for either predecessors and/or affiliates of Central since 1996, with a total of 29 years in the interstate natural gas pipeline industry. Mr. Bahnick earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1981. Mr. Bahnick is a registered Professional Engineer, a member of the Southern Gas Association, and a member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Operations, Safety and Environmental Committee.
Robert W. Carlton became Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Central in February 2011. Previously he served as Central's Vice President of Human Resources and Administration since July 2003, Central's Director of Human Resources since 1997, and prior to that time served as the Director of Human Resources for Central's predecessors and/or affiliates since 1992, holding various positions in human resources, rates, and accounting during his 26 years in the interstate natural gas pipeline industry. Mr. Carlton earned his B.S. in Accounting from Murray State University in 1983. He is a member of the Southern Gas Association.
David L. Finley became Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Central in February 2011. Previously he served as Central's Vice President of Information Technology since July 2003, Central's Director of Information Technology since November 2002, and prior to that time served as manager of Operations and Engineering systems for Central and/or its affiliates since 1998, holding a variety of positions in Information Technology during his 23 years in the interstate natural gas pipeline industry. He earned his B.S. in Geology from Murray State University in 1986.
Susanne W. Harris became Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer of Southern Star and Central in August 2005. She had been Vice President of Finance and Accounting for Central since July 2003, has served as Assistant Treasurer for Central since November 2002, and as Central's Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since March 2000, serving in a similar position for its affiliates since 1997. Ms. Harris has held a variety of positions in finance and accounting during her 30 years in the interstate natural gas pipeline industry. Ms. Harris earned her B.S. in Accounting from Brescia College in 1979 and her M.B.A. from Murray State University in 1989. She is a member of accounting committees for the American Gas Association, the Southern Gas Association, and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America.
Philip A. Rullman became Vice President and Chief Commercial Services Officer for Central in February 2011. Previously he served as Central's Director of Commercial Services since 2008, as Manager of Customer Service and Business Development since 2005, and held various other positions at Central, and/or its predecessors in engineering, operations, storage, gas control, and human resources during his 32 years in the interstate natural gas pipeline industry. He earned his B.S. in Business Management from Baker University.
Beverly H. Griffith has been Vice President and Secretary of Southern Star since August 2005. She was named Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Central in February 2011.She had been Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Central since July 2003. Previously she served as Corporate Secretary since November 2002, and served as Central's General Counsel since 1998, holding a similar position for Central or its predecessors and/or its affiliates since 1995. Ms. Griffith has held a variety of positions in the legal area, including Assistant General Counsel and Senior Attorney, during her 31 years in the interstate natural gas pipeline industry. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Mississippi in 1976 and her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1979. Ms. Griffith is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association and the Energy Bar Association.
Daryl R. Johnson became Vice President, Rates & Gas Management for Central in February 2011. Previously he served as Central's Vice President of Rates and Regulatory Affairs since July 2003 and as Manager of Rates for Central since 1990. Mr. Johnson has held a variety of positions in accounting and rates during his 33 years at Central or its predecessors. He earned his B.S. in Accounting from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1975. Mr. Johnson is a current member and the past chairman of the Rates Committee for the Southern Gas Association.
There are no family relationships among Southern Star’s directors or the officers listed. Directors serve one-year terms with elections held at each annual meeting or until their successors have been elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Officers serve for such term as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or until successors have been elected and qualified or until their death, resignation or removal. |
