| 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 |
Tyson Yates |
41 |
Director |
John B. Watt |
53 |
Director |
| John V. Veech |
51 |
Director |
| Mark Mellana |
46 |
Director |
Tyson Yates was elected to the Board of Directors effective April 28, 2010 by written consent of the shareholder. Mr. Yates is currently Managing Director, Operations and Development, at GE Energy Financial Services (GE-EFS) in Stamford, CT, a position he has held since 2007. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Yates was Vice President, and later Senior Vice President of GE-EFS's Risk Management Group. Prior to joining GE-EFS, Mr. Yates held the position of Senior Manager in the Special Acquisition Services and Audit practice, at Deloitte and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Florida.
John B. Watt was elected to the Board on March 9, 2010 by written consent of the shareholder. Mr. Watt currently serves as Head of Asset Management for MSIP in New York, NY, 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 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 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.
John V. Veech was elected to the Board on March 9, 2010 by written consent of the shareholder. Mr. Veech has been a Managing Director and head of the Americas region for 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 partner in 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 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.
Mark Mellana was elected to the Board of Directors of Southern Star Central Corp. (the "Company") on July 27, 2010, by written consent of the Directors of the Company to replace Kathy McGowan, who resigned because of a change of responsibilities at GE Energy Financial Services. Mr. Mellana has worked for GE Energy Financial Services over the past eleven years. During this period Mr. Mellana has held a variety of positions; the most recent as Managing Director of the Operations and Development portfolio group. In this position Mr. Mellana serves on a number of Boards of Directors which currently includes Source Gas Holdings Inc. and Bobcat Energy Partners. In the past Mr. Mellana has also served on the Board of Regency Energy Partners, a publically traded MLP. Mr. Mellana holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Boston University.
| Name |
Age |
Position |
| Jerry L. Morris |
54 |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
| Robert S. Bahnick |
50 |
Senior Vice President of Operations and Technical
Services |
| Robert W. Carlton |
49 |
Vice President of Human Resources and Administration |
| Chris W. Ellison |
55 |
Vice President of Operations-Hesston Division |
| David L. Finley |
45 |
Vice President of Information Technology |
| Beverly H. Griffith |
55 |
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary |
| Susanne W. Harris |
51 |
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer |
| Daryl R. Johnson |
56 |
Vice President of Rates and Regulatory Affairs |
| Richard J. Reischman |
54 |
Vice President of Operations-Kansas City Division |
Jerry L. Morris became President and CEO of Southern Star Central Corp. (Southern Star) and
Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. (Central) in August 2005. He had been President and Chief
Operating Officer, or COO, of Central since February 13, 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 31 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 Senior Vice President of Operations and Technical Services for Central in
July 2003. Previously he served as 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 27 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 of Human Resources and Administration for Central in
July 2003. Previously he served as 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 25 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.
Chris W. Ellison became Vice President of Operations-Hesston Division for Central in July 2003.
Previously he served as Central’s Director of Operations for both the Kansas City and Hesston divisions
since 1996, holding various other positions at Central, and/or its predecessors in engineering, operations,
and natural gas control during his 30 years in the interstate natural gas pipeline industry. He earned his B.S.
in Civil Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1978 and is a registered Professional Engineer.
David L. Finley became Vice President of Information Technology for Central in July 2003.
Previously he served as 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 22 years in the interstate natural
gas pipeline industry. He earned his B.S. in Geology from Murray State University in 1986.
Beverly H. Griffith became Vice President and Secretary of Southern Star in August 2005. She has
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 29 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.
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 has served 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 29 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.
Daryl R. Johnson became Vice President of Rates and Regulatory Affairs for Central in July 2003.
Previously he served 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.
Richard J. Reischman became Vice President of Operations-Kansas City Division for Central in July
2003. Previously he served as Central’s Director of Operations for the Kansas City Division since 2001 and
Manager of Operations for various regions of the Central system since 1993. Mr. Reischman has served in
a variety of positions in engineering and operations during his 30 years at Central or its predecessors. He
received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Kansas University in 1978.
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. |
