Board

Brad Howell

Board President

VP of Business Development, 3S Services

Brad Howell grew up in Lubbock, Texas but currently lives in Spring Branch in the Texas Hill Country north of San Antonio. He graduated from Texas Tech University in 1998 and holds a BS and MS in Agronomy. He is employed by 3S Services where he is the VP of Business Development. Brad and his wife Melissa have two daughters, Madilyn and Brooklyn. In addition to serving as the Chairman for Sky High’s governing Executive Committee and the Chairman for the San Antonio Event Committee, he also volunteers on a committee for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and serves on the board for the local school FFA booster club. Brad enjoys golf, hunting and fishing but most of his time is consumed raising stock show animals with his kids.

Joe Reuss

Board Treasurer

Business Development Project Manger, Repsol

Joe grew up in the midwest, graduating with a degree in Physics from Miami University and an then earning his MBA at North Carolina State University.  He started is career in the Oil and Gas industry with Chevron contracting offshore rigs.  He is now employed by Repsol and is currently a Business Development Project Manager responsible for North America acquisitions and divestments.

Joe started his involvement with Sky High with contributions through his hobbies of woodworking and photography.  While his involvement has increased over time, especially with his current role as Treasurer, you may still find him at events behind the camera or see his woodworking donations at the auctions. Joe’s wife, Megan, is also actively involved in Sky High and serves on various committees including Ladies who Brunch.

In addition to the hobbies mentioned above and volunteer duties with Sky High, Joe enjoys traveling with his wife, skiing, and boating.

Bob Buck

Board Secretary

Production Manager, Anadarko

Robert John Buck grew up in the Altoona, Pennsylvania area, and graduated from Penn State University in 1985 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. He is employed with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation where he is the Gulf of Mexico Production Engineering Manager. Bob and his wife, Mary Anne, live in The Woodlands, Texas with their three children, Austin, Connor, and Madison. In addition to his volunteer duties with Sky High, Bob enjoys college football, traveling, cooking, and golf.

C.R. “Bubba” Saulsbury Jr.

Board Member

Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Saulsbury Industries

C.R. “Bubba” Saulsbury Jr. serves as Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy for Saulsbury Industries. He leads the company’s strategic efforts, including mergers and acquisitions and corporate/client relations. Bubba works with the management team to establish and expand the business, while exploring new markets and opportunities. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Saulsbury Industries.

Bubba was born and raised in Odessa. He attended Odessa College for a short time before joining the family business as the company’s only salesman. Prior to his current position, Bubba served Saulsbury Industries as Senior Vice President of Business Development.

In addition to his role at Saulsbury Industries, Bubba has taken on several business ventures and investments including oil and gas, oilfield services companies, retail, restaurants and real estate developments in the Permian Basin and other markets.

Greg Guidry

Board Member

Greg Guidry is the former Executive Vice President for Shell’s Upstream Americas Unconventionals business. The Unconventionals business is primarily focused on tight/shale oil and gas onshore exploration opportunities, development and production in the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Greg joined Shell in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1982. His career included roles as an Exploration, Development and Asset Manager in the Gulf of Mexico as well as Planning and Strategy Manager for Shell’s US upstream business along with work in the areas of well engineering, reservoir engineering and operations management.

Greg was based in the Hague from 2009-2013 and led Shell’s upstream business in eight European countries as well as responsibility for Shell’s midstream gas supply operations in 19 countries. He also had global functional responsibility for Production in Shell’s global upstream activities.

From 2007 to 2009, Greg was based in Calgary and worked on the integration of Shell Canada’s exploration and production activities into global Shell’s upstream business.  Greg subsequently led Shell’s onshore oil and gas production activities for the whole of North America onshore.

Greg retired from Shell after 37 yrs in October 2018.  He now serves as Senior Advisor/Director on several boards, including Oaktree Capital, Danos and the nonprofit, Sky High for Kids.

Greg Guidry has a Mechanical Engineering degree and is a past chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board of the Louisiana State University College of Engineering. He is a registered professional petroleum engineer in the State of Louisiana.  Greg is married with three children.

Jay Old

Board Member

Partner, Hicks Thomas LLP

Jay tries lawsuits for a living.  He is a partner in the law firm of Hicks Thomas LLP, based in Houston.  He has served as the President of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, the largest state defense lawyer organization in the country and as the Chair of the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.  Jay has also been active as a member of the Advisory Board of Christus St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Beaumont, and numerous business and civic organizations in Southeast Texas.

Jay came to Sky High through one of his firm’s clients, Team, Inc., after having participated in Team, Inc.’s annual corporate fundraising event.  Through that event Jay fell in love with the mission of Sky High, and has served as the organization’s de facto General Counsel since August 2017.  He became a full-fledged board member in August 2018.  He has two children, both graduates of the University of Virginia.

Jason Heckt

Executive Committee

Executive Vice President, Strike LLC

Jason Heckt is an Executive Vice President and Partner at Strike, an energy services provider located in The Woodlands, Texas. He presides over the Business Development and Marketing departments, aligning sales strategies with business unit and company goals, increasing Strike’s service reach across the nation. Jason is a long time resident of the Houston Area and is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. Jason resides in The Woodlands with his wife and three children. Jason attends St. Anthony Catholic Church and is a supporter of numerous charities and local athletic organizations. Jason cherishes time with his family and friends, and participating in sports of all kinds.

Joe Sauger

Executive Committee

SVP, Buckeye Global Marine Terminals & Refining – Ops & Engineering

Joe Sauger is a Senior Vice-President with Buckeye Partners located in Houston, TX.  Buckeye is one of the largest independent Midstream/Downstream Energy companies with terminal, pipeline, and refining assets spanning across the globe.

Joe presides over the Global Marine Terminal & Refining business unit operations and engineering which encompasses over 62 Million Barrels of bulk storage capacity and 60,000 Barrels/Day of refining capability.  Joe has over 35 years of engineering, operations, and general business management and leadership experience in the Nuclear Power, Terminal Storage, Land Development,  Engineering & Construction, and Refining Industries.

Joe held various licenses including a US Merchant Marine 3^rd Asst. Engineering License, a Senior Reactor Operators License for a 2700 Thermal Megawatt Pressurized Water Reactor, and various API Inspector Certifications.  He is a graduate from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Engineering.

Joe currently resides in Houston, TX with his wife and two children.  He enjoys supporting various philanthropic efforts throughout the country with his friends.

Nicole Neumann

Executive Committee

Owner, Magenta Consulting

Nicole has been volunteering with Sky High since the fall of 2017. Working with the Executive Director and the Board President, she is facilitating the development of Sky High’s strategic plans and business processes. Nicole also volunteers her time at Texas Children’s Hospital, The Woodlands.

Nicole is the owner of Magenta Consulting, a strategy and business planning consultancy firm with expertise in management system development and implementation, business process development, and optimization of personal and organizational performance.

Nicole spent 10 years working for Repsol, formerly Talisman Energy, leading the Health, Safety and Environment Department. During this time, she supported the company’s startup operations in the United States. Prior to Repsol, Nicole worked for Schlumberger and was responsible for the company’s occupational health and industrial hygiene programs.

Nicole has a unique work background, having spent eight years in the health industry prior to transitioning to oil and gas. In this capacity, she worked as a Registered Nurse in one of the country’s most critical Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).

Norman Ackermann

Board Member

President, Prime 8 Offshore, LLC

Norman Ackermann is a Memphis, Tennessee native that currently resides in The Woodlands, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of South Alabama, in Mobile, AL, and is currently the President, Prime 8 Offshore. In addition to serving on the board for Sky High for St. Jude, Norman Ackermann is also a member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife-Operation Game Thief, Steering Committee. He is the proud father of his two sons Grant and Hayden, and in his spare time he enjoys scuba diving, traveling with his family, and private piloting.

Richard Messa

Executive Committee

CEO, Extreme Energy Services

Richard Messa is from Lafayette, Louisiana and currently lives in Houston, Texas. Richard is the owner and president of Extreme Energy Services. He has one son, Jeremy, and in his free time, Richard enjoys being outdoors fishing, hunting and shooting sporting clays.

Robert G. Phillips

Board Member

Crestwood Equity Partners LP

Robert G. Phillips currently serves as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crestwood Equity Partners LP (NYSE: CEQP), which he founded in October 2010.  Mr. Phillips has more than 42 years’ experience in the energy industry. He previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: EPD). Prior to Enterprise, Mr. Phillips served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GulfTerra Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: GTM), and as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eastex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ETEX). He holds a B.B.A from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law. Mr. Phillips has previously served as director of Pride International, Inc. (NYSE: PDE), Enterprise Products Partners L.P., Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. and Eastex Energy, Inc. He is currently served on the board of directors of Bonavista Energy Corporation (TSX: BNP). Active in community organizations, he serves on the board of Sky High for Kids. Mr. Phillips is a frequent contributor to CNBC and FOX Business News.

Taylor Sass

Board Member

Communications & Marketing Director,
Weisser Engineering & Surveying

Taylor Sass, Communications & Marketing Director at Weisser Engineering & Surveying (WES), joined the Team in 2011 working as a Contract Public Affairs Agent for an 800 Mile NGL Pipeline Project for DCP Midstream, LLC in Houston, Texas. As Taylor experienced her first project in the Energy Industry, she was also completing her Bachelors of Science Degree in Agriculture Communications & Journalism from Texas A&M University. Taylor continued to act as one of two Public Affairs Representatives for DCP Midstream’s 800 Mile Sand Hills Pipeline Project, traveling throughout the State of Texas, all while completing her edu- cation. She dealt with State Legislators and Lobbyists, individual land owners, municipalities, and conducted many Town Hall Meetings and Public Hearings for constituents.

Taylor graduated from Texas A&M University in 2013 and continues to grow in her position at WES, focusing on both Public and Private Industries which includes, but is not limited to, Energy, Public Infrastructure, Private Development, the Southeast Texas Political Arena and Industrial Professional sectors. Ms. Sass’ responsibilities include drafting Professional Proposals, Statements of Qualifications, and Requests for Qualifications, orchestrating and implementing all Corporate Branding, Corporate Communications and Marketing efforts to professional markets and clients, identifying and pursuing potential projects, as well as establishing WES’ “Internal Wellness Programs”, Internal and External Events, Community Giving & Community Involvement for the Texas-based firm.

In the Spring of 2012, Taylor started her own Minority Owned & Operated Right of Way and Property Maintenance Company, Cowboy Brush Cutters, LLC. She serves as the President, alongside her Brother and Vice President, Ramsey Sass. The Company focuses on maintaining Oil & Gas Rights of Ways, as well as Private Development & Acreage Properties within the Houston area. The Company is currently celebrating six years of business.

Over the past four years, Ms. Sass has held a personal, professional and passionate volunteer effort for Sky High for Kids (Sky High), a Pediatric Cancer Research Charity, and was recently appointed to the board of directors. Taylor first became involved with Sky High in 2014 as an event volunteer, then went on to lead the largest fundraising silent auction in Sky High history for each Houston event. As commissioned by the Sky High Board of Directors, Ms. Sass developed and implemented the organization’s Inaugural Development Committee, comprised of ten Community Leaders, dedicated to progressing Sky High’s fundraising borders and base networks.

Travis Urbanovsky

Adventures Co-Chairman

President, K&R Operating LLC

Travis L. Urbanovsky is a Cuero, TX native and two time graduate of Texas Tech, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Economics and a Masters of Business Administration. He is currently the President of K&R Operating LLC and currently resides in New Braunfels, TX with his family. He is the loving husband to his wife Mandell, proud father to his children Ace, Ken and Ty. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, sports, and classic cars.