VAQUERO MIDSTREAM - Key Persons


Adan Acosta

Job Titles:
  • Plant Supervisor
Adan Acosta joined Vaquero Midstream as the Caymus Processing Facility Plant Supervisor. Prior to joining Vaquero, Adan was responsible for field maintenance and assistant plant manager supervising the day to day operations of large cryogenic and compression facilities for major publicly traded companies in the West Texas area. Adan began his career in operations and maintenance over 30 years ago with Western Gas Resources.

Brett Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Commercial Team
  • Vice President, Commercial
  • in 2015 As Director of Gas Supply
Brett Taylor joined Vaquero Midstream in 2015 as Director of Gas Supply, with over 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry working for both producer and midstream service providers. He most recently served as Gas Supply Manager for Regency Energy Partners where he was responsible for securing new gas supply sources in the Permian Basin. Prior to Regency, Brett held multiple positions with Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. As a member of the Midstream and Marketing groups at Encana, he led business development and origination opportunities, as well as managed transportation assets in the Texas/Louisiana Gulf Coast region. Brett has developed, negotiated and closed gathering, processing, and compression projects in his roles with producers and midstream companies alike. Prior to joining Encana, Brett was a Management Associate at Citigroup Inc., and a Senior Project Development Engineer for TAC - Americas where he focused on energy cost reduction solutions and operational efficiencies. Brett received an MBA from Texas A&M University, Mays Schools of Business, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Baylor University.

Bryant Patton - CFO, Chairman, Founder

Job Titles:
  • Chairman
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Co - Founder
  • Member of the Executive Team
Bryant Patton is Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and one of the original founding partners of Vaquero. He has over 45 years' experience in the oil and gas industry, including 20 years as a principal in two oil and gas exploration and production companies, eight years as an institutional portfolio investment manager, and ten years providing value-added management extension and capital formation strategy to upstream and midstream energy companies. Bryant has participated in hundreds of transactions and has established relationships with industry players, capital providers, investment bankers, lawyers, and third-party support professionals. Bryant majored in accounting at Texas Christian University and the University of Texas at Dallas. Prior to his effort at Vaquero, through Brycap Investments, he worked with TEAK Midstream, Crosstex Energy, Oakspring Energy, LLC, Vendera Resources, Abraxas Petroleum, Camden Resources, Cinco Resources, and Primexx Energy Partners. Previously, Bryant was Senior Vice President of Associated Energy Managers, managing two funds for The Common Fund and EIF, L.P. Bryant has been deeply involved in the industry, serving as Regional Director of the IPAA, past President of the Dallas Petroleum Club, past Chairman of the Dallas Wildcat Committee, and various energy company boards. Bryant was 2021 Chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association and the Cotton Bowl Foundation. Bryant and his wife of 40 years, Darlene, live in Dallas.

Cassondra Wynn - CMO

Job Titles:
  • Director of Marketing
  • Member of the Commercial Team
  • Vice President, Marketing
Cassondra Wynn is the Director of Marketing & Scheduling for Vaquero Midstream. Cassondra has approximately 32 years of experience in the oil and gas industry with scheduling, trading, contract administration, right-of-way and business development in both midstream and producer sectors. Prior to joining Vaquero, Cassondra worked as Manager of Marketing & Scheduling for Compass Production Partners, LP. Cassondra managed several aspects of the midstream and producer functions including trading & scheduling of natural gas, natural gas liquids , crude, contract administration and contract negotiations. Cassondra began her career with Continental Natural Gas, Inc. in the operations group and transitioned into marketing. Continental sold to CMS Field Services, Cantera Natural Gas, Inc. and PVR Midstream, LLC. Cassondra transitioned with all the acquisitions and lead the marketing & scheduling group as the Director of Scheduling & Marketing for approximately 20 years. Cassondra has 18 years of management experience and has industry knowledge and experience in the Arkoma Basin, Barnett Shale, Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, and the Permian Basin. Cassondra holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University.

Desi Urias

Job Titles:
  • Field Supervisor
  • Member of the Operations Team
  • in 2015 As the Field Supervisor
Desi Urias joined Vaquero Midstream in 2015 as the Field Supervisor. Prior to Vaquero, Desi worked as the Field Supervisor at Targa Resources where he managed daily operations of fifteen compressor stations, along with fifteen employees. Desi has over seven years of Field Operating experience and has excelled in this area. Desi currently oversees Field Operations, Measurement, Pipelines and Cathodic protection at Vaquero.

Garrett Grimes

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Commercial Team
  • Director, Commercial
  • in 2022 As Director
Garrett Grimes joined Vaquero Midstream in 2022 as Director of Commercial. Garrett brings almost 10 years of experience in the oil and gas industry in both upstream and midstream with a focus on securing and managing new gas and processing contracts in the Delaware Basin. He brings a strong background of negotiating and implementing contracts and agreements in his previous roles and will be instrumental in integrating this experience with producers on the Vaquero system. Garrett most recently served as Commercial Development Advisor for Western Midstream where he was responsible for procuring new business in the gas gathering and processing side of the business with a focus on the Delaware Basin. Prior to Western, Garrett held multiple positions with Anadarko Petroleum across multiple plays (Eaglebine/Chalk and Delaware Basin). As a member of the Land Department, Garrett led business development opportunities, managed, and increased Anadarko's leasehold positions and built and maintained various relationships with landowners and producers as well as State and local agencies. Garrett started his career in 2013 as a land intern for Anadarko Petroleum, working Anadarko's Eaglebine/Chalk asset. Garrett received a Bachelor of Science (BS), in Advertising and Public Relations from Texas Christian University, as well as a Petroleum Landman Certificate from the University of Houston-Downtown.

Gary Conway - CEO, Founder, President

Job Titles:
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Co - Founder
  • Member of the Executive Team
  • President
Gary Conway is one of the original founding partners of Vaquero and is the firm's CEO/President. He has over 30 years of experience in the oil and natural gas industry and a track record of success. Prior to co-founding Vaquero, Gary served as Vice President of Engineering and Operations at TEAK Midstream LLC, and was a key participant in the board's analysis and decision making. His role involved all aspects of the engineering and operations of more than 300 miles of high and low pressure gathering systems, a grassroots 262-mile high pressure gathering pipeline, and a 200 MMSCFD processing facility with an additional 400 MMSCFD planned on the complex. Prior to his tenure with TEAK, Gary served as Vice President of Treating and Construction for Petrohawk/Hawk Field Services, completing the midstream assets in the Fayetteville Shale, establishing a major footprint of midstream assets in the Haynesville Shale and the initial assets for the Eagle Ford Shale. Prior to Petrohawk/Hawk Field Services, Gary was Director of Processing for Energy Transfer. In this role, he was instrumental in guiding Energy Transfer into the Barnett Shale, leading the construction and operations of the 500 MMSCFD Godley Cryogenic Complex. Previously, Gary was Manager of Engineering at Crosstex Energy Services in the Treating Division, where under his execution management Crosstex grew to more than 120 operating amine plants. Prior to joining Crosstex, he was employed by consulting firms as a chemical engineer working for major and independent natural gas and petrochemical companies in the United States and abroad. Gary received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Harrison Holmes

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Executive Team
  • Executive Vice President, Commercial
  • in 2019 As Vice President of Business Development
Harrison Holmes joined Vaquero Midstream in 2019 as Vice President of Business Development. He brings ten years of finance and business development experience to the team. He is responsible for the origination and development of strategic relationships and opportunities for Vaquero. Most recently, Harrison was a Vice President at Brycap Investments. During his six-year tenure at Brycap, Harrison worked directly with the financial partners, management and employees of several companies where Brycap made early stage investments, including Vaquero Midstream. Harrison began his career in Dallas with an investment management firm focused on oil & gas and real estate. Harrison graduated Cum Laude from Texas Tech University with a B.B.A. in Finance.

Kimberly Landry

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Operations Team
  • Environmental, Social, Governance ( ESG ) & Regulatory Director
Kimberly Landry joined Vaquero in January 2017 as the Regulatory and HSE Director. We are pleased that Kimberly has now also taken on the role as the company's Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) & Regulatory Director. She has been instrumental in helping Vaquero operations reduce GHG emissions and implement additional testing procedures for leak detection. Kimberly has over 11 years experience in the oil and gas industry in both upstream and midstream sectors. Prior to joining Vaquero, Kimberly has had various roles including managing regulatory filings, permitting, compliance and corporate EH&S and communications for companies such as Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas, Chesapeake Energy, Chesapeake Midstream Partners, Access Midstream, and Flatrock Engineering & Environmental. Before her career in the oil and gas industry, Kimberly served our country in the United States Army deploying to Iraq. She honorably retired from the military with the rank of captain. Kimberly received her Master of Business Association from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Languages and Environmental Engineering from the United States Military Academy (West Point).

Sandra Fendley - CFO, EVP, VP

Job Titles:
  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Chief Accounting Officer
  • Executive Vice President
  • Member of the Executive Team
  • Vice President
Sandra Fendley joined Vaquero Midstream in June 2015 as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, with over 20 years of experience in the midstream, oil and gas and utilities industries. She previously served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Matador Resources and also as Controller of J-W Midstream, a subsidiary of J-W Energy Company. Prior to joining J-W Midstream, Sandra held a number of financial roles with Crosstex Energy, including serving as Corporate Controller, Director of Financial Accounting and Director of Financial Reporting from 2006 until her departure in 2013. She also held numerous and varied accounting roles with TXU (currently Energy Future Holdings) from 1991 to 2006. In her many roles, Sandra has had responsibility for leading a financial accounting group, SEC reporting group for a publicly traded Master Limited Partnership, crude oil operational accounting group, financial planning and analysis group, fixed asset accounting, inventory, and accounts payable. She has also provided leadership on multiple process improvement projects resulting in significant cost and time savings and improved controls. Sandra is a licensed certified public accountant. She received an MBA from Tarleton State University and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Scott Maurer

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Commercial Team
  • Vaquero 's Vice President, Finance and Strategy
  • Vice President, Finance & Strategy
Scott Maurer serves as Vaquero's Vice President, Finance and Strategy. He brings over 10 years of industry experience to Vaquero and is responsible for strategic and long-range planning, financial reporting and analysis, evaluation of new business opportunities and IT administration. Scott brings increased visibility and profitability through management reporting and the development of business intelligence tools for all stakeholders. Prior to joining Vaquero, Scott most recently served as Financial Planning and Analysis Manager for J-W Energy Company where he was responsible for financial planning and analysis of the company's upstream and midstream assets. Prior to joining the energy industry, he spent five years with Gehan Homes with roles in the finance department as well as the mortgage side of the business. Scott has an MBA from Southern Methodist University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with a Finance concentration from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Wayne Wauson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Operations Team
  • Senior Vice President, Operations
  • Regional Director of Plant
Wayne Wauson joined Vaquero Midstream as the Regional Director of Plant and Pipeline Operations in 2015. Wayne has consistently worked in Operations for over 25 years, and started his career in Operations in 1994 with Western Gas Resources. Before starting with Vaquero, Wayne served as Operations Superintendent at Targa Resources. He was responsible for Plant Operations, Maintenance, Instrument and Electrical, Field Operations, Measurement, Construction and the Pipeline Department for the Westtex System, overseeing 100 employees. Wayne currently supervises all of Vaquero Midstream's Plant and Field Employees, and is responsible for the Plant and Pipeline Operations of Vaquero's first 200MMCFD Cryogenic Processing Plant.