Utility Specialists competitors

Christopher Franklin is chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Essential Utilities, Inc. Previously he served as chief operating officer of regulated operations for the Company, one of the nation’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utilities. In his former role, Chris was responsible for the Company’s regulated operations, including customer operations throughout the company’s entire service area, which includes approximately 3 million people in eight states. A 27 year veteran of the Company, Chris has held executive roles in public affairs, customer operations and more recently as regional president of the company’s southern and Midwest operations. While holding that post, he significantly increased the performance and earnings power of these diverse state operations, while simultaneously serving as senior vice president of the company’s corporate and public affairs, where he was responsible for the Company's federal, state and municipal legislative affairs, investor relations and communications. Since joining the Company in 1992 as director, corporate and public affairs, Chris headed several successful projects, including rebranding the company and the passage of legislation designed to provide state-regulated water utility customers with improved water quality while allowing a fair and reasonable return for shareholders. Chris is a strategic leader focused on the best interest of employees, customers, shareholders and the public. He is an expert in enhancing profitability; developing strategic growth initiatives; and strategically spending capital and operating budgets while implementing controls to ensure expense discipline and environmental compliance. Active in the utility industry, Chris serves as a director on the board of NAWC. Until recently sold to Fortis, Chris served on the board of directors of ITC Inc. He chaired the board committee on operations and served on the board audit committee.

Jonathan Carroll is currently Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Blue Dolphin. He is also a Director, President and Majority Owner of Lazarus Energy Holdings, LLC (''LEH''). LEH owns eighty percent (80.67%) of Blue Dolphin’s issued and outstanding Common Stock. In addition, Jonathan Carroll sits on the Board of Trustees of the Salient Fund Group. In January 2014, Jonathan Carroll was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the General Partner of LRR Energy, L.P. (NYSE: LRE). Jonathan Carroll earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University and has completed a Directed Reading in Economics at Oxford University.

David Benoit is a Board Member at Middlesex Hospital and Chief Executive Officer at Maine Water and is based in Clinton, Connecticut. He has worked as Director Corporate Development & Strategy at Yankee Gas, President/CEO at Connecticut Water, and Senior VP:Finance/CFO/Treasurer at Connecticut Water. David attended University of Hartford between 1985 and 1987 and CCSU between 1976 and 1979.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of El Paso Electric, Ms. Tomblin brings more than 25 years of experience in the energy industry throughout the United States, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and Latin America. She has experience in the generation, transmission, and distribution sectors as well as renewable development, energy services, and sales. Before joining El Paso Electric, Ms. Tomblin, a winner of the S&P Platts Global CEO of the Year award, served as Chief Executive Officer of INTREN, L.L.C., a utility service provider operating throughout the United States. Ms. Tomblin’s work experience also includes her role as President & Chief Executive Officer of Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), where she addressed the company’s floundering public image and rebuilt the company’s operations. Prior to JPS, she served as Vice President for GDF SUEZ/International Power, one of the world’s largest energy companies, and President of Pennsylvania Electric Company, a FirstEnergy Company. She started her career in energy as an attorney with K&L Gates, LLP and Pennsylvania Electric Company. Ms. Tomblin is a board member of The Borderplex Alliance; the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, and the Edison Electric Institute. She is also a member of the Advisory Council for Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness; the Texas Tech President’s Development Council; and the Diversity Committee for Executive Forum. Ms. Tomblin has an MBA from New York University’s Leonard Stern School of Business and a Juris Doctorate and BS in Journalism with a public relations concentration from West Virginia University.

Jason Morin is a Chief Executive Officer at Black Mountain Sand and is based in Fort Worth, Texas. He has worked as Production Manager at Holcim; Executive Vice President, Operations and Northern Sales at CONTINENTAL CEMENT COMPANY L.L.C.; and Sourcing Engineer at GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. Jason attended UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO BOOTH, Missouri State University between 1999 and 2001, and Clarkson University between 1989 and 1993.