Zach is co-founder and President of UpCurve Energy, a private operator with a 15,000 acre position in the Delaware Basin.  The company was founded in 2015 with a $120 million commitment from Post Oak Energy Capital.  Since then, UpCurve has continued to execute on its development plan and is currently producing >11,000 boe/d.  UpCurve Energy II was launched in late 2021 with an initial bolt-on acquisition and is still looking for additional growth opportunities across both the Delaware and Midland basins.  Zach previously worked as a Reservoir Engineer on ConocoPhillips’ Eagle Ford team.  Prior to that, he spent several years at ConocoPhillips in various roles between both Houston and Aberdeen. Before joining ConocoPhillips, Zach worked as an Associate at the NY-based private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg and as an Analyst in Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Division, where he focused primarily on energy industry M&A and financings.  Zach received an MBA with honors from the Wharton School and a Certificate in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M. He graduated cum laude from Duke University with a BA in Economics where he was a member of their Division I lacrosse team, and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Michael Pipkin, CEO and Founder

• Michael has served as CEO of Rushmore Resource Partners since its inception in 2020.


• Prior to his current role, Michael spent time at Reservoir Capital Group, a New York-based private investment firm, where he was responsible for opening the Houston office and leading energy origination and execution efforts.


• With over 15 years of experience, Michael spent 10+ years in energy principal investing at The D.E. Shaw Group and Stellus Capital. Michael started his career in energy investment banking at Jefferies and RBC.


• Graduated from Dartmouth College with high honors

Geoff Vernon has over 15 years of oil and gas industry experience. He joined Earthstone in June 2018 and serves as Vice President, Reservoir Engineering and A&D. Prior to Earthstone, he spent 7 years at Southwestern Energy where he served in a variety of roles in corporate development, reserves and planning, asset development teams, and midstream and marketing. Prior to Southwestern, he spent 4 years working for BP as a reservoir engineer. Mr. Vernon has experience in most major oil and gas basins in the L48 and has been involved in ~$10 billion of announced A&D transactions. Mr. Vernon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Rice University.

Phil DeLozier is the Executive Vice President – Business Development of EnerVest, Ltd., a privately held independent energy firm in Houston.  Before joining EnerVest in 2006, he was Vice President – Business Development of EOG Resources, Inc. from 1996 – 2006. Previously, he worked at Tenneco Oil and McCormick Resources.

Phil serves as an active member of the Houston Producers’ Forum where he serves on the Board of Directors. Additionally, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, where he was Chairman in 2007.  Phil has been an active member of the Independent Petroleum Association of America serving as the Regional Director for the Houston Region from 2005 – 2013 and as a member of the Board of Directors.  He is also an active member of the Petroleum Club of Houston, where he served as President in 2018. 

Phil earned his B. A. degree at Oklahoma State University.