Unit Executive Officers Header

Executive Officers
Please take a moment to acquaint yourself with our management team. Our managers and employees are dedicated to the continued growth and success of the Company. The result is a Unit that is efficient and capable of handling the demands of a growing company.

John G. Nikkel
Mr. Nikkel joined the Company in 1983 as its President and a director. In 2001, Mr. Nikkel became Chief Executive Officer and he was named Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective August 1, 2003. Effective April 1, 2005, he retired as Chief Executive Officer, but remains Chairman of the Board. From 1976 until January 1982 when he co-founded Nike Exploration Company, Mr. Nikkel was an officer and director of Cotton Petroleum Corporation, serving as the President of the Company from 1979 until his departure. Prior to joining Cotton, Mr. Nikkel was employed by Amoco Production Company for 18 years, last serving as Division Geologist for Amoco's Denver Division. Mr. Nikkel presently serves as President and a director of Nike Exploration Company. Mr. Nikkel received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Mathematics from Texas Christian University.

Larry D. Pinkston
Mr. Pinkston joined the Company in December 1981. He had served as Corporate Budget Director and Assistant Controller prior to being appointed as Controller in February 1985. He has been Treasurer since December 1986 and was elected to the position of Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in May 1989. In 2003, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and effective August 1, 2003, he assumed the office of President. In February of 2004, he was elected to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Effective April 1, 2005, with the retirement of John Nikkel, Mr. Pinkston assumed the office of Chief Executive Officer. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from East Central University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mark E. Schell
Mr. Schell joined Unit in January 1987, as its Secretary and General Counsel. In 2003, he was promoted to Senior Vice President. From 1979 until joining Unit, Mr. Schell was Counsel, Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of C & S Exploration Inc. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Arizona State University and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Tulsa Law School. He is a member of the Oklahoma and American Bar Association as well as being a member of the American Corporate Counsel Association and the American Society of Corporate Secretaries.


David T. Merrill


Mr. Merrill joined Unit in August 2003 as Vice President, Finance and in February 2004 was elected to the position of Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. From May 1999 through August 2003, Mr. Merrill served as Senior Vice President, Finance with TV Guide Networks, Inc. From July 1996 through May 1999 he was Senior Manager with Deloitte & Touche LLP. From July 1994 through July 1996 he was the Director of Financial Reporting and Special Projects for MAPCO, Inc. He began his career as an auditor with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells in 1983. Mr Merrill received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accounting from the University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant.

 

ADDITIONAL OFFICERS

Richard E. Heck


Mr. Heck joined Unit Drilling Company in March 2005 as Director of Safety, Health and Environment. In January 2008, he was promoted to the position of Vice President, Safety, Health and Environment for Unit Corporation. From 2001 through 2003 Mr. Heck was a Senior Safety and Loss Prevention Manager with the Williams Companies. From 1998 to 2001 he served as Director of Safety, Health and Environment for MAPCO’s Thermogas Company. Mr. Heck worked with Union Oil Company of California from 1984 to 1998. He started his career with Union Oil as a drilling engineer prior to serving in various safety, health and environmental positions. Mr. Heck graduated from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering.

Unit Drilling Company

John Cromling


Mr. Cromling joined Unit Drilling in 1997 as a Vice-President and Division Manager. He was recently promoted to the position of Senior Vice-President of Drilling Operations. In 1980, he formed Cromling Drilling Company which managed and operated drilling rigs until 1987. From 1987 to 1997, Cromling Drilling Company provided engineering consulting services and generated and drilled oil and gas prospects. Prior to this, he was employed by Big Chief Drilling for eleven years and served as Vice-President. Mr Cromling graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Petroleum Engineering.

Unit Petroleum Company

Brad Guidry


Mr. Guidry joined Unit in August 1988 as a Staff Geologist. In 1991, he was promoted to Geologic Manager overseeing the Geologic Operations of the company. In January 2003, he was promoted to Vice President - West Division. In March 2005, Mr. Guidry was promoted to Senior Vice President of Exploration for Unit Petroleum Company. From 1979 to 1988, he was employed as a Division Geologist for Reading and Bates Petroleum Co. From 1978 to 1979, he worked with ANR Resources in Houston. He began his career as an open hole well logging engineer with Dresser Atlas Oilfield Services. Mr. Guidry graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology.

Mark Colclasure


Mr. Mark Colclasure joined Unit Petroleum Company in 1997 as District Engineer. He assumed the duties of Operations Manager in 2001. He was promoted to Vice President – Central Division in January 2003 and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations in May 2007.  Prior to joining Unit, Mr. Colclasure was employed by Amoco Production Company for 16 years.  He began his career with Amoco as a drilling engineer and worked in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions.  He held numerous positions including District Engineer, Operations Center Foreman and Resource Manager, with supervision responsibilities for drilling operations, engineering and field production operations.  Mr. Colclasure earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa in 1979.

Phil Livingston


Mr. Livingston joined Unit Petroleum Company in May 1990 as Senior Landman and was later promoted to Acquisition and Divestiture Manager. He has recently been promoted to Vice President-Exploration Coordinator. Prior to joining Unit, he was owner of Livingston Energy Company from 1987-90; Vice-President of Vintage Petroleum Inc from 1983-87; Vice President-Land Manager of Apache from 1973-83 and Landman for Texaco Inc. from 1970-73. Mr. Livingston graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1970.

Mike Fankhouser


Mr. Fankhouser joined Unit in 1988 as Land Manager. He was promoted to Vice President of Land and Production Administration in 2003. From 1963 to 1970 he was a landman with Mobil Oil Corporation. From 1970 to 1980 he was Vice President of Land for Presidio Exploration Company and Brooks Hall Oil Corporation. In 1980 he formed Mana Exploration Company and served as its President until 1985. From 1985 until 1987 he was Vice President of Land for Williford Energy Company. From 1987 until 1988 he was Director Of Corporate Development for The Maple Corporation. Mr. Fankhouser graduated from the University Of Oklahoma with a degree in Petroleum Land Management.

Carl Hansen


Mr. Hansen joined Unit in 1996 as a Reservoir Engineer. In 2003 he was promoted to Vice President - East Division. He previously worked for Mobil E & P U.S. from 1989 to 1996, with the last four years as a reservoir engineer in the acquisitions, trades and sales group. Mr. Hansen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Oklahoma State University, a Master of Engineering in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston. Mr. Hansen is also a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Frank Young


Mr. Young joined Unit Petroleum Company in June 2007 as Vice President – Central Division.  Prior to joining Unit, Mr. Young was employed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.  He began his career with Anadarko in 1991 as a Mid-Continent Production Engineer and, in 1994, began working as a Reservoir Engineer over the same area.  In 1996, he was promoted to a Senior Asset Engineering role responsible for delineation and development of Anadarko’s North African oil fields.  In 1999, he was moved into a Senior Completions / Operations Engineering role responsible for development of gas fields in East Texas .  In 2000, he was promoted to Division Engineer responsible for operations within Anadarko’s Permian Division in West Texas .  In 2002, he was promoted to Planning Manager for North America .  In 2004, we was promoted to General Manager of Central Gulf of Mexico responsible for delineation and development of various Deepwater fields.  Mr. Young holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas Tech University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University .

 

Superior Pipeline Company

Robert Parks


Mr. Parks founded Superior Pipeline Company, L.L.C. in 1996. When Superior was acquired by Unit in July 2004, he continued with Superior as one of its managers and as its President. From April 1992 through April 1996, Mr. Parks served as Vice-President – Gathering and Processing for Cimarron Gas Companies. From December 1986 through March 1992, he served as Vice-President – Business Development for American Central Gas Companies. Mr. Parks began his career as an engineer with Cities Service Company in 1978. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Rice University and his M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Executive Officers
John G. Nikkel
Larry D. Pinkston
Mark E. Schell
David T. Merrill
 
Additional Officers
Richard E. Heck
Unit Drilling Company
John Cromling
Unit Petroleum Company
Brad Guidry
Mark Colclasure
Phil Livingston
Mike Fankhouser
Carl Hansen
Frank Young
Superior Pipeline Company
Robert Parks