A proven entrepreneur, Mr. Berthelot has been President of Azure Midstream since July 2012. Prior to Azure Midstream, he founded Laser Midstream Company, which focused on natural gas gathering and processing in Texas and Louisiana and sold to Eagle Rock Energy Partners, L.P. in 2007 (Laser I). Subsequently, Laser II was formed and developed a 1.4 Bcf/d gas gathering system in Northeast Pennsylvania and Southern New York until it sold to Delphi Midstream Partners, LLC in July 2010. Additional experience includes serving as President of a privately owned midstream company (2002 – 2004) and Chief Operating Officer, Executive VP, and a member of the Board of Directors at MidCoast Energy Resources, Inc. (1991-2001), the predecessor gathering and processing business of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. Mr. Berthelot is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.
Mr. Augustini joined Energy Spectrum in 2004. Mr. Augustini conducts financial and strategic due diligence for potential investments, negotiates and structures new investments, leads deal execution and is actively involved in the ongoing monitoring and oversight of portfolio companies. Mr. Augustini has approximately 26 years of private equity, management consulting, and corporate finance and strategy experience in the energy industry. Prior to joining Energy Spectrum, Mr. Augustini served five years as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, Inc., an international strategic management consulting firm, primarily working on energy-related assignments. Prior to McKinsey, Mr. Augustini served seven years in a variety of finance and strategic planning management positions at Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) and four years as an analyst for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company’s investments group. Mr. Augustini received his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University and his Master of Business Administration degree with high honors from the University of Chicago. Mr. Augustini served on the boards of Laser 1 and Laser 2 as well.
Mr. Mayon joined Energy Spectrum in 2011. His primary responsibilities include sourcing new investment opportunities, conducting financial and strategic due diligence and monitoring portfolio company performance. Prior to joining Energy Spectrum, Mr. Mayon was an Associate at Key Principal Partners, a private equity fund that provides mezzanine and equity capital to middle market companies. Mr. Mayon began his career as an investment banker with Banc of America Securities and Growth Capital Partners. Mr. Mayon received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences degrees from Southern Methodist University, and his Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Bush serves as the Chief Financial Officer of our general partner and of Azure Midstream Energy, LLC. Prior to joining Azure, she held the Chief Financial Officer positon at Marlin Midstream Partners, LP (NASDAQ: FISH) successfully launching its initial public offering in 2013. She has also served as Chief Financial Officer of Spark Energy where she held positions in various other finance roles. Prior to joining Spark Energy in 2007, she worked in public accounting at PwC auditing fortune 500 companies. Ms. Bush received a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Houston in 2003 and is a Texas certified public accountant.
Mr. Loiacono is a highly accomplished energy executive with more than 30 years of progressive industry background. He was previously the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Business Development at Azure Midstream, where he established and executed asset optimization strategies to create value and enhance contract margins. Mr. Loiacono has successfully completed multiple acquisitions and divestures, two IPOs and developed numerous infrastructure expansions. He previously held the position of VP Commercial Activity and Director, Commercial Services for Enbridge, Inc., leading the commercial and business development activities for Enbridge’s U.S.-based gather and processing business and gas marketing group. Loiacono is the former chair of the Texas Pipeline Association and former board member of the GPA Midstream Association. He holds a BS in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and a Masters of Business Administration and Management from Oklahoma City University.
As President and founding partner of Energy Spectrum Partners, Thomas O. Whitener leads Energy Spectrum Partners’ midstream private equity business. Mr. Whitener’s responsibilities include leading negotiations, structuring and executing investment transactions, actively monitoring existing investments and working closely as a board member with the management teams of portfolio companies. Mr. Whitener has approximately 40 years of experience financing and advising companies and managing private equity investments in the energy industry. Prior to Energy Spectrum Partners, Mr. Whitener served as a Managing Director at R. Reid Investments Inc. and as a Senior Vice President of Dean Witter Reynolds’ Energy Corporate Finance Group. Through these positions, he gained significant experience with mergers and acquisitions, institutional equity and debt placements and energy asset divestitures. Following college, Mr. Whitener served three years as an officer in the U.S. Navy and began his professional career as an energy lender with InterFirst Bank Dallas. Later, as a senior manager, he was responsible for managing and overseeing commitments in excess of $1.5 billion to the upstream, midstream and oil field service sectors of the energy industry. Mr. Whitener has a B.B.A. with highest honors and a M.B.A. from the University of Texas. We believe Mr. Whitener’s extensive experience in the energy industry and his roles with Energy Spectrum Partners bring important skills to the board of directors. Mr. Whitener served on the boards of Laser 1 and Laser 2 as well.
