Leadership

Porter Bennett


President and CEO



Porter Bennett founded BENTEK in 1985. Over the past 25 years, he has led the evolution of the company from an energy industry consulting firm specializing in market and customer analysis to today’s leading energy market analytics company. In his early career, Mr. Bennett held positions with consulting companies specializing in energy market analysis. He holds an MS Degree in Mineral Economics from the Colorado School of Mines, and an MA Degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. He received a BA Degree in History from Lewis & Clark College. Mr. Bennett is Chairman of the Natural Gas Committee and a Director of the Independent Producers Association of Mountain States Natural Gas Committee, an Observer with the Potential Gas Committee and member of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. 




James Simpson


Managing Director
Vice President, Operations


James (“Jim”) Simpson is Managing Director and Vice President, Operations, for BENTEK. He is widely recognized as the most knowledgeable authority on natural gas flows and capacities in North America. Mr. Simpson has more than ten years of experience analyzing and managing energy information and commodity risk in both gas and power. Prior to joining BENTEK, Mr. Simpson modeled large structured transactions in both gas and power for Enron North America. Subsequently he led Natural Gas Marketing and Trading at MarkWest Hydrocarbon and Eprime, Inc. Mr. Simpson holds a BBA in finance from Texas A&M University.

E. Russell Braziel


Managing Director
VP, Marketing and Sales; Chief Technology Officer


Rusty Braziel is one of the most respected authorities in the field of energy information and markets. Mr. Braziel spent 20 years with Texaco (now Chevron), serving as Vice President of Natural Gas Marketing and Trading and Manager of NGL Supply. Subsequently he was Vice President of Business Development for The Williams Companies. Mr. Braziel founded and served as President and CEO of Altra Energy Technologies, a developer of energy transaction management software and electronic trading systems, including the Chalkboard Trading System (now Intercontinental Exchange). He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the North American Energy Standards Board and is the author of various articles in the Oil & Gas Journal, Energy Risk and other publications. Mr. Braziel holds BBA and MBA degrees in Business and Finance from Stephen F. Austin University.


Richard G. Rinehart


Managing Director
Chief Financial Officer


Rich Rinehart has extensive experience as a management consultant focused on business strategy, growth, leadership and organization development. He has a background in finance and accounting as a CPA having been a consulting partner at Ehrhardt Keefe Steiner & Hottman, CPA’s in Denver, CO and a founding partner of Zainer Rinehart Clarke, CPAs, in Santa Rosa, CA. He was also Vice-President and Controller of Rinehart Oil, Inc. in Northern California. He began his career with Arthur Andersen in San Francisco. Mr. Rinehart holds a BS in Business and Accounting from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. In addition to BENTEK, he is currently a director of Grant Partners, LLC, and Transpower Company, LLC.

Spotlight

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