Welcome to the heart of Black Bay—our people. With more than 130 collective years of industry and investment experience, together, we drive forward, leveraging our knowledge and unwavering commitment to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the energy sector. It's the passion of our people that fuels our mission and makes progress possible.
Michael is the Managing Partner of Black Bay, where he serves on the firm’s Investment Committee and oversees Black Bay’s efforts in sourcing investments, executing transactions, monitoring active portfolio companies, as well as firm management and strategy.
Prior to co-founding Black Bay, Michael was a Managing Director at NGP Energy Technology Partners (“NGP ETP”), where he led NGP ETP’s energy services investment efforts. During his nine-year tenure at NGP ETP, Michael was involved with 10 energy service companies. Prior to joining NGP ETP, Michael served as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Business Development for Auto-Chlor Services, and worked at Bank of America Securities in the Natural Resources Investment Banking Group in New York and Houston.
Michael holds an M.B.A. from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University, and received a B.A. in economics with honors from Southern Methodist University.
Tom Ambrose
Partner
Tom is a Partner at Black Bay, where he serves on the firm’s Investment Committee and oversees Black Bay’s efforts in sourcing investments, executing transactions, monitoring active portfolio companies, and strategy.
Prior to co-founding Black Bay, Tom was a Vice President at NGP ETP, where he was responsible for sourcing investments, transaction analysis and execution, and monitoring portfolio companies in the oilfield service and technology sector. Prior to joining NGP ETP in 2011, Tom served as the Senior Analyst for Halliburton Company’s in-house M&A and Corporate Development group. While at Halliburton, Tom worked on a number of strategic acquisitions and transactions across the range of Halliburton’s product and service offerings, as well as corporate strategy projects sponsored by the executive team.
Tom holds a B.S.M. in finance and economics from Tulane University, where he graduated magna cum laude and was a Distinguished Scholars recipient, along with an Energy Specialization from the Tulane Energy Institute.
Guy Cook
Partner
Guy is a Partner at Black Bay, where he serves on the firm’s Investment Committee and oversees Black Bay’s efforts in sourcing investments, executing transactions, monitoring active portfolio companies, and strategy.
Prior to co-founding Black Bay, Guy was an Executive Vice President at Superior Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: SPN), a diversified mid-cap global energy company. Guy was responsible for the Drilling Products & Services segment, which was composed of 11 subsidiaries operating under legacy brand names, each of which had complete senior management teams that reported to Guy. From 1997 -2004, Guy held various roles at Superior, including Vice President of Corporate Development and Director of Investor Relations.
Guy has more than 25 years of experience investing and managing in the energy service and chemical sectors and has led, or been involved in, over 35 transactions and post-closing acquisition integrations.
Guy holds an M.B.A. from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University and a B.S. in corporate finance from the University of Alabama.
John Lancaster
Partner
John is a Partner at Black Bay where he oversees Black Bay’s efforts in sourcing investments, executing transactions, monitoring active portfolio companies and strategy.
Prior to joining Black Bay, John was the Founder and Managing Partner of Oyster Creek LLC, a CT-based investment and advisory firm focused on the energy and power industry. Before establishing Oyster Creek, John was a Partner with Riverstone Holdings LLC, a private equity firm focused on the conventional and renewable energy and power industry globally. John joined Riverstone at its inception and spent the following 20 years sourcing and executing numerous successful investments across the energy industry, ranging from start-up to later-stage growth capital and buyouts. He was specifically responsible for the firm’s investment activity in the equipment manufacturing and services sector, which included over 20 companies providing a range of engineered products and services. Prior to joining Riverstone, John was with The Beacon Group, LLC, a firm specializing in principal investing and strategic advisory services in the energy and industrial sectors. John began his career at Bankers Trust and CS First Boston as an investment banker and equity research analyst focused on the oil service and unregulated gas transmission sectors. John currently serves as an Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Apollo Infrastructure Company, LLC and as a Director of NW Flats EOR, LLC. He has previously served on numerous public company, private company, and non-profit boards of directors.
Mr. Lancaster is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where he serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the McCombs School of Business, and he received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Julie Isacks
CFO/CCO
Julie is the CFO and CCO at Black Bay, where she oversees the firm’s administrative, compliance, and regulatory functions. Julie is also actively involved in executing transactions and monitoring Black Bay’s portfolio companies. Julie has nearly 20 years of experience in the oilfield service sector and has worked closely with more than 25 operating subsidiaries on financial reporting and internal controls.
Prior to joining Black Bay, Julie was the Director of Financial Reporting at Superior Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: SPN), a diversified mid-cap global oilfield service company. Julie was responsible for financial reporting, SEC compliance, external audit, due diligence on acquisition targets, MD&A preparation, interfacing with subsidiary financial managers, and advising on internal control procedures. Julie held various other roles at Superior, including Director of International Accounting.
Prior to Superior, Julie was a Senior Auditor for Ernst & Young. Julie is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a B.S. in finance and business management from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
Matt Schovee
Partner
Matt is a Partner at Black Bay, where he serves on the firm’s Investment Committee and oversees Black Bay’s efforts in sourcing investments, executing transactions, monitoring active portfolio companies, and strategy.
Prior to co-founding Black Bay, Matt was an Associate at NGP ETP, where he was responsible for transaction analysis and execution, and the monitoring of active portfolio companies in the oil & gas equipment, service and technology sector. Prior to joining NGP ETP, Matt served as the Senior Analyst for Halliburton Company’s in-house M&A and Corporate Development group. While at Halliburton, Matt worked on numerous strategic acquisitions and transactions across the range of Halliburton’s product and service offerings, as well as corporate strategy projects sponsored by the executive team and board of directors.
Matt holds a B.B.A. in Finance and a Concentration in Energy Management from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, where he was also a two-time Academic All-American and Captain of the Men’s Division I golf team.
Sam Scofield
principal
Sam is a Principal at Black Bay, where he is involved with the firm’s efforts in sourcing investments, executing transactions, and monitoring active portfolio companies.
Prior to joining Black Bay, Sam spent three years working in the Energy Investment Banking Group at BMO Capital Markets in Houston, where he focused on M&A advisory work and public and private capital raises within the energy industry.
Sam graduated from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business with a B.S.M. in Finance, along with an Energy Specialization from the Tulane Energy Institute. Sam was also a two-time Academic All-American, Team Captain, and All-Conference Defensive Player on the Tulane Green Wave football team.
Preston Galatas
Associate
Preston is an Associate at Black Bay, where he is involved with the firm’s efforts in sourcing investments, executing transactions, market research, and monitoring active portfolio companies.
Prior to joining Black Bay, Preston spent nearly four years working in a similar role in energy and infrastructure private equity at Arroyo Investors in Houston. Prior to Arroyo, Mr. Galatas worked as an Analyst at UBS Asset Management in New York, supporting multiple investment groups over two years including infrastructure private equity, hedge fund research, private credit and commercial real estate investments.
Preston graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.S. in finance.
Grant McClure
Associate
Grant is an Associate at Black Bay, where he is involved with the firm’s efforts in sourcing investments, executing transactions, and monitoring active portfolio companies.
Prior to joining Black Bay, Grant spent three years working in Corporate Development at Gravity Oilfield Services, where he completed numerous M&A transactions and strategic growth initiatives.
Grant holds a B.S. in petroleum engineering from Louisiana State University along with a Master’s in energy management from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business.
John Eumont
Accounting and Finance Manager
John is the Accounting and Finance Manager at Black Bay, where he oversees the accounting and financial reporting for Black Bay.
Prior to joining Black Bay, John was an Assistant Vice President at Apex Group, where he managed the accounting and financial reporting for multiple clients. Prior to Apex Group, John was a Senior Staff Account at Advantage Capital, where he was responsible for recording activity and preparing financial statements for many of the firm’s entities.
John holds a B.S. in finance from the University of New Orleans.
Karen Phan
Executive Administrator
Karen is the Executive Administrator at Black Bay, where she helps oversee the firm’s day-to-day administrative functions.
Prior to joining Black Bay, she was the Administrative Manager of a staffing company and regulated the Human Resources department for the branch, including the process and compliance of new hires.
She double majored in marketing and management at the University of Southern Mississippi where she received her B.S. in business administration. She holds an MBA and a certificate in sports security management from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Emily is the Executive Assistant to the Managing Partner and Investor Relations Coordinator at Black Bay. As a seasoned executive assistant with more than 17 years of experience, Emily excels in supporting high-level leaders across diverse sectors by combining legal acumen with strong organizational and communication skills.
Prior to joining Black Bay, Emily served principal leaders in government, higher education, and healthcare where she effectively managed complex projects, cultivated relationships, and ensured smooth operations.
Emily holds a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University.
Randy Albert
Strategic Advisory Board Member
E&P and mining executive, most recently served as Chairman of the Board of Montage Resources prior to its merger with SWN; prior to that he was Chief Operating Officer-Gas of CONSOL Energy. Board member for several operating companies and oilfield service companies; Chairman of West Virginia O&G Conservation Commission.
Chip Goodyear
Strategic Advisory Board Member
Global natural resource executive, most recently served in an executive role as CEO of BHP Billiton. Former executive and/or board member for Freeport-McMoRan, Anadarko Petroleum, and Temasek. Currently the President of Goodyear Investment Company, a Trustee of Yale University, Chairman of the BHP Foundation and a board member of several for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Floyd Hammond
Strategic Advisory Board Member
E&P executive; founding member and Chief Operating Officer at Ameredev, a leading Delaware Basin operator. Formerly lead midstream engineer at Cimarex. Serves on the board of Pinon Midstream and a former board member of TOPS.
Bill Harvey
Strategic Advisory Board Member
Global chemical executive, most recently served as President at DuPont. Serves on the board of several chemicals & materials companies, including Clean Chemistry, Bridgestone Americas, and Origin Materials.
Doug Hayes
Strategic Advisory Board Member
Oilfield chemical executive with 45 years in the industry, including senior leadership roles at Baker Hughes (Petrolite), Clariant, Champion Technologies, and Rockwater. Serves on the board of NexGen Chemical Technologies and Clean Chemistry.
Charlie Orbell
Strategic Advisory Board Member
Oilfield service and technology executive; Chief Executive Officer of ADS Services, a leading provider of managed pressure drilling solutions. Formerly CEO of Managed Pressure Operations and various management roles at Schlumberger.
Bruce Schulman
Strategic Advisory Board Member
Managing Partner at NGP Energy Technology Partners, an energy technology private equity investment firm. Decades of experience investing in and lending to energy and industrial businesses in the middle market.
Christine Staples
Strategic Advisory Board Member
Chemicals and water treatment executive; Chief Executive Officer of Cohere Beauty, a premier formulator and custom manufacturer for beauty, personal care, and fragrance brands. Formerly Chief Executive Officer at G2O Technologies, and held senior leadership positions at Buckman and Ecolab.
