Corporate Governance

Mr. Maxwell serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and was appointed to this position in connection with the IPO in 2014. Mr. Maxwell also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Spark Energy as well as Chief Executive Officer of several privately owned energy related companies. Prior to founding the predecessor of Spark Energy in 1999, Mr. Maxwell was a founding partner in Wickford Energy, an oil and natural gas services company which was sold to Black Hills Utilities in 1997. Prior to Wickford Energy, Mr. Maxwell was a partner in Polaris Pipeline, a natural gas producer services and midstream company that sold to TECO Pipeline in 1994. In 2010, Mr. Maxwell was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Energy, Chemicals and Mining category. A native of Houston, Texas, Mr. Maxwell earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. Mr. Maxwell has several philanthropic interests, including the Special Olympics, Child Advocates, Salvation Army, Star of Hope and Helping a Hero. We believe that Mr. Maxwell’s extensive energy industry background, leadership experience, and strategic planning and oversight brings an important skill set to our board of directors.

Mandy Bush is the Chief Financial Officer of Azure Midstream Energy, LLC. Prior to joining Azure, she was the Chief Financial Officer at Marlin Midstream Partners, LP, leading their successful IPO in 2013. Prior to being the CFO of Marlin, Ms. Bush held various finance and accounting roles within the energy industry. Ms. Bush began her career in public accounting with PwC auditing Fortune 500 companies. She has a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Houston and is a Texas certified public accountant.

• Member of the Audit Committee

Mr. Kennedy was appointed to our Board of Directors in June 2023. In July 2023, he joined Opportune LLP, a Houston-based energy consulting firm, where he is currently employed as a Managing Director. Prior to that, Mr. Kennedy spent 37 years in energy banking. He formed the energy banking group for Zions Bancorporation, dba Amegy Bank in 1997 and managed the group for more than 25 years where he was EVP & Head of Energy Banking. Beginning in May 2022, he transitioned to Founder & Senior Advisor of that Energy Banking Group, serving in that capacity until the end of 2023. Before his time with Amegy, he held a position as VP of Energy Banking at Wells Fargo. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Mr. Kennedy held a position of AVP of Energy Banking at Bank One. He holds an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Baylor University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University. He has authored several articles on energy matters, including one regarding energy derivatives published in the October 2005 edition of the “Oil & Gas Financial Journal.” He also served as the President of the Petroleum Club of Houston from 2022 to 2023 and is a founding board member of the Houston Energy Forum.

• Member of the Audit Committee

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, The Naval Postgraduate School and the Royal Naval Staff College, RADM Bill served over 32 years of active duty as a Naval Surface Warfare Officer. He held increasing positions of responsibility aboard various surface ships, culminating in command of USS Mahan (DDG 42), USS Mobile Bay (GG 53), USS Wisconsin. (BB 64) , and the USS ENTERPRISE Battle Group as Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group Twelve.

RADM Bill’s operational experience included combat in the Mekong Delta during the Viet Nam War. He completed 150 combat patrols as a patrol officer on River Patrol Boats in 1968-69. As Commanding Officer of USS Mahan, he was Sector Anti-Air Warfare Commander during the 1986 Gulf of Sidra operations against Libya. During the first Gulf War in 1991, RADM Bill was responsible for coordinating the launch of the Tomahawk missiles from the Persian Gulf, and providing fire support for coalition ground operations while commanding the USS Wisconsin.

RADM Bill held significant positions of responsibility ashore as Operations Officer and Deputy Commander of the Atlantic Fleet, and as Deputy Commander of Naval Forces in Europe, where he was responsible for planning and supporting various joint operations, including US Naval support of coalition operations in the Balkans 1996-98.

RADM Bill is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal; seven Legions of Merit (one with Combat V); three Bronze Stars (two with Combat V); the Purple Heart; two Meritorious Service Medals; and the Combat Action and the Joint Services Commendation Medals.

Since retiring form the Navy, RADM Bill has been Executive Director of a property development company; a faculty member at the Naval Postgraduate School; Executive Director of the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation; CEO of two private sector companies; and as a Director on the boards of two private companies.

• Member of the Audit Committee

Mike Barajas was appointed Chief Financial Officer in November 2021. Immediately prior to his appointment as CFO, Mr. Barajas served as the Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations. Mr. Barajas oversees the Company’s accounting, tax, SEC reporting, treasury, financial planning and analysis, and investor relations functions. He is also the Chief Risk Officer.

Prior to rejoining the Company in 2019, Mr. Barajas worked for several energy companies including Spark Energy from 2009 to 2014, Marlin Midstream, Xcalibur Logistics, and National Gas & Electric with leadership experience in accounting, finance, mergers & acquisitions, and treasury.

Mr. Barajas holds a Master of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the C.T. Bauer College of Business at The University of Houston.  Mr. Barajas is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas.

Paul Konikowski was appointed Chief Operating Officer in November 2021. Immediately prior to his appointment as COO, Mr. Konikowski served as Senior Vice President of National Gas and Electric (“NG&E”), a position he had held since April 2015.

Prior to NG&E, Mr. Konikowski served as Chief Operating Officer of Glacial Energy and Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Via Renewables, Inc. (formerly Spark Energy, Inc.). Mr. Konikowski has extensive retail energy experience spanning 20+ years including, sales, operations, risk and IT.

Mr. Konikowski holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems and Marketing from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Ms. Day was appointed Vice President of Operations in May 2020. Immediately prior to her appointment as VP of Operations, Ms. Day served as Sr. Director of Operational Accounting. As Sr. Director of Operational Accounting, Ms. Day managed revenue recognition, gross margin accounting and analysis, gas and power settlements, accounts receivable and bad debt, and now manages all aspects of customer enrollments, billing and fulfillment.

Prior to joining the Company in 2011, Ms. Day worked at Direct Energy, Synagro, UBS Warburg, and Enron with leadership experience in Accounting, Finance, and Risk.

Ms. Day holds a Master of Public Accountancy and Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Kira Jordan became the VP of Portfolio Management and Business Insights in 2018.  She previously served in multiple Sales and Marketing roles in the Company before assuming the role of Sr. Director of Portfolio Management in 2015.  As VP of Portfolio Management and Business Insights, Ms. Jordan manages mass market pricing, business intelligence, sales quality, and marketing – all centered on leveraging analytics and process design to efficiently acquire and retain customers.  Ms. Jordan joined the Company in 2013 which marked a return the industry she joined early in her career as a Systems Analyst for Reliant Energy in 2002.

Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Jordan served Fortune 500 organizations as a management consultant with Ernst & Young’s Performance Improvement practice.  Her engagements focused on using customer experience as a tool to enhance value of products and services.

Ms. Jordan holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Rice University in Houston, TX.  She has been a certified Project Management Professional since 2013.

Mr. Leonard was appointed Executive Vice President of Structuring & Supply in 2024, after serving as Vice President since 2014. Immediately prior to his appointment as VP of Structuring and Supply, Mr. Leonard served as Managing Director of Power, with oversight of the procurement of the Company’s supply of gas and power.

Prior to joining the Company in 2012, Mr. Leonard worked for several Energy companies including Direct Energy, Enron, Shell, and Sabine Texican Pipeline with leadership experience in Finance, Risk Management, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Trading & Supply.

Mr. Leonard holds a Master of Business Administration from The University of Houston and Bachelor of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University in Finance.