Ben Shepperd has served as the President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, which is based in Midland, Texas, since 2006. In his role, he represents oil and gas interests before legislative and regulatory bodies in Texas, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C. For multiple decades, he has worked on state legislative and regulatory issues.

Mr. Shepperd's Austin experience includes staffing several Texas House members, including David Swinford, Harvey Hilderbran, and Buddy West. He served as committee counsel for the House Energy Resources Committee under Chairman West. He also served as Chairman Hilderbran’s water policy advisor in the 79th Legislative Session focusing on issues before the Natural Resources Committee. Mr. Shepperd has worked for three different state agencies over those years, including the Department of Agriculture, as Director of Rural Affairs for the Department of Economic Development, and as Legislative and Policy Director for Commissioner Charles Matthews at the Railroad Commission.

Mr. Shepperd holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University in College Station. He is a board member of the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute Foundation at the University of Texas at the Permian Basin, and he serves on the Advisory Council for the UTPB School of Business.more

Stephen M. Robertson serves as the Executive Vice President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association. In 2003, Mr. Robertson joined the industry’s workforce and prior to joining the PBPA, practiced law in Midland with a heavy workload in oil & gas title work. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law, where he earned a Certificate of Law and Science in Oil and Gas.

Mr. Robertson currently serves on the boards of Centers for Children and Families and the Midland Chapter of the Texas Exes. He also enjoys volunteering as a coach for Upward Basketball through the First Presbyterian Church of Midland. His greatest joy, however, is raising his two children with his wife Leah.

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Michael D. Lozano joined the Permian Basin Petroleum Association in 2018 to aid in regulatory and government affairs efforts and communications strategy. A graduate of The University of Texas, Michael served as Chief of Staff to former Representative Tryon Lewis (R-Odessa) and current Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa). As a South Texas native, he has lived in and traveled often to the Permian Basin over the last several years.

Michael's experience in the Texas House of Representatives includes working for two chairmen, and over the years he has covered 14 different standing and select committees. This range of legislative experience has provided him with an understanding of the many diverse issues that come before the Texas Legislature. In his time representing the Permian Basin in Austin, he has developed important local and statewide relationships that have helped the Association and its member companies in their efforts to effectively advocate for the safe and responsible development of oil and gas resources.

A student of both the political and general history of the state, he credits being the youngest of three children, with two older sisters, as his introduction to politics and diplomacy. Michael has also advised several political campaigns, including a few successful ones. He enjoys not taking himself too seriously but holds a great deal of respect for the institutions and the people that have made Texas an envy of the world.more

Jamie Ramirez is the Office Manager and Events Coordinator for the PBPA. Jamie joined the oil and gas workforce back in 2010 and has worked for the industry ever since. She was born and raised here in Midland and has enjoyed raising her only son here as well. Jamie enjoys working for an organization that works hard and supports her hometown and the oil and gas industry.

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Christine Dooley joined the PBPA in 2023 as their Membership Coordinator. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and returned to her hometown of Midland to join the workforce. Christine began her career at the Midland Chamber of Commerce where she developed a passion for supporting local businesses and the oil & gas industry. Christine currently serves on the board of Fix West Texas, an organization providing affordable preventative care and adoption services for pets in West Texas.

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