Team

As President and a founding partner of Energy Spectrum, Mr. Whitener leads the firm’s midstream private equity business. His 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 47 years of experience financing and advising companies and managing private equity investments in the energy industry. Prior to Energy Spectrum, 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 received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with highest honors and his Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

Mr. Benson is a founding partner of Energy Spectrum, with extensive relationships and networks within the energy industry. Historically, Mr. Benson has been instrumental in and responsible for originating many prior Energy Spectrum investments. Mr. Benson primarily focuses on business development activities and the sourcing and financing of new transactions for Energy Spectrum’s midstream private equity business. Through his extensive industry relationships and active marketing efforts, Mr. Benson participates in the evaluation and negotiation of potential investments and assists portfolio companies in arranging and structuring debt financing. Mr. Benson has approximately 37 years of private equity, investment banking, financial advisory and commercial banking experience in the energy industry. Prior to co-founding Energy Spectrum in 1996, Mr. Benson served for 10 years as a Managing Director at R. Reid Investments Inc., where his experience included energy-related private placements of debt and equity, acquisitions and divestitures. Mr. Benson began his career at InterFirst Bank Dallas, where he served for four years and was responsible for various energy financings and financial recapitalizations. Mr. Benson received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas and his Master of Business Administration degree with high honors from Texas Christian University.

A founding partner of Energy Spectrum 26 years ago, Mr. Spann serves on the Investment Committees for all Funds and evaluates the energy industry’s macroeconomic trends. Mr. Spann serves as Chief Compliance Officer of ESP Investment Advisors LLC, an Energy Spectrum affiliate, which files with the SEC as a registered investment adviser on behalf of the Energy Spectrum Funds in compliance with the Investment Advisors Act. Mr. Spann has over 44 years of experience financing oil and gas companies and managing private equity investments in the energy industry. Prior to forming Energy Spectrum, Mr. Spann served as a Managing Director of CIGNA Private Securities, where he specialized in energy and petrochemical companies. Mr. Spann received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with highest honors from Syracuse University’s School of Management and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Connecticut.

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 29 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. Davis joined Energy Spectrum in 1997. He originates new investment opportunities for Energy Spectrum and its portfolio companies, evaluates potential investments, structures and closes investment transactions and serves on the Board of Directors of several Energy Spectrum portfolio companies. Prior to focusing on midstream private equity, Mr. Davis worked for ten years as an investment banker focused on the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Mr. Davis spent the first four years of his career as an organizational management consultant. Mr. Davis received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees and Investment Committee of Woodberry Forest School in Virginia and formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Petroleum Club. LinkedIn

Mr. Honeybone joined Energy Spectrum in 2004. His responsibilities include business development activities, evaluating potential investments, deal execution and the ongoing monitoring and oversight of portfolio companies. Mr. Honeybone has approximately 24 years of private equity, restructuring, and investment banking experience in the energy industry. Prior to joining Energy Spectrum, Mr. Honeybone was in the restructuring practice of FTI Consulting, Inc. Previously, Mr. Honeybone worked at Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, providing financial advisory and investment banking services to middle-market companies, and at Price Waterhouse, where he served as a consultant in the upstream energy practice. Mr. Honeybone received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with highest honors from Trinity University. LinkedIn

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. LinkedIn

Mr. Phillips rejoined Energy Spectrum in 2011. His responsibilities include investment sourcing, due diligence and monitoring portfolio companies. Previously he had been with Energy Spectrum from 2004 until 2008, including two years with Energy Spectrum Advisors. Prior to rejoining Energy Spectrum, Mr. Phillips worked three years with a diversified private family office located in Louisiana in various risk management and project management roles. Mr. Phillips previously worked as an engineer in Tom Brown Inc.’s acquisitions and divestitures group, and as an engineer coordinating the management of Matador Petroleum’s outside-operated properties. Mr. Phillips received his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering with honors from Texas A&M University.

Mr. Mitchell joined Energy Spectrum in 2014. His responsibilities include conducting financial due diligence, execution and monitoring investment performance. Prior to joining Energy Spectrum, Mr. Mitchell was an investment banking analyst in the Global Natural Resources Group at RBC Capital Markets in Houston, where he focused primarily on public capital raises and M&A advisory within the energy industry. Mr. Mitchell began his career in energy lending with Amegy Bank of Texas in Houston. Mr. Mitchell received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Texas A&M University. LinkedIn

Mr. Lutz joined Energy Spectrum in 2018.  His responsibilities include conducting financial due diligence, transaction execution and monitoring of investment performance. Prior to joining Energy Spectrum, Mr. Lutz was an Associate at Edge Natural Resources LLC, an energy private equity firm focused on upstream and oilfield service investments.  At Edge, Mr. Lutz was involved with the due diligence, execution, on-going transaction support and portfolio monitoring of various investments.  Prior to his time at Edge, Mr. Lutz was a Manager in the Finance & Strategic Planning group at Energy Transfer (NYSE: ETP/ETE) where he focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital market transactions across the family of partnerships.  Mr. Lutz began his career at J.P. Morgan as an Analyst on the Mid-Cap Investment Banking team where he focused on financing and merger and acquisition transactions across the diversified mid-cap space. Mr. Lutz received a B.B.A. with majors in Finance and Business Honors, magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University. LinkedIn

Mr. Dace joined Energy Spectrum in 2021.  His responsibilities include conducting financial due diligence, transaction execution and monitoring of investment performance. Prior to joining Energy Spectrum, Mr. Dace was an Associate at Global Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm focused on midstream, power and transportation investments.  Prior to his time at Global Infrastructure Partners, Mr. Dace was an Associate at Pearl Energy Investments, an energy private equity firm focused on upstream, midstream, and oilfield service investments. Mr. Dace began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Global Natural Resources Group at Goldman Sachs, where he focused on financing and merger and acquisition transactions across the energy industry. Mr. Dace received a B.B.A. with majors in Finance and Accounting, summa cum laude, from Texas Christian University and his Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

A founding partner of Energy Spectrum 26 years ago, Mr. Spann serves on the Investment Committees for all Funds and evaluates the energy industry’s macroeconomic trends. Mr. Spann serves as Chief Compliance Officer of ESP Investment Advisors LLC, an Energy Spectrum affiliate, which files with the SEC as a registered investment adviser on behalf of the Energy Spectrum Funds in compliance with the Investment Advisors Act. Mr. Spann has over 44 years of experience financing oil and gas companies and managing private equity investments in the energy industry. Prior to forming Energy Spectrum, Mr. Spann served as a Managing Director of CIGNA Private Securities, where he specialized in energy and petrochemical companies. Mr. Spann received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with highest honors from Syracuse University’s School of Management and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Connecticut.

Ms. DeLuca joined Energy Spectrum in 2020. Ms. DeLuca serves as Deputy Chief Compliance Officer of ESP Investment Advisors LLC, an Energy Spectrum affiliate and an SEC registered investment adviser. Ms. DeLuca has over ten years of experience as an attorney and compliance officer in the private fund industry. Prior to joining Energy Spectrum, Ms. DeLuca served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of GMT Capital Corp., where she oversaw the compliance program and provided legal advice for an Atlanta-based private fund manager. Prior to her time at GMT Capital Corp., Ms. DeLuca was General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Infinity Capital Partners, where she built out the compliance program for a newly registered investment adviser. Ms. DeLuca was also previously an Assistant General Counsel and Compliance Director at JPMorgan Chase in New York City, NY, where she provided legal and compliance guidance to a private fund platform within the Private Bank. Ms. DeLuca began her career as an attorney with Sidley Austin LLP in the Investment Products and Derivatives practice group. She received her JD from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and her BBA in Economics from the University of Oklahoma, with highest distinction.