On this week’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by the team from Martindale Consultants. Roger Gann, CEO and president, Rick Roybal, Vendor Compliance Manager, Rick Jones, Accounting Manager and Ryan Woolery, Regulatory Reporting Manager, all join the discussion to talk about the different services they offer to their clients. They also share success stories in each area, like helping a company that was 12 months behind on their accounting get caught up, finding a compliance issue in a contract that brought money back into the client’s company, and helping a company with reporting on over 800 wells.Highlights:2:18 Happy 40th Anniversary to Martindale Consultants!7:43 Martindale Consultant’s typical client8:56 The top consulting areas that Martindale offers to the upstream oil and gas industry11:50 Ryan Woolery on regulatory services and what precipitates a need for consulting in that area20:40 Rick Roybal on vendor risk management audit services that are offered at Martindale27:07 Rick shares a vendor audit success story30:02 The upsides of outsourcing your accounting with Rick JonesConnect with Martindale Consultants:www.marticons.comAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

This week’s episode is part one of a series that highlights oil and gas upstream consulting firms. Today’s guest is Russell Corl, a managing partner at Magnum Forge. Russell gives us an inside look at the struggles some of his clients face, especially with regards to becoming more efficient and automating as much backend as possible, and how his consulting firm partners with operators to do just that. Magnum Forge is always excited to meet new clients and help them do a better job of running their systems so they can focus on what they're best at, which is producing oil and gas. Tom, Phil and Russell discuss the top four areas of consulting that Magnum Forge provides to the upstream oil and gas industry and why building and cultivating relationships is so important to his company.Highlights:1:49 From the IRS to a boutique consultancy4:36 Magnum Forge and the clients they serve9:12 Why relationship building is so important at Magnum Forge13:54 How Magnum Forge helps select and implement big software migrations and decisions20:52 Some of the pitfalls that are possible when you don’t have the help of a consulting company23:02 What precipitates the need for a consultant in the area of acquisition 27:51 How to optimize the accounting platform you’re usingAbout Russell Corl:Since beginning his consulting career in 1996, Russell has focused on developing strategies to ensure the effective use of IT. His background includes an in-depth understanding of accounting and finance, operations, and technology. He has led multiple IT and application projects focused on financial applications, ERP, custom development, and cross-system reporting and integration. His specialties lie in troubled ERP systems, complex system implementations, and significant financial or cost accounting reporting issues.Russell’s clients include major international oil companies and independent E&P companies. He has assisted most of these clients with software selection, implementation, and enhancement projects that span the entire enterprise. He has also led efforts to redesign and implement new data collection and reporting processes, including technology, training, and change management.Russell received a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s of Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin.Connect with Russell Corl:www.magnumforge.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/magnum-forgeAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

Women make up around 22% of the workforce in the oil and gas industry. This week is the start of a series that will highlight the voices and experiences of women across the industry. The first guest in the Series is one of our previous guests, Sarah MaGruder. Sarah is the President of Safire Oil and Gas Consulting. She talks with Tom and Phil about her experiences as a woman in the industry and how it has evolved as she became a wife and a mother. They also discuss the changes that have occurred in the workplace both over the years, and during Covid and The Great Resignation.Highlights:2:15 The start of Safire Oil and Gas Consulting5:21 Almost a veterinarian10:21 From entry level to CEO13:20 Working with a great group of people15:53 How marriage and motherhood changed Sarah’s worklife21:25 Covid and The Great Resignation32:18 How different companies are promoting and highlighting women35:50 The best industry advice Sarah ever received About Sarah Magruder:Sarah Magruder is President of Safire Oil and Gas Consulting, a severance tax consulting group based out of Houston, Texas. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from LSU and her MBA from the University of Houston. Sarah spent her almost 19-year career in severance tax, splitting her time between working directly in medium and large oil and gas companies. And as an outside consultant, is an active member of the Petroleum Accounting Society Houston, where she chairs the golf committee and is a presenter at the revenue committee, as well as an education day sponsor and presenter. Sarah has also been a speaker at numerous COPAS meetings from outside of the Houston area and presented multiple times at the API severance tax forum. She lives in Montgomery, Texas with her husband, four year old son, five horses, and two dogs.  Connect with Sarah:Sarah can be contacted via email: [email protected] Oil & Gas Consulting’s website is www.safireogc.com.About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org 

The oil and gas industry is not known for creating and adapting innovative technology quickly. But with our highly digital world, this is changing, and W Energy saw that writing on the wall in 2009. This week’s episode of the Oil and Gas Accounting Podcast continues with a series that highlights different software being used in the industry and showcases what each one brings to the table for the professionals that it serves. This week’s guest is Pete Waldrop, CEO of W Energy Software. Pete discusses the challenges and changes the industry is facing todayand what W Energy is doing moving forward to expand their product, functionality and business.Highlights:2:24 W Energy’s current market share and what drives it4:39 Why W Energy made the decision to make their technology cloud based back in 20096:21 W Energy’s midstream offerings8:38 The three things that drive clients to W Energy12:03 Keeping information secure14:39 W Energy’s recent acquisition18:09 The three reasons W Energy got into oil and gas and how they serve their customersAbout Pete Waldrop:With over 27 years of experience in software, consulting and the energy business, Pete has helped clients, such as ExxonMobil, Shell Oil, Anadarko Petroleum, Targa Resources and many others, design and implement better software solutions. Prior to joining our team in 2010, he served as a partner at Capitalize Consulting, was a founder and EVP at Quorum Business Solutions, and was the original developer for TIPS in 1992 while at Andersen Consulting — now Accenture. Pete holds a degree in electrical engineering from Oklahoma State University.Connect with Pete:www.wenergysoftware.comAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

This week’s episode of the Oil and Gas Accounting Podcast is part two of a series in which Tom and Phil dive into the different software applications available to operators and accountants in the industry. This weeks features Brent Rhymes, CEO of WolfePak Software. They discuss the different pain points that this software addresses and how they are changing the game for smaller operators using automation.Highlights:1:37 Brent Rhymes, software developer and four time CEO4:02 How WolfePak got started6:09 The problems WolfePak solves in the upstream industry8:52 The importance of automation11:28 Solutions for midstream users14:23 Other industry segments that WolfePak serves18:52 New product announcements20:28 Who WolfePak software is best for About Brent Rhymes:Brent Rhymes is the chief executive officer of WolfePak Software, where he has served since 2017. Prior to WolfePak, Brent was the executive vice president of sales and marketing for Synacor, and before that, Brent served as the CEO of Zimbra (sold to Synacor), CEO of iWave Software (sold to EMC), was the co-founder and vice president of FileKeeper (sold to Yosemite Technologies) and CEO of Software Realization (sold to NetIQ Corporation). Brent started his career as a software developer, consultant and manager with stints at Microsoft, IBM, Exxon and NASA’s Johnson Space Center (IBM contract). He brings more than 31 years of software executive leadership to the team.Brent received his BS in computer science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and his MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Texas. He currently lives in Abilene and owns Rancho de Rhymes, LLC, a small-scale cow-calf cattle ranch located in West Texas.Connect with Brent:https://wolfepak.com/About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In this episode Tom is joined by a guest co-host, Mallory Schlabach, SherWare’s marketing strategist, and also a special guest, none other than his co-host, Phil Sherwood. Phil talks about how he got started in oil and gas and what made him start his company creating software for the industry. He also goes into detail about the different product options and integrations that are available for oil and gas operators and accounting professionals through SherWare.Highlights:2:14 How Phil got started in software5:10 How writing software transitioned Phil into the oil and gas industry6:31 The business started taking off14:12 The Sherware difference16:59 Legacy software20:09 Changes due to Covid23:03 SAAS model and how it affects the future of Sherware26:30 Sherware’s new productAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In this episode Phil and Tom host a virtual happy hour in which they discuss authority for expenditures or AFE’s. They discuss what they are, when they are used, and what they actually mean and what can be included in an AFE with a panel of three experts from the oil and gas industry. They also get into some Q&A after the discussion.Highlights:4:05 What is authority for expenditure?8:08 When is an AFE required?11:25 What happens when you overspend what’s on the AFE?14:00 Some communication challenges when using the AFE19:26 External AFE’s28:23 Q&AAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

ESG is the acronym for Environmental Social Governance. In this episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Dennis McGowan, CPA and Senior Director at The Center For Audit Quality. Dennis talks about what ESG reporting is, why it’s important, and why every industry should be paying attention to it. He discusses standard frameworks that companies use for reporting, and how reporting could change in the future.Highlights:0:56 What is ESG?3:13 Why is ESG important?7:57 Why investors are interested in ESG information9:36 How public companies report their ESG information12:58 Common frameworks used for reporting16:38 Trends in ESG reporting18:52 Why the oil and gas industry should be paying attention to ESG reporting25:56 What the future of ESG reporting could look likeAbout Dennis McGowan:Dennis J. McGowan, CPA is a Senior Director, Professional Practice at the Center for Audit Quality. His duties include leading technical and policy-oriented projects to identify, develop, and seek consensus on issues affecting the public company auditing profession. This includes drafting comment letter responses to regulators, developing thought leadership publications, engaging with stakeholders, and responding to technical inquiries.Before joining the CAQ, McGowan served as a Senior Manager at PwC, where he specialized in auditing public and private asset management companies, broker dealers, and private equity funds.Connect with Dennis and The CAQ:Email | Website |LinkedIn | Twitter | FacebookAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In this episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Steve Bailey, Project Director for Safire Oil and Gas consulting located in Houston Texas.They discuss the many changes brought to the industry by Covid, especially in the area of compliance. Steve offers his thoughts on where the focus should lie as the industry begins heading back to the office, and how to evaluate what’s working, what isn’t, and how to create an action plan to move through this “forced reset.”Highlights:3:58 What it means to be a compliance specialist and how relationship building has changed due to Covid7:07 Upcoming initiatives that could impact compliance9:55 Industry trends that are impacting compliance 13:22 Where the focus of compliance departments should be right now19:16 How relationships with superiors and employees impact the success of a company26:23 Additional tips for dealing with the “forced reset” caused by CovidAbout Steve Bailey:Steve Bailey is the Project Director for Safire Oil and Gas consulting located in Houston Texas. Steve was raised in a rural area of Oklahoma and graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from East Central University and passed the CPA exam in 1988Steve is an active member of PASH where he currently volunteers on the golf-tournament committee. He has previously served as Education Committee Chair at both the National and Tulsa’s PASO levels. He also served on the Board of Directors for PASO in Tulsa.Steve has had a front row seat for the evolution of severance and royalty reporting over the past three decades. He developed and deployed the first MMS royalty report filed in a CSV format; served on the committee that developed the ANSI standards for reporting taxes and royalties via EDI standard datasets; Chaired the Tax and Royalty Subcommittee for Industry’s SAP PROFOG user group; and has provided testimony on behalf of industry to the OMB regarding proposed federal valuation rules.Steve currently lives in Houston, Tx with his husband Thom, dear friend Olivia, and a 5 lb canine princess named Bella. He has two grown and married daughters and three grandchildren.Connect with Steve:Website  LinkedIn About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In this episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Jonathon Fite, President of Professional Development Institute at the University of North Texas .Jonathon talks about the upcoming North American Petroleum Accounting Conference (NAPAC). The conference will be May 20th and 21st and will have both in person and virtual attendance options. Jonathon discusses how this year’s conference will be different from previous years, and the new innovations that have occurred out of necessity due to Covid-19.Highlights:1:40 How Jonathon got into his current role as President of The Professional Development Institute3:19 NAPAC, how it began, and who benefits from attending4:28 How this year’s conference will differ from previous years4:57 Phil talks about the parts of COPAS meetings that he really enjoyed9:12 This year’s conference focus10:55 This year’s conference speakers and the topics they’ll cover16:59 The conference and CPEs17:46 Some new innovations forced by Covid19:31 What’s the hallway track?21:32 The types of vendors at this year’s conference24:38 More information and how to sign up for the conferenceResources:Register for NAPAC 2021 |Learn more about NAPAC 2021 |About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In this episode, Tom and Phil get together to discuss a variety of topics that will be covered at the upcoming COPAS meeting. The meeting will be virtual and will take place April 19th through the 22nd. The co-hosts discuss how being involved is much like being part of a big family and also discussing topics that affect the oil and gas community. It's a great place for both learning and connection, and it's not too late to be a part of it.Highlights:1:45 Tom and Phil discuss how meeting with COPAS members is like a family reunion3:11 Cheers to 60 years!!6:54 COPAS meetings throughout the year and what is covered in the meetings8:20 Phil talks about the parts of COPAS meetings that he really enjoyed9:51 Differences in virtual and in person meetings14:33 Plans for the upcoming meeting17:55 What you need to know before attending a COPAS meeting20:13 What is an Emerging Issues meeting? 21:28 Other committee meetings22:35 Meeting scheduleAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

There is so much uncertainty surrounding the industry due to the change in federal administration and the pandemic. In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Jim Hoffman, National Sales Director for PDI. They discuss the various problems with land,the unprecedented times we are in, and some things that could help you navigate through it all. He also talks about three courses he developed to help educate others in the industry.Highlights:1:00 Jim’s accidental start in oil and gas2:53 How Jim got into land4:45 The problem with land according to Jim6:45 Skills a good land man should have8:37 Jim compares sales to baseball15:10 Questions to ask a land man up front19:01 What the operator and mineral owner should do when it comes to suspense29:50 What is a duck?31:42 One of the most important things mineral owners should do34:10 Other things mineral owners can doAbout Jim Hoffman:Jim is National Sales Director for PDI and teaches three programs he developed, Land for non-Landman, Intro to Upstream, and Production Operations for energy related entities across the US. He has been in oil and gas for over 40 years, in software management and as VP or Director of software sales for several consulting entities including PwC and Oracle.Connect with Jim:[email protected] SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

Treating employees right and creating a positive work culture will save you thousands of dollars by simply retaining staff. Today on the podcast, Phil is joined by his friend and business coach, Scott Ballard, founder of the Confidence Coach. Scott shares why employers need to focus on employee retention and creating a workplace that people are excited about. He also discusses what he does as a business coach and shares the structure of some of his coaching programs.Highlights:1:44 Scott’s background and how he got into his business coaching5:53 What coaching is from Scott’s perspective8:55 Learning to leverage a team in your business10:20 How coaching is similar to brain surgery12:31 Ditching limiting beliefs13:14 Retaining good employees and developing underperforming employees18:20 Finding out what motivates employees internally22:20 The cost of hiring new employees25:38 Scott’s coaching programs29:12 Creating a family-like culture at the workplace33:50 The importance of investing in your payrollAbout Scott Ballard:Scott Ballard is the founder of Confidence Coach LLC and is an author, speaker and coach for business owners with employees. He has 35 years of successful business ownership as his background. The last 10 years Scott has been coaching business owners on the strategies and tactics of engaging their employees in a fun, positive, respectful way. He has worked with everything from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies and has developed five different processes/trainings that build engagement, culture and leadership within businesses.Scott is passionate and adamant about leveraging for each company the hopes, dreams and aspirations of not only the company, but of each employee in the company; which is the greatest untapped asset in every company in the world.Connect with Scott:Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Youtube | Twitter | BookAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

This week's episode is a departure from deep oil and gas topics and one that will help you manage the people on your team and life, with a big dose of humor. Tom and Phil are joined by Drew Groelinger. Drew’s book titled Folder or Crumpler, highlights two different personalities that show up in an unexpected way. They discuss the traits of both personality types, how they can show up in relationships, and the benefits of knowing how to effectively communicate with each type. Check out the episode to figure out if you are a folder or a crumpler!Highlights:01:13 Are you a folder or a crumpler?2:27 Drew’s background in theater, Disney and Universal attractions7:59 Drew’s inspiration for writing his book11:05 Drew’s response on being a crumpler of a folder17:26 Traits of a folder17:59 Traits of a crumpler18:58 Folders and crumplers in personal and business relationships22:51 How can knowing whether someone is a crumpler or a folder help you to better interact with them?29:41 Looking at tough situations as opportunitiesAbout Drew Groelinger:Connect with Drew:www.foldercrumpler.comAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Elizabeth Lions, coach, speaker, author, and consultant. Elizabeth talks about all things mergers and acquisitions and how she helps her clients navigate that through coaching. She gives tips on how to deal with the initial feelings that can come with learning about a merger or acquisition in your company, advice on the first thing you should do, and why even tough situations can be viewed as opportunities.Highlights:0:48 Some statistics on mergers and acquisitions2:40 The feelings that come along with mergers/acquisitions4:09 Advice for anyone going through a merger/acquisition7:41 The two schools of thought of  most people who find out their company is going through a      merger/acquisition, and the third, more uncommon one9:44 Interacting with new teammates after a merger17:16 Mergers and social media18:33 Navigating changes that occur through mergers23:57 What happens when you get laid off?29:41 Looking at tough situations as opportunitiesAbout Elizabeth Lions:Elizabeth Lions is a three time author, with her latest book “Hear Us Roar - Unapologetic Women Leading in Corporate America” making a big splash. She is a coach, a speaker and consultant to the most powerful executives that keep Corporate America rolling.Her client list includes individuals from Worldpay, TSYS, Booz Allen, Microsoft, Northrup Grummond, Samsung, Global Payments, Bank of New York, Mellon and many other Fortune 500 companies. She is considered a thought leader for WNET( Women In Payments) and has worked in tandem on women’s leadership programs with the IEEE and WITI.Elizabeth’s specialty is helping clients land the promotion, find a new job or simply bring their leadership game to the next level. Elizabeth helps executives calm down and focus on what really matters, and together they end up with astonishing results.When she isn't coaching the Who's Who to help them up their game in leadership, Elizabeth can be found on the back of her husband's Harley Davidson motorcycle or twisting in the yoga studio for hours on end.Connect with Elizabeth:www.lionsology.comAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are going over some new bills and initiatives by state. They discuss legislation on fracking and taxes at both the state and federal level. They also talk about the suspension of new oil and gas leasing permits put in place by the Biden administration, and how the shutdown of the Keystone Pipeline could affect communities.Highlights:1:27 Hydraulic fracturing3:03 New bills in Oklahoma5:49 Senate Bill 181 in Colorado7:06 Bills with Ad Valorem tax changes in Colorado and Wyoming8:34 North Dakota Senate Bill 232810:57 Biden suspension on new oil and gas leasing permits11:19 Updates on the Keystone pipelineAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Brad Ayers, Senior Director of Government Affairs. They discuss energy policy and how Brad makes projections on policy in the energy sector. Brad covers current topics that could affect oil and gas, such as the Green New Deal and the Keystone XL pipeline. He also discusses why he is “a glass half-full” type of guy when it comes to the new administration.Highlights:1:41 How Brad got into policy3:53 The sources Brad uses to make policy projections7:49 Energy in politics9:25 The influence of the political parties on the energy sector10:26 How the new administration could affect energy12:14 Changes in oil and gas with the new administration14:48 Federal lease bans and the impact it will have on businesses16:52 The timeframe for a new energy bill20:27 Brad’s optimism with energy and the new administration22:33 Status of the Keystone XL pipelineAbout Brad Ayers:Brad Ayers brings more than 20 years of experience in energy, trade, and infrastructure policy experience to his role as a consultant. He began his career in the Office of the US Senate Majority Leader and spent eight years as a senior congressional staff member before representing and working for multinational corporations, research institutions, municipalities and nonprofits at both the state and federal level. He served as the primary state lobbyist for TransCanada's Keystone XL Pipeline from 2014-2018.Connect with Brad:About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are talking about some changes that were included in the new stimulus bill that was just released by Congress. Companies can now apply for a second round of the Payment Protection Loan but there are some new requirements. They also discuss some changes that were made to the 1099 form and how that may affect filing and reporting your 2020 taxes.Highlights:1:38 Changes in 1099 filing and reporting in 20202:57 The new 1099 form 3:33 Tom and Phil reminisce on the year 19827:36 New guidance from Congress on the Paycheck Protection Loan8:24 Changes in eligibility for the PPP loan9:57 New maximum loan amount11:04 Simplified loan forgivenessAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Doug Reeb, Partner at Plante Moran. They discuss the ways that derivatives and hedging can protect your assets in the current economy. Doug explains how 2020 was a great example of why having that protection is so important in the industry, and also some of the pitfalls that we may see moving into this new year due to the new administration and the uncertainty that we still face due to COVID 19.Highlights:01:29  Derivatives and hedging04:35  What is a derivative and how does it help you?08:11  How 2020 showed us the importance of derivatives20:54 Types of derivative instruments we may see moving forward29:33 Significant risks that could show up on 2020 financial statements33:59 What would happen if our big financial institutions became unable to operate36:17 The effect of a new administration on derivativesAbout Doug Reeb:As one of the firm’s more experienced oil and gas audit partners, Doug represents many high-profile oil and gas clients and local industry organizations. Most of his clients are private equity-owned, upstream oil and gas entities with assets primarily within the United States. He is also involved in SEC engagements for oil and gas and mining companies. In addition to his audit responsibilities, he also provides financial advisory services, specializing in technical accounting to non-attest clients. Previously, Doug led the energy accounting solutions (outsourced oil and gas accounting) and currently leads the oil and gas audit practices.He belongs to the AICPA and the Colorado Society of CPAs (COCPA), and has participated as a speaker and/or moderator at several AICPA Oil and Gas Conferences, as well as the COCPA’s annual SEC conferences.Doug is involved, or has been active in many professional organizations including the Denver Petroleum Club, treasurer; the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, finance committee member; the Western Energy Alliance, board of advisors; the Anchor Center for Blind Children, treasurer; the Tennyson Center for Children, board member; and the Family Star Montessori, board member.He received his accounting degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and hismaster’s degree in finance from the University of DenverConnect with Doug:Plantemoran.comAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are talking about finally leaving 2020 behind and getting started on a new year. Phil, who is a high performance coach, talks about a study of the habits of high performers. He covers everything from morning routines and energy, to productivity. He also talks about how fear may be holding you back, and ways that you can change that going into the new year.Highlights:0:48 Oil pricing and fluctuation at the start of 20201:54 The good that came from the bad in 20203:20 Phil talks about what he does as a high performance coach4:52 An exercise to help you show up with more intention6:37 Generating the physical and mental energy that you need12:11 How to increase your energy15:08 A common habit that may be draining your time bank 18:48 Tom and Phil talk about people that were very influential in their lives25:58 The 3 things that we fear most and how to overcome those fearsLinkswww.taketheproductivitychallenge.comPhil.coach About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.orgQuotesYou hear the word life coach and performance coach, And you're like, what the heck is that? You think of a football coach. What are they doing coaching these athletes that make millions of dollars that are much more talented than they are? Well, they teach them and then they challenge them and help each player to take their game to the next level. And that's the same thing a high performance coach does. We teach them principles and we challenge people to get to the next level of performance-Phil SherwoodFirst and foremost, you've got to get clear on who you are, and how you want to show up in all areas of your life. You know, most of the time we don't even contemplate this. Most of the time we live in reaction mode instead of living intentionally. -Phil SherwoodWhat habits do you currently have that are supporting your energy? Do you have any morning routines that include meditation and exercise? What habits do you have nutrition wise that support your energy?I felt like I was living my life by default, rather than by design. Because I wasn't clear on what I wanted my days to look like, and what I wanted to accomplish. So rather than living life on my agenda, I was letting everybody else set the agenda for me. And when you do that, you feel like you don't get anything accomplished. -Phil Sherwood

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Jim Allison, Vice President of Accounting Operations at Trinity Petroleum, and Robert Todouze, Revenue and Division Order Manager at Trinity Petroleum. They discuss the different materials that they refer to when they come across issues that they aren’t sure how to handle. They give different examples of how networking through COPAS and other relationships in the industry have helped them navigate unfamiliar situations that have arisen with things like JOAs and unbundling.Highlights:2:46 Reference materials that Jim and Robert keep in their library6:46 The relationship between COPAS and ONRR10:33 The best way to handle situations you aren’t sure how to manage12:06 The challenge of interpreting existing regulations13:44 Resources and references on operations21:09 The importance of communication between departments in oil and gas23:17 The value of a COPAS membership when searching for guidance on different questions and issues31:18 How Jim and Robert facilitate continuous learning inside their company34:54 Websites to use for referenceAbout Jim Allison:Jim’s career in oil and gas started as a roustabout during summers in college. After graduation, Jim went to work for Eastern American Energy working in operations accounting .He was then transferred to the Denver headquarters from their eastern office after a few years. 30 years later, he is the VP of Accounting of Operations for Trinity Petroleum. Prior to that he was also with Oildex, Barrett Resources and Apache Corporation. He previously served as President and Board Member of COPAS Colorado.Connect with Jim:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-allison-a245649/[email protected] Robert Toudouze:Robert graduated from Abilene Christian University in 2000 and spent three years in ministry in Aurora, Colorado, working with teens and preaching. He married Carrie in 2003, and started working in oil and gas at Forest Oil and Gas as a revenue analyst. After 10 years at Forest, Robert joined Trinity. He's been there for eight years as a revenue accountant, revenue supervisor, and now, revenue and division order manager. Robert has been active in COPAS for most of his career, and he served as the revenue co-chair for COPAS in Colorado for three years. About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Angie Knipe, Director of Training and Education for the COPAS National Office. They discuss the many educational courses offered by COPAS and who would benefit from them the most. They also talk about the changes that the program has had to make due to COVID-19, what it looks like moving forward, and why they have decided to provide significant discounts going into the new year.Highlights:3:28 Who is COPAS Energy Education for?4:09 The delivery of COPAS Education5:28 Who can take advantage of the courses offered by COPAS?7:26  What types of courses are offered?10:59 How you can earn CPE credits with COPAS Education14:31 New courses that will be available in 202115:31 Why COPAS is offering discounts on their courses going into the new yearAbout Angie Knipe:Angie Knipe is the Director of Training and Education for the COPAS National Office. She is responsible for the development, oversight, and administration of the COPAS Energy Education programs and COPAS virtual online programming for conferences, she coordinates and reviews updates and additions to the CEE programs. Angie is also responsible for the administration of the NASBA licensing and program compliance, in addition to the oversight and evaluation of our Expert instructors. Angie has been coordinating the development of our classroom and webinar classes and the delivery of our future programs.Angie earned her BA in English and Anthropology, and MA in History at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). Prior to joining COPAS, Angie was a history instructor at UCCS, and Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs. Angie previously held the position of National Branch Administration and Training Director for a small but national mortgage company. Her earlier career in the British Army Intelligence Corps provided her with her first experiences of teaching adults and developing continuing professional education for military personnel. She is experienced in the development of both classroom and online programs for adults in corporate, military, and higher education settings.Connect with Angie:[email protected] SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.www.copas.org

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Diane Kirk, Director and CPA at Plante Moran. They discuss how the current state of the economy has affected the oil and gas industry and some different scenarios that companies may face in the coming year. Some of the challenges they talk about include severance accounting due to layoffs, lease concessions, erosions of accounts receivable, the impact of the PPP loan on a company’s balance sheet, contract renegotiations, taxes and more.Highlights:3:08  Destination Imagination-What Diane does outside of accounting4:45  How the current environment is challenging those in oil and gas accounting and reporting14:28  Impact of PPP loans on a company’s balance sheet15:32  Why the PPP loan wasn’t a huge help to the oil and gas industry as a whole18:13 PPP Audits20:54 The significant amount of bankruptcies in the industry this year29:38 How reserves will be affected by current events34:11 Asset impairments on financials in the upcoming year38:32 Other challenges oil and companies are facing right nowAbout Diane Kirk:Diane is the technical leader for the energy industry group at Plante Moran. She provides technical accounting and financial reporting expertise and support with an emphasis on complex debt and equity, derivatives, employee compensation, mergers and acquisitions, SEC regulatory compliance and reporting, and risk management. Diane is also actively involved in the training and development of the energy group team.Diane has over 25 years of experience and focuses on distilling complex accounting topics and financial reporting into easy to understand language so that clients and team members can take appropriate actions. She has enjoyed helping to grow the oil and gas and energy practices while helping these clients address the challenges they face with running their business. Diane is a member of the AICPA, Colorado Society of CPAs, Colorado Oil and Gas Association, Western Energy Alliance, Women’s Energy Network, and the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies (COPAS). She is also on the planning committee for the AICPA/PDI National Oil and Gas Conference and is a contributing editor to certain industry publications.Connect with Diane:[email protected] KirkAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Melissa Gruenewald, founder and CEO of Green Forest Financial, PLLC, a CPA and advisory firm, and sitting vice president of Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies (COPAS). They discuss the many benefits of being an active member of COPAS, and how it has helped Melissa develop her career skills, relationships and leadership abilities. They also talk about things you can do to invest in yourself during the pandemic and making decisions moving forward.Highlights:2:41  Why Melissa decided to start her own firm in the middle of the Pandemic4:20  How COPAS has benefited Melissa’s career in oil and gas6:09  How COPAS helps in your day to day duties9:03  Developing leadership skills13:17 Why consensus is a big part of the process at COPAS13:58 The true value of networking within an organization like COPAS17:56 Ways that members can be involved in COPAS20:53 Getting started in oil and gas even when you think you need more experience23:03 The value of attending local and national COPAS meetings29.55 The importance of patience in the current industry downturn37:33 Decision making and planning for the future during the pandemic41:07 Melissa’s vision for the coming year as president of COPASAbout Melissa Gruenewald:Melissa Gruenewald is the founder and CEO of Green Forest Financial, PLLC, a CPA and advisory firm.  For 24 years, Melissa worked at large and small oil and gas companies with varying accounting responsibilities including joint interest, revenue, joint venture audit, gas balancing, payout, compliance, and financial reporting.  Melissa is currently on the Board of the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies (COPAS) and serves as the Vice-President.  She also currently serves as the COPAS-OKC Audit Committee Co-Chair.  Melissa received a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Southern Nazarene University and a Master’s in Accounting from DeVry University.  She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Accredited Petroleum Accountant.  Connect with Melissa:[email protected] SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Butch Rogers, Certified Public Accountant. They discuss possible tax benefits that may be helpful to oil producers when filing taxes this year. They also cover some of the tax changes we may see under the new administration, along with the most recent updates on the Paycheck Protection Loan.Highlights:2:47   Butch’s motivation to stay in school to get a “sit down” job5:57   Changes in law, IRS rulings, and court cases impacting the oil and gas industry13:54 Potential Tax Benefits for oil producers after the downturn in the oil and gas industry18:50 The latest updates on PPP loan forgiveness25:37 Impact of tax legislation under the Biden Administration31:07 How increased tax rates could actually drive more investments into the industryAbout Butch Rogers:Robert “Butch” Rogers is a Certified Public Accountant with a Master’s Degree in Taxation from Texas Tech University. He is a CPA in Wooster, Ohio and is a partner in the CPA firm MBR Partners, Inc.Butch has over 35 years experience working in and with clients in the oil and gas industry. As a college student he worked as a roustabout in West Texas. Upon graduating from college he worked for Gulf Oil as a business administration trainee, working in the Midland, Texas district office and the Monahans, Texas field office. He gained valuable oil and gas tax experience working with Coopers and Lybrand in Lubbock, Texas. During his time as a practicing CPA, Butch served a number of small independent producers as a trusted tax and business advisor.His speaking experience includes conducting continuing education seminars and webinars for various state societies of CPAs, Ohio Oil and Gas Association, COPAS, and Bisk Education.Connect with Butch:[email protected] SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Deb Ryan, Senior Manager of Engineering at Sproule. Deb talks about how she is able to juggle all of her different roles, and gives valuable insight on how she helps companies calculate reserves. She discusses what companies can do before bringing in consultants to assist with reserve calculation, and how important it is to resist relying completely on automated systems for reserve calculation as they can leave quite a bit of room for error.Highlights:3:08 How Deb got started in oil and gas and eventually reserve analysis5:40 Steps and factors in calculating reserves and why they are important7:06 Determining which evaluation to use in different situations11:47 The importance of reserves15:25 What data are the reserves based on?20:02  How production forecasts and decline curves are calculated23:13 Why accounting automation can be a challenge when it comes to forecasting24:19 How the current environment may impact year end reserves32:38 Tips for companies that need help with reserve calculations33:28 The importance of due diligence when it comes to calculating reservesAbout Deb Ryan:As Senior Manager, Engineering, Deb is responsible for managing Sproule's Denver office and is part of the team that spearheads Sproule's business development initiatives in the U.S. market. Deb’s 15-years of oil and gas industry experience includes reserve and contingent resource evaluations and audits, US and international fair market evaluations, and expert witness testimony. Deb has experience building dynamic simulation models and also provides instruction for various reservoir engineering classes for PetroSkills. Prior to joining Sproule, Deb held various positions with MHA Petroleum Consultants, Arrow Energy and Woodside Energy.Deb was recently named as the North American Regional Director for Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) International Board of Directors. She is also on the SPE International Committee of Business Leadership and Management and was previously the Chair of the Denver Section. She currently serves as the Treasurer for the Women’s Energy Network (WEN) Foundation. Deb is also a member of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE) and the Society of Women’s Engineers (SWE). In 2019 she was named by Denver Business Journal as one of the 40 Top Women in Energy and received the 2019 SPE Rocky Mountain Service Award. She is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Colorado.Connect with Deb:https://www.linkedin.com/in/deb-ryan-p-e-a838005/About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.

In today’s episode, Tom and Phil are joined by Lary Sides, Senior Auditor with Chevron’s Audit Department, as they discuss how to stand out in the oil and gas industry with the Accredited Petroleum Accountant (APA) certification.  Lary details eligibility, preparation, the exam process, and retention of the certification, how to get started and how it’s helped him in his 39-year career. Highlights:1:45 What is the Accredited Petroleum Accountant (APA) Program?3:49 How the APA credential helped Lary stand out in the industry6:03 Eligibility requirements for the APA credential8:07 Preparing for the APA Exam9:53 The process COPAS went through to create the APA Exam13:28  Why specialists outside the industry were recruited to assist in the creation of the exam14:08 How to take the exam16:11 Keeping the APA credential once it’s obtained16:48 Why you should get certifiedAbout Lary Sides:Lary Sides is a senior auditor for the Non-Operated Joint Venture Audit Center of Expertise team, within Chevron’s Corporate Audit Department.  He has 39 years of experience conducting joint venture audits and working with business units in joint venture accounting and audit issues for both US and international joint ventures.  Lary is an Accredited Petroleum Accountant (APA®) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).  Lary and Vicki Cromer chaired the COPAS Board of Examiners overseeing the APA® exam through its transition from an 8-part paper and computer-based exam to the current single exam format administered by Scantron.  Lary and Vicki were awarded the COPAS Eagle Award in 2017 for our efforts in developing and promoting the APA® credential.Lary is a past president of the Petroleum Accountants Society of Houston, member of COPAS, IIA, and former member of the AIPN.  He has served on writing committees for the COPAS auditing guidelines and other committees for COPAS and AIPN.Married with two adult kids and enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and golf.Connect with Lary:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sidesl/About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

In today’s episode, Drew Harold, director of state and local tax with Crest Tax Partners, talks about the importance of overcommunication within your team when it comes to property taxes in your organization. and how his experience in the field helped him gain a better perspective when it came to dealing with taxes.Highlights:1:53 How Drew got his start in oil and gas4:18 Tips on internally managing communication about property tax7:03 Most important aspects of effectively managing your company's property taxes11:14 Differences in the ways states arrive at a property’s market value15:29 The importance of oil and gas companies being involved in governments17:28  Opportunities for oil and gas companies to utilize various technologies related to their property tax19:04 Reduced rates, incentives, exemptions, and tax liabilities for property taxes22:11 Where to start when taking a closer look at your property taxesAbout Drew Harold:Drew is currently the Director of State and local tax with Crest Tax Partners. Prior to Crest, Drew spent 11 years with Chesapeake Energy in various state and local tax rolls including managing the property tax and sales and use tax groups. Prior to Chesapeake Drew was an industrial appraiser for Pritchard and Abbot in their Houston, TX office. With these various roles Drew is an energy industry professional with experience in property valuation, state and local tax planning, negotiating with state and local governments, providing legislative testimony related to state and local tax policy, and internal and external stakeholder communications.Connect with Drew:www.linkedin.com/in/drew-harroldhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/crest-tax-partnersAbout SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

In today’s episode, Sarah Magruder, President of Sapphire Oil and Gas Consulting, breaks down some of the confusion and misconception surrounding severance tax. She talks about how important it is for all team members to have knowledge surrounding every aspect of the oil and gas process, and how that can help reduce overall severance tax payments.. Highlights:2:57 What is severance tax?5:30 Why some states have a lower severance tax10:14 Two ways to reduce your severance tax23:45 The importance of seeing the big picture in oil and gas32:26 Understanding what you’re paying for32:26 Knowledge is key when it comes to reducing overpayments35:31 What to do in the case of an underpayment38:19 Steps to take to reduce your severance taxAbout Sarah Magruder:Sarah McGruder is President of Sapphire Oil and Gas Consulting, a severance tax consulting group based out of Houston, Texas. Sarah holds a bachelor's degree in finance from LSU and  her MBA from the University of Houston. Sarah spent her almost 19 year career in severance tax, splitting her time between working directly in medium and large oil and gas companies. And as an outside consultant, is an active member of the Petroleum Accounting Society Houston, where she chairs the golf committee and is a presenter at the revenue committee, as well as an education day sponsor and presenter. Sarah has also been a speaker at numerous COPAS meetings from outside of the Houston area and presented multiple times at the API severance tax forum. She lives in Montgomery, Texas with her husband, four year old son, five horses and two dogs.About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our podcast and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

In today’s episode, Brent Watson, Principal at SALTA, PLLC, is here talking to us about the benefits and savings of being really attentive to sales and use taxes. Brent walks us through how operators can avoid overpaying on taxes, what to avoid and how one small operator saved over $275,000 by hiring a consulting firm to manage their taxes and review their purchases.Highlights:1:44 Why should oil and gas well operators care about sales and use tax?6:13 Differences in tax situations by different states8:58 Recouping Sales and Use Taxes10:27 The greatest opportunities to save on sales and uses taxes11:43 House Bill 430 in Ohio15:08 Exemptions allowed in some states like Colorado, Kansas, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania17:27 A Limited exemption in Louisiana18:50 Taxes on completion activities versus operational activities22:47 What to look for when processing invoices25:17 When you should bring in an outside consultantAbout Brent Watson:Brent is the Principal at SALTA, PLLC, which he founded in September, 2017 after leaving Grant Thornton LLP. Brent has 31 years of practice in sales tax, property tax, and tax incentive programs. Brent has specialized in working with clients to improve compliance through educating personnel and establishing or improving sales tax processes. Brent has established rapport with taxing authorities to effectively resolve tax issues on behalf of clients especially in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.He launched the non-income tax group at Tyson Foods in 1990, then led that group for ten years. Brent has fourteen years of experience as a consultant and has extensive experience in the manufacturing, oil and gas, construction, and multi-state retailing industries. Brent has taught seminars for Lorman Education Services, is a frequent speaker for the Oklahoma Society of CPAs and COPAS; and has authored numerous articles in the OSCPA Focus magazine as well as the COPAS Accounts magazine. Brent is a certified Avalara implementation partner.Brent is a member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Tulsa Chapter of the Oklahoma Society.Connect with Brent:About SherWare, Inc.If you’re enjoying this episode, please subscribe to our pdcasot and share with a friend! We also love ratings and reviews on Apple podcasts.SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform -- and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company. Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

In this episode we’re joined by Rick Roybal, Vendor-Risk Management “activist”, author, and speaker. Rick has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 15 years and talks about the importance of having controls and systems in place to minimize risk financially and also in health and safety.Highlights:2:25 How a degree in Russian led Rick down his career path4:16 What is the role of an auditor?7:12 Why is vendor risk management so important11:19 How audits have changed in times of COVID1914:11 Data risk and cyber attacks17:50 How often does ransomware hit the oil and gas industry?24:32 When most companies bring in an auditor26:55 Best procedures for companies to put in place if they can’t afford an ongoing auditor31:24 The internal process when a company brings in an auditor33:46 Vendor Roundtable38:11 Next Vendor Roundtable meeting and how to registerAbout Rick Roybal:Vendor-Risk Management “activist”, author, and speaker, Rick Roybal has worked in the oil and gas industry for over 15 years. His early career in technical writing fostered a desire for organizational policy and procedural development. Today, Rick is a project manager for Martindale Consultants. Rick also serves as the President and Chair of the Vendor Roundtable. Rick has earned three degrees: B.A. Russian, M.A. Linguistics, and M.B.A. Finance & Accounting. Rick is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA). Connect with Rick:www.marticons.com www.vendorroundtable.comAbout SherWare:SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform — and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

Most of us in the business world know that our network is like gold. But are we actually using it effectively? And what do we do in 2020, when the world has ground to a halt with COVID19? Today’s guest, Dan Trienzenberg, accredited petroleum accountant and controller at Wolverine Gas and oil Corporation, is here to show us how to maximize our networks to help grow our careers, roles and businesses as we dive into how to use knowledge networks.On this episode we talk about:- Dan’s love of Pickleball (2:28) - How Dan’s Knowledge Network saved his company thousands of dollars per year recently (6:25) - How to find the right people for your Knowledge Network (8:12)- The difference between informal and formal Knowledge Networks and why both are valuable (and easy to build) (11:10 & 18:07)- What makes a good networker (20:41)- How to build your own Knowledge Network (29:14)- How to make the most out of virtual and (one-day-again) in-person events (31:14)Connect with Dan Triezenberg:Dan has been with Wolverine Gas and Oil Corporation since 2005. He has 15 years of experience in numerous areas of oil and gas accounting including joint interest, revenue, tax, and financial reporting. Dan is a Michigan Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Calvin College where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accountancy. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Grand Valley State University and is an Accredited Petroleum Accountant. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of CPAs. He is also an active member of the Council of Petroleum Accountants Society of Michigan. Dan married his high school sweetheart, Beth, and they have three children- Andrew (18), Anna (15), and Simon (13).Connect on LinkedInConnect on FacebookAbout SherWare:SherWare creates software to simplify your accounting needs so you have more time to do the things that matter. We serve independent oil and gas operators, accountants and investors with a platform to manage their distributions and joint-interest billings on a platform — and we’re the only software on the market that can integrate with your QuickBooks company.Click here to watch a demo of the software in action right now.About COPAS:COPAS provides expertise for the oil and gas industry through the development of Model Form Accounting Procedures, publications, and education. We are a forum for the active exchange of ideas which result in innovative business and accounting solutions.Find a society near you.

If you're a CPA, an accountant, a bookkeeper, an office manager, or if you're an oil and gas operator that's doing the accounting yourself, you are who our brand new podcast is for.We’ve partnered with Tom Wierman, Executive Director of COPAS (The Council of Petroleum Accounting Society) to bring you the Oil & Gas Accounting Podcast.We noticed that no one has the conversations that actually help oil and gas accounting professionals do their job better.So we decided to change that and start to discuss the things and common issues and questions we know our clients and partners ask, and that you may be wondering yourself.Here's what this podcast is about: Phil Sherwood: Welcome to the initial episode of the Oil and Gas Accounting Podcast. I'm your host, Phil Sherwood, along with my co host, Tom Wierman. Hey Tom, how's it going today?Tom Wierman: Great, Phil, how are you? It's good to hear from you.Phil: It's good to hear from you. It's weird that we can't get together these days. Everything seems to be virtual. But that works really good when you're recording a podcast, right?Tom: It does. It really does. You know, we have not really had this situation before. But I think we're adapting pretty well. It's been a few months now since we've had to go through this. And I think we've just like anything else, just make it work.Phil: Yeah, I agree. So as we get started, one of the questions you may be asking is why a podcast on oil and gas accounting? Well, first and foremost, we want to bring valuable accounting information to the folks who deal with oil and gas accounting on a daily basis. If you're a CPA, an accountant, bookkeeper, an office manager, or if you're an oil and gas operator that's doing the accounting yourself, you are who this podcast is for. There's so much happening in the world today, especially in oil and gas, that affects the accounting function and we want to be a place that you can come to for relevant and timely information on the different accounting issues that you're facing. The second question you may have is Who are you guys? Who is Phil Sherwood and Tom Wierman? And that's another great question. Tom, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?Tom: Sure. So I'm the current COPAS Executive Director. I started my role in March of 2012. And I've been executive director since then. So my day to day responsibility is really the Member Association. Managing the organization for the Council of Petroleum Accountant Societies. And so before that, I actually worked in industry, I was at Koch Industries for 30 years. I ended my career there. I have probably done the majority of my time in EMP, exploration and production; I was the controller. I served other functions in that particular company as well. I ended my career in financial reporting for Flint Hills Resources. But, you know, 30 years is a long time to see a lot of different issues. And, you know, things are certainly complex. They got more complex every day as we went through this, but I think, you know, just just the opportunity for me to have experienced what some of the people who we hope will hear this podcast are going through, you know, I actually had an opportunity to do some of those things. My role has changed certainly now, where I'm at, but I think I even as the executive director of COPAS I can bring some perspective to thisPhil: Okay, and I'm Phil Sherwood, and I've been involved in oil and gas accounting for 28 years now. I started out consulting with small companies and helping them set up their accounting systems. And around the same time, I helped a couple of oil and gas operators set up their offices with personal computers and accounting software. And after trying to get their work done with