Jared Blong is an energy executive with a successful operational and financial track record including back-to-back listings on the Inc. 5000's top 1000 in 2018 and 2019 and successful asset sale in 2020 generating triple digit returns on invested capital. He's passionate about stewardship and the conscientious conservation of our natural resources.

Jared founded Octane Energy in 2013 with his wife, Lori. He currently leads the Octane team, unlocking plentiful, reliable and affordable energy to enable human flourishing. Octane Energy is a privately held, Permian focused E&P and consultancy. Octane currently operates roughly 2600 acres in the Midland Basin as well as contract operates over 300 wells on behalf of others. Octane seeks to continue growing both organically through the bit and by making accretive PDP acquisitions. Since founding Octane in 2013, Jared has lead teams drilling, completing, producing more than 2,000 wells having drilled over 30 million feet and frac'ed over 100,000 stages.

In a brief departure from Octane, Jared served as the President and COO of AquaSmart from 2020-2022. His primary charge was to lead and inspire teams toward developing, manufacturing, and commercializing impactful technologies in energy, agronomy, and infrastructure driven by a desire to use water smarter. He has since returned to leadership at Octane, expanding the portfolio of the company and looking toward additional future growth.

Prior to founding Octane, he was the Director of Risk Management for Western Drilling, Inc., and RK Ford & Associates where he established an addiction to the energy business. He managed a broad range of processes from finance to field operations. Throughout the course of Jared’s career, he has demonstrated the ability to think creatively to find innovative solutions born out of his experience within, as well as outside the energy industry. Jared loves building and leading teams into a strong future of excellence and continual innovation driven by his passion to see others thrive and his attitude of extreme ownership.

Jared currently serves on the advisory board with the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Life:Powered initiative, on the board of High Sky Children’s Ranch, on the student ministry teaching team, stewardship team and as a deacon at Stonegate Fellowship Church, on the board of MarketPlace Midland, is an adult volunteer with Scout Troop 232, was the founding Chairman of the Board of the Permian Basin Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is former Chairman of the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), Permian Basin Chapter, where he worked to reestablish a strong Permian presence within the global IADC community.

Mr. Blong is also an Eagle Scout and holds a BBA with a Spanish minor from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. A native West Texan, Jared lives with his wife and three children in Midland and is heavily invested in the community and in the long-term success of the oil and gas industry as a whole.

Steven Weatherl is President of Weatherl Energy Investments, L.P. a position he has held since March of 2010. He is also president of Stronghold Energy Partners, L.P., a non-operated joint venture with CIC Partners of Dallas, Texas. Previously, Mr. Weatherl was Vice President and General Manager, as well as exploration manager, of EOG Resources' West Texas Division located in the Permian Basin. He has also served as Vice President of Exploration, USA for Pioneer Natural Resources. Mr. Weatherl received a BS degree in Geology with a minor in Geophysics from Texas Tech University. He serves as an elder of Stonegate Fellowship Church, on the advisory board for Midland Classical Academy, and on the board of MarketPlace Midland.

Kyle L. Stallings is CEO and Founder of Desert Royalty Company. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and began his career in the oil industry with Hunt Energy in 1979 and went independent in 1981. Mr. Stallings serves on the boards of The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, the Executive Board of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and is a co-founder of MarketPlace Midland. He also serves on the board and in advisory roles for several nonprofits. He married Jamie Quanz Stallings in 1982 and they have 5 children and 11 grandchildren. The Stallings raise Hereford cattle and Whitetail deer in the Texas Hill Country. Kyle and Jamie are founding members of Stonegate Fellowship Church.

After graduating from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1985, Kevin returned home to Midland. He began work at Discovery Operating just before the oil market crashed in 1986. By April of ‘86, Kevin received his first pay cut and headed to the oil field, where he worked as a pumper for almost three years. Today, Sparks is President of Discovery Operating, Inc., a family-owned and operated oil and gas company in Midland, Texas that has created hundreds of local jobs over almost fifty years.

Kevin and his wife Jill understand that strong communities do not exist by accident, which is why they have quietly invested in their community for over thirty years as Young Life and church leaders. Kevin previously served as a board member for High Sky Children’s Ranch, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Natural Gas Producers Association. Kevin currently serves as a trustee at Midland Classical Academy and a board member for One Accord for Kids, supporting foster care.

Kevin and his wife Jill have three sons, Grey, Garrett, Grant, and one daughter, Sumner. The Sparks are active members of Stonegate Fellowship, where he serves as an elder, and they are small group leaders to young couples rearing their own families. Kevin graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, where he earned his Eagle Scout badge and played football for Coach Spike Dykes. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys hunting, fly fishing and being outdoors.

Steve McLaughlin is the Owner and President of Cardinal Surveys Company and has spent over 30 years specializing in downhole production logging, diagnosing problems with oil wells to enhance production and the life of the formation. He is passionate about understanding well performance. Steve graduated from Texas Tech Suma Cum Laude with a BS in Chemical Engineering and then worked for Celanese Chemical Research and Development Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Mentors and relationships formed at FBC Corpus Christi were instrumental in Steve's walk with the Lord. Since that time, he has served as a deacon and teacher at both FBC Midland and Stonegate Fellowship Church. He has been married to his wife Linda for 39 years and they have 3 grown children - Daniel, Stephanie, and Rachel. Steve is committed to sharing with others a Christian worldview and MPM is an opportunity to encourage young men in that Christian walk and leadership to be carried out daily in business as well as at home.

Andy Deck is Chief Commercial Officer for HiVolt Energy here in Midland, Texas. He previously served in executive roles for EnLink Midstream, Coronado Midstream, and Reliance Gathering. His early professional service various engineering, project management, and leadership roles with Conoco, Enogex, and Renovar Energy in Oklahoma, Texas, and overseas.

Andy received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He and his wife, Becky, have two sons and four grandsons. Andy serves as an elder of Stonegate Fellowship Church, supports and travels for international Christian missions in Uganda, and serves on the board of MarketPlace Midland. He aspires to be an author and is currently completing his first book – Feet to My Faith: Living Your Faith without Losing Your Job.

Marc Dingler has been married to Kari Dingler for 31 incredible years and is the proud father of three outstanding young people, Marcus, Rachel, and Jonathan. After twelve plus years in the metroplex where Marcus and Rachel graduated from high school, Marc, Kari, and Jonathan returned to Midland for a second tour in 2014 when Marc joined Diamondback Energy as Deputy General Counsel. Jonathan quickly enrolled at Midland Classical Academy and Kari picked back up serving with Women's CBS, playing in keyboard at Stonegate and serving on the board of YouCanFree.Us rescuing women from human trafficking in India. After attending Promise Keepers in the 90's Marc's life and ministry was dramatically changed. Since then Marc has been engaged and involved in various men's groups and ministries in Midland and the metroplex. It was at PK that Marc realized men need men in their lives to encourage and support one another and to sharpen one another as men and as followers of Christ.  As a result, when Market Place Midland came along, it was an instant connection. It is Marc's desire to serve the men of Midland and MPM and encourage all men to live their lives to Glorify God in all they do.
Some of Marc's favorites:
Favorite saying: Choose Life
Favorite verse: Proverbs 3:5-6
Favorite book: (outside the Bible) Love Does by Bob Goff
Favorite authors: Steve Farrar and Robert Lewis
Favorite meal: Kari's brisket and twice baked potatoes
Favorite hobby: riding motorcycles