Meet HBJ’s Women in Energy Honorees: Kathleen Eisbrenner
From The Houston Business Journal. View the original story here.
Kathleen Eisbrenner, CEO, NextDecade LLC
For nearly three decades, Kathleen Eisbrenner served in leadership positions in some of the world’s most powerful energy companies. Now, her own liquefied natural gas development and management company, NextDecade LLC, is five years old and some say is on the brink of monumental success.
Headquartered in The Woodlands, NextDecade was funded as a startup in 2010 by Eisbrenner and New York equity funds with $50 billion under management. Already, NextDecade operations are underway in Texas, and the company plans to quickly expand globally.
Her peers say she’s changed the liquefied natural gas business in the U.S. by developing new technology for offshore operations. Formerly the president of El Paso Gas Marketing, she crafted a joint venture with Shell for an operation in Mexico, representing the first new land-based liquefied natural gas facility there in 25 years. In 2003, with funding from billionaire oilman and banker George Kaiser, Eisbrenner founded Excelerate Energy, which she built up to a company with $3 billion in assets.
She joined Shell in 2007, and negotiated liquefied natural gas deals with PetroChina, the United Arab Emirates, and with Korean and Japanese buyers.
The multibillion-dollar deals that Eisbrenner has negotiated “receive industry accolades for their success, uniqueness and creativity,” said Gail Watkins, a partner with Porter Hedges.
She also touts Eisbrenner’s exceptional leadership skills and says that she strategizes by building high-performing teams.
“Through all of the activities required of a CEO of Kathleen’s rank, her smile, grace and poise inspire and build the confidence of others,” Watkins said.
The oldest of five children and mother of four, Eisbrenner is known for her mentorship of others and speaks to young people just starting their careers, most recently at Texas A&M University and the University of Tulsa.
The Eisbrenner File
Education: Bachelor’s from University of Notre Dame
Boards and affiliations: National Petroleum Council, member; United States Petroleum, member; American Bureau of Shipping, member
Years in the energy industry: 33
Years in leadership: 30
About NextDecade Corporation
NextDecade is an LNG development company primarily focused on LNG export projects and associated pipelines in Texas. NextDecade intends to develop a portfolio of LNG projects, including the 27 mtpa Rio Grande LNG export facility in Brownsville, Texas and the 4.5 Bcf/d Rio Bravo Pipeline that would transport natural gas from the Agua Dulce area to Rio Grande LNG. NextDecade’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “NEXT.” NextDecade is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Located at the Port of Brownsville in South Texas, NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG project is expected to be a leader among second wave U.S. LNG projects. NextDecade believes its customers and shareholders will benefit from the project’s experienced leadership, proven approach, and optimal location. NextDecade’s technology selections are expected to foster operational reliability and afford NextDecade’s customers access to abundant natural gas from the Permian Basin, Eagle Ford Shale, and other basins.
CAUTIONARY INFORMATION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. The words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, and these statements may relate to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries. These statements have been based on the Company’s current assumptions, expectations, and projections about future events and involve a number of known and unknown risks, which may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks include uncertainties about the Company’s Rio Grande LNG and Rio Bravo pipeline projects and other matters discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and other subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Any development of the projects remain contingent upon completing required commercial agreements; acquiring all necessary permits and approvals; securing all financing commitments and potential tax incentives; achieving other customary conditions; and making a final investment decision to proceed. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak as of the date of this release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that the expectations will prove to be correct. The Company may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward-looking statements, however, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.
For further information:
Investors: Patrick Hughes | + 1 (832) 209 8131 | phughes@next-decade.com
Media: Ashley Helmer | + 1 (281) 249 5453 | ahelmer@next-decade.com