Our Team

J. PATRICK COLLINS

Patrick Collins is Co-Founder and CEO of Cortez Resources. He has years of experience in multiple unconventional U.S. oil and gas plays and a strong background in both land and finance in the industry.

Prior to founding Cortez, Patrick was with Parkman Whaling, LLC, an energy advisory and investment banking firm based in Houston. There, Patrick helped E&P companies divest of asset packages and raise funds.

Before joining Parkman Whaling, Patrick worked for Collins and Young, LLC of Fort Worth, a company that was an early and active player in the Barnett Shale. At Collins and Young, Patrick was part of a team that put together more than 30,000 acres in the southern part of play. Collins and Young also made several major Barnett Shale divestitures during this period. Prior to Collins and Young, Patrick worked as a landman for several small oil and gas companies.

Active in the oil and gas community, Patrick is on the Executive Committee and a former President of the Dallas Producers Club, on the board of directors of the Dallas Wildcat Committee, a member of the IPAA, the ADAM Energy Forum, and the Dallas Chapter of Young Professionals in Energy. He was featured in the April 2011 Oil and Gas Investor as a "Bright Spot", highlighting young professionals in the industry.

Originally from Midland and later raised in Dallas, Patrick is active in many arts organizations both within and outside of Texas. Patrick is a Trustee of the Dallas Museum of Art, The SMU Meadows School of the Arts, the Fort Worth Modern Museum of Art, and the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas. Patrick also sits on the Program Advisory Committee of the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Leadership Council of the Dia Art Foundation and was formerly on the Board of the Contemporary Austin.

Patrick has an MBA from the Acton School of Business, and a BA with honors from Columbia University.

MICHAEL CATRINO

Michael Catrino is the Co-Founder, EVP, and COO of Cortez Resources, LLC. Previously, Michael co-founded Cortez Resources, LP, where he managed its leasing and operating efforts and played a critical role in its acquisition, joint-venture, and divestiture projects in the Eagle Ford Shale. He has many years of leadership experience in the petroleum land acquisitions business.

Prior to Cortez, Michael worked with Collins and Young, LLC on their Southern Expansion project in the Barnett shale and helped complete its acquisition of over 30,000 acres in the prolific shale gas play. He went on to become Division Landman for Collins and Young Appalachia, LP, where he helped manage the acquisition of their Marcellus Shale assets.

Before joining Collins and Young, Michael was Land Manager for Arkansas Energy Group, where he leased thousands of acres in the early days of the Fayetteville Shale. He also assisted in the divestiture of the group's assets to several major operators in the play.

Michael has led many other successful land acquisition projects in the various parts of the country, including Alabama, Kansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, in addition to his projects in Texas, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. He has a proven track record and continues to be a successful in some of the most active resource plays throughout the United States.

Michael is an Alumni of and donor to the Patterson School and he also attended Warren Wilson College of North Carolina. He participates in many continuing education programs covering a broad range of topics related to the oil and gas industry. He is a member of the Public Lands Committee for the American Association of Petroleum Landmen, the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association, the Dallas Petroleum Club, the independent Petroleum Association of America Land and Royalty Committee, the ADAM Energy Forum, the Dallas Producers Club, the Dallas Wildcat Committee, and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.

Michael lives in Dallas with his wife, Claire, and their daughter, Katherine Ida.

RYAN ALLEN

Ryan Allen is the Chief Financial Officer of Cortez Resources, LLC. Prior to joining Cortez Resources, Ryan was the Assistant Controller for Silver Creek Oil & Gas, LLC, a privately-owned oil and gas exploration and production company headquartered in Irving, Texas that was formed through the combination of Alta Natural Resources, LLC and HEP Oil Company. In addition to various other positions in accounting and finance, Ryan played a lead role in the merger of the accounting and finance groups of the two companies.

Before joining Silver Creek Oil & Gas, Ryan worked as a consultant at FTI Consulting, Inc. in the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment based in Dallas. He obtained his BBA in both Accounting and Finance from Texas Christian University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and graduated with his Master in Professional Accounting degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Ryan is actively involved in the oil and gas community. He is a member of IPAA, the Dallas Petroleum Club, and the Dallas Chapter of Young Professionals in Energy. Ryan resides in Dallas with his wife, Katherine, and their two daughters.

PEGGY LOYD

Peggy Loyd is VP – Administration and Business Services of Cortez Resources, LLC. Previously, Peggy started with Cortez Resources, LP in its first month of inception to help establish the newly formed company. Following two years of successful growth and transformation, Peggy was promoted to Vice President.

With 38 years of accounting and Administrative experience, 29 of which are in the oil and gas industry, Peggy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her position.

Prior to joining Cortez, Peggy’s long-standing experience as an oil and gas professional with small and mid-size firms includes responsibilities which range from Investor Relations to Accounting and Production Field reporting. Her career includes marketing NGL’s for a Colorado based natural gas company with a Texas owned processing plant located in Sonora, Texas. She has been involved in at least six start-ups.

Peggy attended LSU Shreveport as well as Ayers Institute and Collin County Community College. She is a member of the Professional Petroleum Data Management Association and serves as a member of their Regional Leadership Team for Dallas/Fort Worth. In addition, Peggy previously served for several years as a Board member of the Women’s Energy Network (WEN) of North Texas and the Texas Energy Council representing Lone Star. She is a current member of the Executive Board of the Lone Star Desk and Derrick Club of Dallas and currently serves as their Treasurer.

In her spare time, Peggy enjoys running and hiking and has completed 3 marathons, 3 half- marathons, and hiked Yosemite Half Dome. Peggy is a member of Fellowship Church – Grapevine and enjoys serving in various capacities as needed at her church.

VICTORIA GILBERT

Victoria Gilbert is an Analyst at Cortez Resources, LLC where she plays an active role in researching and evaluating prospective deals. Victoria works closely with Ryan in analyzing each potential acquisition to determine value and profit expectations. She forecasts oil and gas production, cash flows and future development by studying current production from wells both on and offsetting the acreage, assessing information from state and operator sources, reviewing lease documents, and discovering trends in historical development.

Prior to joining Cortez Resources, Victoria was a consultant for Hitachi Consulting, headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Originally from Miami, FL, she moved to Dallas in 2012 to attend Southern Methodist University. Victoria earned her BBA from the Cox School of Business in 2016, where she graduated at the top of her class with honors. Throughout college, Victoria worked at several Fortune 500 companies including FPL and Coca-Cola.

Victoria is an active member of the Dallas Petroleum Club, Dallas Chapter of Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) and the Women in Energy Network (WEN).

MELISSA BELL

Melissa Bell is the Land Manager at Cortez Resources, LLC, actively overseeing all acquisitions and divestitures, mineral title research, lease negotiations, due diligence, curative, mapping, and contract drafting. She is actively involved in the management and maintenance of acquired mineral, royalty and leasehold assets. Melissa works closely with Michael to maintain good working relationships with other land departments in order to facilitate efficient and successful joint ventures with our partners. Prior to joining the Cortez team in 2011, Melissa worked with various organizations gaining extensive experience in organizational management, negotiations, business development and leadership training.

Melissa earned her BA in Organizational/Interpersonal Communication from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she graduated magna cum laude. She was recognized in the School of Arts and Sciences as the “Outstanding Senior of the Year” for her academic achievements. She is currently enrolled in the University of Oklahoma College of Law pursing a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in Oil, Gas and Energy Law.

Melissa is a member of the American Association of Professional Landmen, IPAA, and the Dallas Chapter of Young Professional in Energy. In her free time, she enjoys traveling abroad and spending time with her husband and sons.

PHIL PRITCHETT

Phil Pritchett is a contract landman for Cortez Resources, LLC. He works in major oil and gas areas including the Permian, Eagle Ford, Denver, and Louisiana Basins. Prior to Cortez, Phil worked at Collins and Young, LLC developing the Southern Expansion Project and leasing over 30,000 acres in the Barnett Shale. In addition, Phil worked several projects with emphasis in Tarrant and Johnson Counties, Texas.

Phil's fifteen years in the oil and gas industry followed a career in cardiovascular imaging where he supplied cardiac cath labs with cine film and services in over 300 major medical centers across the United States. The medical device company was owned by the Pritchett brothers and had offices in Fort Worth, TX, Memphis TN, and Los Angeles, CA.

Phil is a graduate of the University of Texas and lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife

WILSON "CARTER" SMITH

Carter Smith is a Landman at Cortez Resources, LLC, where he facilitates minerals, royalty acquisitions, landowner outreach, and business development-related efforts.

Prior to joining Cortez in 2019, Carter worked with Charger Energy Services, a service company headquartered in Midland. At Charger, he managed the surface drilling rigs and worked in outside sales.

An Alumni of The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration, Carter is a member of the Alabama Alumni Association. He also graduated from Texas Christian University’s Ranch Management Program. He is a member of the Midland Chapter of Young Professionals in Energy and the ADAM Energy Forum.

PHILIP PINKSTON

Philip Pinkston is a Reservoir Engineer at Cortez Resources, LLC where he plays an active role performing engineering valuations on prospective deals and sourcing mineral acquisitions through business development-related efforts.

Prior to joining Cortez, Philip worked at Concho Resources where he was a Reservoir Engineer in both the Midland and Delaware Basins. Philip began his career at RSP Permian, LLC where he worked in reservoir, production, and completion engineering roles across the Permian Basin, prior to its acquisition by Concho.

Philip grew up in Dallas and graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering. He is an active member of the Dallas Chapter of Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

ASHLEY GRISWOLD

Ashley Griswold is a Controller at Cortez Resources, LLC, where she assists Ryan with the accounting operations and the federal and state tax reporting.

Prior to joining Cortez, Ashley was a Tax Supervisor at Gollob Morgan Peddy, PC, located in Tyler, Texas. At Gollob Morgan Peddy, PC, Ashley specialized in the federal and state reporting for numerous oil and gas clients.

Ashley graduated from the University of Texas at Tyler in 2014 with a Master of Business Administration in Accounting degree. Ashley became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in April of 2018.

OUR TEAM