Who We Are

Unit Corporation is a diversified energy company engaged through its subsidiaries in the production of oil and natural gas, the acquisition of producing oil and natural gas properties, and the contract drilling of onshore oil and natural gas wells.

Corporate Values

Relationships

People make the difference. Investing in our internal and external relationships results in value creation for all.

Integrity

Do the right thing. Always. With customers, with partners, with investors, and with each other.

Excellence

We give our best every day. Seeking to deliver exceptional value to all our stakeholders.

Diversity

We embrace differences, which we believe makes us a stronger and more successful company.

Safety and Environmental Stewardship

The safety and care of our people, the environment, and the communities we live and conduct business in is a top priority.

Strategy

 

Unit Petroleum Company Strategy:

  • Focus on value accretion through free cash flow by
    • Optimizing production from existing wells, and
    • Strategic and capital efficient development of our assets
  • Continually evaluate and capitalize on acquisition opportunities

Unit Drilling Company Strategy:

  • Create value for all stakeholders by maximizing our operational and HSE performance
  • Focus on fully utilizing our 14 pad-optimal, high spec, A/C BOSS rigs
  • Further develop and retain our loyal employee base
  • Align ourselves with like-minded customers focused on changing our industry for the better
  • Maximize the value of our BOSS rig technology

Management

 

Executive Officers

 

Phil Frohlich

Chief Executive Officer

In April 2023, Phil Frohlich was named Unit’s Chief Executive Officer. Phil Frohlich founded Prescott Capital Management in 1992 and has been serving as Managing Partner since. The Oklahoma-based hedge fund has around $500 million in assets under management and focuses on small and mid-cap stocks. Mr. Frohlich was formerly president of Tulsa-based Siegfried Companies Inc. and a tax principal with what is now the international accounting firm Ernst & Young. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in economics with special distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 1976, earned a Master of Business Administration at the University of Texas at Austin with the highest honors in 1980, and was awarded a law degree with honors from the University of Tulsa in 1993.

Thomas Sell 

Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Sell joined Unit in October 2020 as Interim Chief Financial Officer and was also named Chief Accounting Officer in December 2020. In June 2021, he was named Controller. Mr. Sell came from Montereau, Inc. where he had been the Chief Financial Officer since March 2020. Before that, he spent four years as the Chief Accounting Officer and Controller for SemGroup Corporation. From 1996 to 2016, Mr. Sell was with Williams Companies, Inc. where he served in multiple finance and accounting leadership positions. Mr. Sell was with Deloitte & Touche from 1987 to 1996. He received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Oral Roberts University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Oklahoma.

Drew Harding 

Vice President, Secretary & General Counsel

Mr. Harding joined the company in August 2004 as a Staff Attorney. In March 2005, he was promoted to the position of Associate General Counsel. In October 2020, he was promoted to Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary. Mr. Harding received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University in 2001 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2004. He is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Chris Menefee 

President, Unit Drilling Company

Mr. Menefee was appointed President of Unit Drilling Company in November 2020. He most recently served as Senior Vice President, Business Development at Independence Contract Drilling from 2012 to April 2020. Before that, he spent over 15 years at Rowan Companies, Inc. where he held many operational and management roles, including the Director of Marketing from 2006 to 2012. Mr. Menefee graduated from The University of Mississippi in Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. He also holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.

Karl Bode

Senior Vice President, Unit Petroleum Company

Mr. Bode joined Unit in November 2012 as General Manager of Outside Operated Properties. In 2014 he was promoted to Chief Engineer. In 2017 he was promoted to the position of Vice President and subsequently was promoted to the position of Sr. Vice President, Business Development in 2019. Mr. Bode received a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Tulsa in 1981 and earned a Certified Public Accounting license in 1999. Prior to Unit, Mr. Bode held various engineering, accounting and management positions at QEP Resources, Kaiser-Francis Oil Company, Samson Resources Company and Chevron, USA.profit agencies, and his local church.

Greg Johnson

Vice President, Information Technology & Chief Information Officer

Mr. Johnson joined the company in October 2020 as Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. Prior to joining Unit, he was Vice President of Information Technology for SemGroup Corporation. Prior to SemGroup, he held various IT leadership roles with Williams and Chevron. Mr. Johnson received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in MIS and Accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University. He is active in the community through various organizations including Tulsa CIO Forum, multiple non-profit agencies, and his local church.

James White

Vice President, Human Resources

Mr. White joined the company in 2007 as Vice President of Human Resources. Prior to joining Unit, he held various Human Resources management positions at Greatwide Logistics Services, Inc. and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Mr. White received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Management from the University of Central Oklahoma and his Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Tulsa. Mr. White is active in the community and his local church and has served on various professional and non-profit boards. He currently is a member of several local and national professional HR organizations and serves on the board for the KS/OK Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Board Of Directors

 

Robert Anderson  

Robert Anderson has been an executive with GBK Corporation since 2010 serving on numerous private boards including Summit ESP, which was acquired by Halliburton in 2017. Between 2002 and 2010, Mr. Anderson engaged primarily in personal investing, with a focus on oil & gas supply/demand fundamentals while simultaneously serving on the University of Kansas Chemical & Petroleum Engineering Board of Advisors. In 1998, he was co-founder and CEO of privately held Sapient Energy Corp., which was subsequently sold to Chesapeake Energy in 2002. During his time with Sapient, Mr. Anderson was also actively involved on the IPAA’s Capital Markets Committee. Prior to establishing Sapient Energy, Mr. Anderson worked for Kaiser-Francis Oil Company in various roles of increasing responsibilities from 1984 through 1997. After graduating from the University of Kansas in 1980 with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering, he worked for Amoco Production Company until 1984.

 

Alan Carr  

Alan Carr is the Chief Executive Officer of Drivetrain, LLC, and is a distressed investing and turnaround professional, with 20 years of experience in principal investing, advisory mandates, and board of directors service, including complex financial restructurings and reorganizations in the U.S and Europe. Prior to Drivetrain, Mr. Carr was Managing Director at Strategic Value Partners, a global investment firm focused on distressed debt and private equity opportunities. Carr started his career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLC and Ravin, Sarasohn, Baumgarten, Fisch & Rosen in corporate restructuring advisory. He received a B.A. in Economics and Sociology from Brandeis University in 1992, and earned a J.D. from Tulane Law School in 1995.

 

Phil Frohlich 

In April 2023, Phil Frohlich was named Unit’s Chief Executive Officer. Phil Frohlich founded Prescott Capital Management in 1992 and has been serving as Managing Partner since. The Oklahoma-based hedge fund has around $500 million in assets under management and focuses on small and mid-cap stocks. Mr. Frohlich was formerly president of Tulsa-based Siegfried Companies Inc. and a tax principal with what is now the international accounting firm Ernst & Young. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in economics with special distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 1976, earned a Master of Business Administration at the University of Texas at Austin with the highest honors in 1980, and was awarded a law degree with honors from the University of Tulsa in 1993.

 

Steven Hildebrand  

Mr. Hildebrand joined the board of directors in 2008. He is engaged in personal investing and has been since he retired in 2008 from Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., a car rental business where he had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 1997. Prior to that, Mr. Hildebrand served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc., a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty. Mr. Hildebrand joined Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc. in 1987 as Vice President and Treasurer and became Chief Financial Officer in 1989. Mr. Hildebrand was with Franklin Supply Company, an oilfield supply business, from 1980 to 1987 where he held several positions including Controller and Vice President of Finance. From 1976 to 1980, Mr. Hildebrand was with the accounting firm Coopers & Lybrand, most recently as Audit Supervisor. Mr. Hildebrand earned a BSBA degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University, and he is a certified public accountant.

 

Philip Smith  

Philip Smith served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Unit Corporation from October 2020 to March 2023. He is the former Chief Executive Officer of Prize Energy Corp. and Tide West Oil Company. Mr. Smith served on the Board of Directors of Eagle Rock Energy LP from 2007 to 2015. Prior to Eagle Rock Energy, Mr. Smith was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Prize Energy Corp., which he co-founded with NGP in 1999, until the Company’s merger with Magnum Hunter Resources in 2002. Mr. Smith also served as CEO of Tide West Oil Company and grew the Company from less than $10 million in assets to more than $200 million in assets before it was sold to HS Resources in 1997. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tulsa.

 

Andrei Verona  

Andrei Verona currently serves as Portfolio Manager of the Spectrum Fund at Saye Capital Management, a credit hedge fund with approximately $100 million of equity and $200-$300 million of assets depending on leverage. Mr. Verona is responsible for all corporate-related assets, including high yield bonds, bank loans, equities, and securitizations of corporate assets, and is specifically focused on high yield and distressed opportunities across all sectors with a preference for secured, event-driven positions. Prior to Saye Capital Management, Mr. Verona was Vice President at the investment bank Gleacher & Company, where he was responsible for executing and pitching high yield, M&A, and restructuring transactions. Mr. Verona started his career at PIMCO and GSC Partners, covering a variety of credit-related instruments. He received a B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles in 2001.

 

Our Industry

Unit Corporation is proud of the work we do and the industry we operate in. The oil and gas industry is about more than just fueling your car and heating your home. Our industry brings to you everyday items for your benefit and for your enjoyment.

Did you know that a little less than half (46%) of a barrel of oil is used to create a gallon of gasoline? The rest is used to create items you find in your home, products you use for cleaning, home improvement, medicine, and also items you use for sports and entertainment.

While this is not an exhaustive list, because there are thousands of products made from petroleum byproducts, we take pride in knowing that our work and our industry is providing the lifeblood of what you use, consume, and how you live. Our industry also provides funds for education (scholarships, buildings, training), funding for first responders (equipment and buildings), and tax revenues to support communities and jobs among other things.

So, look around you. The oil and gas industry is responsible for so much more than you probably realize. It’s everywhere – and we couldn’t live without it.

Contact

Headquarters

8200 South Unit Drive
Tulsa, OK 74132
(81st Street South between Union Avenue and Highway 75)

Mail:
P.O. Box 702500
Tulsa, Oklahoma
74170-2500