MANAGEMENT TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ryan Phillips
Chairman of the Board and CEO
Ryan Phillips is Chairman of the Board of Axis Energy Services. Mr. Phillips joined the board when he started with B-29 Investments (“B-29”) in April of 2018 and transitioned to his role as Chairman of Axis in January 2021. Prior to joining B-29, Mr. Phillips spent 15 years with Halliburton where he started in the field as a Frac Engineer before taking on various roles focused on pressure pumping. Before leaving Halliburton, he was Permian Basin Operations Manager and was accountable for all product lines in the Permian. Before that, Mr. Phillips was a Region Cementing Manager and Area Frac Manager.
Mr. Phillips is passionate about oilfield services. An engineer at heart, he believes in the mission of Axis to optimize well servicing through data-driven technology and new, purpose-engineered equipment.
Mr. Phillips received his MBA from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M and his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M.
Chris Boone
Chief Financial Officer
Chris Boone serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Axis Energy Services. Mr. Boone is responsible for all accounting, financial planning, and reporting processes. He oversees our insurance, treasury, and finance programs.
Prior to joining Axis, Mr. Boone served as CFO at NESR—a publicly traded energy services company—from 2019 to 2022. Mr. Boone previously served as Interim CFO at Stratum Reservoir (Weatherford Labs) from 2018 to 2019. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and CFO at Tesco Corporation from 2014 to 2017. From 1993 to 2013, Mr. Boone served in various operational and financial roles during his time at Lufkin Industries—a publicly traded energy manufacturing/service company—with his most recent position being Vice President and CFO from 2008 to 2013.
Mr. Boone has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Washington and Lee University and an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Christine Stroud
General Counsel
Christine Stroud serves as General Counsel for Axis Energy Services. Ms. Stroud provides strategic counsel on a broad range of legal, business, and operational matters for the company and its board of directors.
With 16 years of experience as an attorney serving the oil and gas industry, Ms. Stroud has a broad and diverse background in both international and domestic oilfield services and E&P. Ms. Stroud previously worked as Counsel for XTO Energy, Inc. and served as General Counsel for Riata Corporate Group, LLC and its affiliated E&P and service companies. Prior to joining Axis, Ms. Stroud owned and operated a law firm providing consulting services for in-house legal departments.
Ms. Stroud has a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and a J.D. from Texas Tech School of Law.
Garry Pruitt
President
Axis Pressure Control Rentals
Garry Pruitt is President of Axis Pressure Control Rentals. Mr. Pruitt previously served as President of Momentum Pressure Control Rental LLC, which he helped found in 2018. Mr. Pruitt brings 37 years of pressure control experience to Axis. During that time, he spent 23 years in various capacities in surface wellhead services and 14 years in fishing and rental services. For 10 years, Mr. Pruitt was a Partner and Operations Manager at Red Diamond Pressure Control, where he focused on rental equipment and workover and completion rigs. He enjoys building teams and providing solutions to customers.
Stephen Moses
President
Axis Pumping Services
Stephen Moses is President of Axis Pumping Services. Mr. Moses brings more than 40 years of oilfield service experience, including more than 30 years in leadership roles in cementing and acidizing. He co-founded M6 Energy Services in 2016 and stewarded the business to growth across five basins—with an emphasis on safety, quality and dependability—before it was acquired by Axis. After starting his career as a roughneck, Mr. Moses rose through the ranks over the next three decades, serving in supervisory roles at several oilfield service companies. In 2005, he co-founded C&S Energy Services, managing all operations until the company was acquired 10 years later.
Clay Holland
Sr. Vice President of Operations
Clay Holland is Sr. Vice President of Operations at Axis Energy Services. Mr. Holland is responsible for overseeing operations, helping to build strong customer relationships, and maximizing the company’s financial goals and strategic vision. He brings a collaborative approach to working with the operations leaders to progress initiatives and results related to his key responsibilities with a high focus on safety management and more than 10 years’ experience in oilfield services.
Mr. Holland has extensive experience managing well servicing operations. Prior to joining Axis, he served in several leadership roles. Most recently, he was the East Texas Regional Manager for ClearWell Dynamics. Prior to that, he worked for Key Energy Services in roles from District Manager up to the Director of Gulf Coast Operations and at Halliburton in various operational capacities. Mr. Holland has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Sam Houston State University and a master’s degree in Legal Studies, Energy, Oil and Gas Law at Texas A&M University.
Clarence Bertrand, Jr.
Vice President
Axis Plug & Abandonment Services
Clarence “Bert” Bertrand, Jr. is Vice President of Axis Plug and Abandonment Services. Mr. Bertrand is responsible for all P&A business, engineering, and financial objectives. He brings more than 45 years’ experience in oilfield services, primarily in cement operations.
Mr. Bertrand’s career began in 1977 working on drilling rigs, then in 1980 went to work for Halliburton as a frac hand, where he rose through the ranks in numerous roles. His leadership experience includes managing services and financial operations across the US, Middle East, and West Africa with Halliburton. He has a broad experience with large operations teams onshore and offshore across a variety of product lines. Most recently, he was the Director of Cement/P&A for Key Energy Services in Midland, Texas.
Mr. Bertrand holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana Tech University.
Ray Daugherty
Vice President
Axis Fishing & Rental Services
Ray Daugherty is Vice President of Axis Fishing and Rental Services. Mr. Daugherty is responsible for managing the quality of service, customer satisfaction and profitability of the Fishing and Rental Services division. He brings more than 44 years of oilfield experience, including more than 30 years in leadership roles in fishing, milling and rental tool services. After starting his career as a shop hand, he worked his way up to corporate Vice President through working in operations, field service, engineering and sales. As an entrepreneur, Mr. Daugherty started and sold three successful fishing tool companies in the United States and Canada. He enjoys every job in this business because every day is different, and he always strives to learn something new.
Erik Coleman
Vice President of Operations - Permian
Erik Coleman is Vice President of Operations in the Permian at Axis Energy Services. Mr. Coleman is responsible for leading the Permian Operations team in an effective, efficient, and safe manner in all areas related to safety, field operations, customer account growth and management, district P&L management, customer engagement, and training/development.
Prior to joining Axis, Erik served in various sales leadership roles at Key Energy Services. Most recently, he was Key Energy’s Director of Sales for the Permian Basin. He previously worked in management at United Recovery Systems in Houston, Texas. Erik earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance/Business Management from the University of Houston. He previously served in the U.S. Navy, attaining the rank of Aviation Ordnanceman.
James Griffin
Vice President
EHS and Operational Excellence
James W. Griffin, M.Eng., CSTP, CSHM, serves as the Vice President of EHS and Operational Excellence. Mr. Griffin is a safety engineer who brings 25 years of experience in DOT compliance and oil and gas exploration to his role.
Mr. Griffin began his career as a Mississippi State Trooper assigned to road enforcement and a Hazardous Material Instructor with the state training academy. Later in his career, he worked for Shell Oil Company, where he found his true passion in HSE and worked in various technical safety roles and supervisory roles on both offshore and onshore assignments. Prior to joining Axis, Mr. Griffin was the US DOT Safety and Compliance Manager for Schlumberger.
Mr. Griffin holds a Bachelor of Science in Safety Science and a Master of Engineering in Advanced Safety Engineering and Management and is recognized as an SME in Hazardous Materials and Rollover Prevention. He is currently pursuing his PhD and is ABD (all but dissertation) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Tracy Smith
Vice President
Human Resources
Tracy Smith serves as Vice President of Human Resources for Axis Energy Services. As a trusted business and human resource leader, Ms. Smith ensures that Axis teams are properly supported to maximize their potential by collaborating with operational leaders on strategic initiatives in support of organizational success such as talent planning, organizational development, performance management, benefits and compensation, and employee relations.
Ms. Smith’s commitment to excellence and drive for continuous improvement spans over two decades and across the full array of human resource responsibilities with companies in the industrial, manufacturing, aerospace and oil and gas industries. She has successfully developed employee compensation plans, recruited top talent, spearheaded performance management system improvements, and implemented modern HRIS technology to improve business decisions.
Ms. Smith earned her master’s degree from Louisiana State University in Leadership and Human Resource Development and is also certified as a senior-level HR professional through HRCI. She is an avid supporter and volunteer of multiple organizations focused on support for children, humanitarian efforts, education, and the environment.