LSU petroleum engineering graduate who co-founded Covey Park Energy LLC in July 2013 with former Exco Resources Inc. colleagues. Covey Park acquires and operates Permian, Midcontinent and Ark-La-Tex assets. Hilton has an eye for “properties that have a 50% PDP-to-upside value ratio. That gives us both predictability and some running room.”

Accomplishments: As one of three engineers in executive roles, balances engineering and geology work with corporate management. Alongside 12 employees, has “big plans” for Covey Park, which is backed by $300 million from Denham Capital Partners.

On camaraderie: “It’s kind of amazing to find a group of people that you work so well with, and we’re pretty fortunate that we have the ability to assemble this team; we think our future is very bright. Everybody brings something to the table in their experience and technical abilities.”

Goals: “We think there is an opportunity in the marketplace where operators will need to sell high-quality, long-life properties with development potential and stacked pay to fund their capital programs.”
Wants to be a mentor at her alma mater. “When I was in school, I didn’t really know that there was more out there to the engineering discipline in terms of starting your own company using private-equity [money]. And I want to give back to the LSU community and particularly SPE at LSU, and really just try to show young people that there are many facets of the business.

“There is an entrepreneurial side, which they probably haven’t been exposed to, and it is an ever-growing part of the business, and there are a lot of opportunities to potentially start your own company.”