#93. How do you turn a struggling frac sand operation into a 10‑million‑ton powerhouse?

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with Jackson Wise on transforming frac sand operations and the challenges of leadership in the oil and gas sector.

Recorded live at the Daniel Energy Partners Thrive Conference, hosts David de Roode and Victoria Beard Queen sit down with Jackson Wise, CEO of Signal Peak Silica, and world-class pit master, to unpack the realities of the modern sand business and what it takes to lead through cycles. Wise shares his unconventional path from Enron and investment banking with the infamous Simmons & Company to operating one of the largest regional frac sand platforms in the U.S., along with the hard lessons learned during Signal Peak’s 2019 turnaround. The conversation dives into how regionalization has reshaped the sand market, why delivered cost and logistics matter more than brand, and how consolidation and capital discipline are defining the future of the sector. Wise also reflects on leadership, mentorship, building high‑trust teams, and why barbecue, community, and culture still play an outsized role in oil & gas today. 00:00 Why Oil And Gas Matters 00:36 Podcast And Sponsors 01:59 Live From Thrive Conference 03:14 Meet Jackson Wise 03:40 Early Career And Enron 05:52 BP MBA And Simmons 07:17 Simmons Culture Lessons 09:34 Leaving Banking To Operate 11:38 Mentorship And Leadership 13:16…

People in this episode

Hosts: David de Roode, Victoria Beard Queen

Guest: Jackson Wise

Topics covered

• frac sand operations
• leadership in oil and gas
• sand market dynamics
• turnaround strategies
• regionalization in business
• team building
• capital discipline

Keywords

• frac sand
• oil and gas
• leadership
• turnaround
• regionalization
• logistics
• capital discipline

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Signal Peak Silica, Enron, Simmons & Company, BP

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