Our Leadership
Board of Directors
Julie A. Dill
Chair since 2021, Director since 2019
Julie A. Dill has a wealth of experience in the energy sector, having served in a number of executive capacities in the natural gas and power industries. Most recently and until her retirement in 2017, she served as the Chief Communications Officer of Spectra Energy Corp. from 2013 until completion of Spectra's merger with Enbridge, Inc. in the first quarter of 2017.
Previously Ms. Dill served as the Group Vice President of Strategy for Spectra and the President and CEO of Spectra Energy Partners, LP from 2012 until 2013, and prior to that she served as President of Union Gas Limited in Ontario, Canada from 2007-2011. Over her career she also served in various financial and operational roles with Duke Energy, Duke Energy International and Shell Oil Company.
Ms. Dill currently sits on the boards of RYAM and Sterling Infrastructure where she serves as a non-executive director. She also sits on the board of Tri-Cities Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors. In addition, Ms. Dill is a member of the Advisory Council for the College of Business and Economics at New Mexico State University and participates on the Community Relations Committee of the board of Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Ms. Dill was named as one of the most powerful businesswomen in Texas in 2016 and was named to the 50 most powerful women in oil and gas in both 2014 and 2015. She was also named the Ontario Energy Leader of the Year in 2010 as well as the Distinguished Alumni for the College of Business at New Mexico State University that same year. She was named to the College of Business Hall of Fame in 2000 and was named one of the top 50 Women in Energy in 2002. In Australia she served as a Governor with the American Chamber of Commerce and was a Member of the Executive Committee for the Australian Pipeline Industry Association.
Ms. Dill holds a Bachelor of Administration degree from New Mexico State University and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. She earned her CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity from Carnegie Mellon University and received her NACD Directorship Certification.
Renaud Faucher
Director since 2018
Mr. Renaud Faucher joined Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in 2006. He is currently Managing Director, Infrastructure, where he is responsible for the management of infrastructure investments in North America. From 1986 to 1990, Mr. Faucher worked, as an engineer, on the construction of infrastructure projects in Canada and Europe, including the Channel Tunnel project. From 1992 to 1998, Mr. Faucher worked on the financing and management of independent power plants across Canada. From 1998 to 2006, he held different positions within wholly owned international subsidiaries of Hydro-Québec as Director Investments, Vice President Finance and Vice President Risk Management.
Mr. Faucher sits on the Boards of Energir (2014), Noverco (2014 and Chairman of the Board since 2016), Colonial Pipeline (2014), Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline (2018 and Chairman of the Board 2019-2021) and Mercury Taiwan Holding (2021).
Previously, Mr. Faucher was a member of the LLC Committee of Cross-Sound Cable Company LLC (a submarine power cable between Connecticut and Long Island, NY, 2003-2006), a director of Sedna (long-term healthcare services provider in Québec, 2006-2007), of Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline (an interstate pipeline in the United States, 2006-2009), of Noverco (a holding company with investments in Energir Inc., 2006‑2009), of AviAlliance Capital (formerly Hochtief Airport Capital in Germany, 2010-2014), on the Supervisory Board of Budapest Airport (2011-2014), of Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited (2006-2014, with 4 years as chair of the Audit Committee), on the members committee of Invenergy Wind LLC (2014-2017), of AES U.S. Investments Inc., of IPALCO (holding companies of Indianapolis Power and Light Company 2015-2019) and of REM Commandité Inc. (2018-2021).
Mr. Faucher holds a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering from École Polytechnique de Montréal, an MBA from Concordia University and a DESS (specialized graduate diploma) in Accounting from ESG‑UQAM. He is a member of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec, of the Ordre des CPA du Québec and of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD).
Eléonore Joder
Director since 2024
Eléonore Joder joined Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in March 2024 as Operating Partner. She sits on the Board of Directors of Velto Renewables. From 2023 to 2012, Ms. Joder was Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Finance & Support for Noven group and Chief Financial Officer of the listed groups Albioma (2009-20012) and Poweo (2006 to 2009).
Previously, Ms. Joder was Director of Finance and Treasury at Artémis, the Pinault family's investment holding company, and held various positions within the Rhône-Poulenc and Rhodia groups, notably in Internal Audit, Capital Markets and Financing and Mergers & Acquisitions departments.
Ms. Joder has also served as an independent director of McPhy (hydrogen production, storage and distribution equipment), Fournier (interior fittings), Gascogne (wood-paper-packaging sector), Younited (instant credit provider in Europe) and Lucibel (LED technology). She has participated in or chaired various committees (Audit, Strategy, Appointments & Remuneration) within these Boards. She was also involved in the creation of Ecole 42 in Le Havre, France, a training school for innovative IT development excellence, as Vice-President.
Eléonore Joder is a graduate of the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris, INSEAD and the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Défense Nationale. She taught corporate finance in the Master 2 Corporate Strategy program at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris.
Jeff Murphy
Director since 2019
Jeff Murphy joined Ullico in 2009 as a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of the Ullico Infrastructure Fund (“UIF”). Mr. Murphy has over 24 years’ experience in infrastructure development, finance, and principal ownership. As Portfolio Manager, Mr. Murphy has overseen the growth of UIF from its first investment in 2012 to its 24th investment in 2022. UIF’s portfolio is composed of investments in all major infrastructure sectors including energy, transportation, and water.
In addition to the Southern Star Board, which Mr. Murphy joined in 2019, he sits on the Boards of Rialto Water Services (2012), Tidewater Holdings (2018), Hope Utilities (2021), and as an observer for CenTrio (2021).
Prior to joining Ullico, Mr. Murphy was a senior member of Deutsche Bank’s alternatives investment group investing in infrastructure assets in North America and Europe for four years. Mr. Murphy also spent seven years at Bechtel Enterprises. During that time, he worked in the United Kingdom on a range of infrastructure projects in Europe, including one the largest public private partnerships (“PPP”) in the world, the $10 billion London Underground PPP.
Prior to his work at Bechtel, he was a privatization advisor in emerging markets for Barents Group of KPMG as well as a management consultant for Andersen Consulting. Mr. Murphy holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Northwestern University.
Shawn Patterson
Director since 2022
Shawn L. Patterson became President & Chief Executive Officer in 2022; he started with Southern Star in 2017. Prior to joining Southern Star, Mr. Patterson was the Senior Vice President of Operations at TransCanada Pipeline USA Ltd. He also held the previous roles of Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President at Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. and General Manager for Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Mr. Patterson began his career in the industry in 1995 with a passion for building strong teams, safety culture, growth platforms and optimizing organizations’ capabilities. He is a driven executive leader and takes pride in team success. Mr. Patterson has been recognized by industry associates for his innovative approach to business solutions.
Mr. Patterson received his undergraduate degree from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. He serves on the boards of ONE Future, the Southern Gas Association, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Regional Water Resource Agency (Wastewater Services for Owensboro & Daviess County, KY).
Executive Leadership
Shawn L. Patterson
President & Chief Executive Officer
Shawn L. Patterson became President & Chief Executive Officer in 2022; he started with Southern Star in 2017. Prior to joining Southern Star, Mr. Patterson was the Senior Vice President of Operations at TransCanada Pipeline USA Ltd. He also held the previous roles of Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President at Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. and General Manager for Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Mr. Patterson began his career in the industry in 1995 with a passion for building strong teams, safety culture, growth platforms and optimizing organizations’ capabilities. He is a driven executive leader and takes pride in team success. Mr. Patterson has been recognized by industry associates for his innovative approach to business solutions.
Mr. Patterson received his undergraduate degree from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. He serves on the boards of ONE Future, the Southern Gas Association, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Regional Water Resource Agency (Wastewater Services for Owensboro & Daviess County, KY).
Mr. Patterson’s management team includes the following: Chris Schindler, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer; Charles Crews, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer; Drew Bailey, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer; Ashley Knight, Vice President, Human Resources; Karen Goedde, Director, Communications & Public Relations; Matt McCoy, Director, Commercial Services; Dave Roberts, Director, Enterprise Excellence; and Sarah O’Bryan, Administrative Executive Assistant.
Chris Schindler
Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer
Chris Schindler joined Southern Star in June 2019 and currently serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. Mr. Schindler brings extensive experience representing diverse energy company clients in regulatory, compliance, commercial, litigation, enforcement, and strategic counseling matters. Prior to joining Southern Star, he served as Partner at Hogan Lovells, US LLP in Washington, D.C. where he started as an Associate in 1994 and became Partner in 2002. During his time there, Mr. Schindler handled complex regulatory matters before FERC, CFTC and state commissions; drafted and negotiated commercial agreements and executed regulatory strategies for energy infrastructure projects; and litigated FERC rate cases. He was also a frequent national speaker on FERC and CFTC regulatory issues.
Mr. Schindler received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and continued to George Washington University to earn his Master of Arts in 1991 and Juris Doctor with Honors in 1994. He serves on the board of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport.
Charles Crews
Executive Vice President & Chief Operations Officer
Charles Crews joined Southern Star in December 2022 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. With more than two decades of industry experience, Mr. Crews has held various leadership and executive positions. Prior to joining Southern Star, Mr. Crews served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Northeast Gas Association (NGA). Prior to NGA, he consulted on a broad spectrum of areas assisting clients with operations management, capital investment strategies, infrastructure planning, organizational design, and business plan development. Mr. Crews also served as Vice President for Consumers Energy, one of the nation’s largest investor-owned utilities, leading the strategy, operations, maintenance, and construction for the company’s natural gas operations division.
Mr. Crews earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Ohio University and his MBA from Capital University where he graduated with top honors. He has attended executive leadership courses at Carnegie Mellon University, Rice University, Gap International, and the American Gas Association.
Mr. Crews serves on the board of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) Foundation and is a Steering Committee member for ONE Future. He also serves on the board of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation.
Drew Bailey
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Drew Bailey joined Southern Star in April of 2022 and serves as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Southern Star, Mr. Bailey was Vice President of Finance & Accounting for Energy Systems Group, a subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy (Vectren). He also held various financial positions at Vectren, in the areas of Investments, Treasury and Financial Planning & Analysis.
Mr. Bailey received his undergraduate degree and MBA from the University of Southern Indiana. He serves on the board of Wendell Foster Center in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Ashley Knight
Vice President, Human Resources
Ashley Knight joined Southern Star in April 2019 and serves as Vice President, Human Resources. Prior to joining Southern Star, Mrs. Knight spent more than 12 years leading human resources for manufacturing and youth development organizations. Ashley brings experience in leadership and organizational development, talent acquisition, and leading organizational change and culture initiatives.
She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Owensboro YMCA and has been an avid supporter of the Southern Gas Association (SGA), serving on the Women & Leadership Committee and the Human Resources Committee.
Ashley earned a dual Bachelor of Science degree in finance and marketing from the University of Kentucky. She also holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification and is a SHRM Certified Professional (CP).
Karen Goedde
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Karen Goedde joined Southern Star in August 2018 and serves as the Director of Communications & Public Relations. Prior to joining Southern Star, Mrs. Goedde spent 28 years in the financial services industry in various executive leadership roles. Karen brings extensive experience in customer service, community engagement, corporate governance and leads Southern Star’s internal and external communications strategy and brand management.
Karen is an active member of the Southern Gas Association (SGA) and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America’s (INGAA) Communications Committee. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards of directors throughout her career and currently serves as a Board member for Girls Inc. of Owensboro-Daviess County and the Owensboro Health Foundation in Kentucky. Karen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Murray State University.