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 Signal Peak In 30 Seconds
15:49 Turnaround And Team Building
17:24 Sand Consolidation Strategy
20:06 How The Sand Market Changed
22:47 Plant Costs Then And Now
24:17 Wet Versus Dry Sand
25:36 Wet Sand Reality Check
26:15 How Heavy Is Sand
27:14 Logistics And Truck Staging
28:59 Pitching SPS Value
30:57 Five To Ten Year Vision
32:48 Barbecue And Oilfield Culture
34:53 Winning At Pebble Beach
38:21 Cookoff Community And Team
42:27 Career Wisdom And Wrap
Colombia