Staff | Liquid Energy Pipeline Association

ANDREW J. Black

President and CEO

As President and CEO, Andy Black promotes LEPA’s mission of responsible government policies, safety excellence, and public support for liquid pipelines. He works with company personnel to develop and advocate industry positions at federal and state agencies, legislatures, and the executive branch. He works with pipeline operators to advance pipeline safety and expand pipeline capacity to better serve Americans. Andy has pursued LEPA’s legislative and regulatory agenda with Congressional committee leadership, FERC Commissioners, DOT PHMSA Administrators and Deputies, and their staffs. He has testified before Congressional committees on pipeline safety legislation, safety activities, pipeline expansion, border-crossing approvals, security, and propane supply issues.

Andy previously served in a government relations position in Washington for the El Paso Corporation, a natural gas pipeline company, oil and natural gas producer, and LNG terminal operator. Prior to that, he was Director of the Office of External Affairs for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He earlier worked on Capitol Hill for thirteen years as a staff member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and for Congressman Joe Barton of Texas. Andy has a B.S. in Economics from Texas Christian University and an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland.

Steven M. Kramer

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL, AND CORPORATE SECRETARY

Steve Kramer joined LEPA in October 2008. He is LEPA’s chief legal officer responsible for legal issues affecting LEPA and its members. He represents LEPA on legal, regulatory, and policy matters before government agencies and courts, works on issues with LEPA committees and teams, makes presentations to and participates regulatory in meetings with LEPA executive leadership and the LEPA Board of Directors, and ensures that LEPA activities and operations comply with applicable law.

Steve has more than 30 years of experience in the energy field, including in the oil pipeline, natural gas, and electric power industries. Earlier in his career, he worked as an attorney-advisor at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and was in private law practice representing clients on energy regulatory, policy, and strategic matters. Prior to joining LEPA, he was with the international law firm Milbank LLP. During his career, Steve has worked on a wide range of pipeline and utility rate and tariff matters, pipeline safety, permitting, legislative development and strategy, development and financing of energy infrastructure projects, and energy mergers and acquisitions.

Steve earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and his law degree from the University of Richmond. He has served as an officer, on the Board of Directors and on various committees of the Energy Bar Association, as well as on the Board of Directors of the Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar Association.

John Stoody

Vice President, Government and Public Relations

John Stoody represents the interests of LEPA and its member companies on an industry-wide basis before Congress, its committees and individual members. He leads pipeline safety improvement programs and U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulatory issues at LEPA. He also leads LEPA’s public relations efforts and serves as LEPA’s primary media relations contact. John works with LEPA members and staff to develop and execute programmatic, legislative, regulatory and communications strategies. He joined LEPA as Director of Government Relations in January 2012, adding public relations duties later in 2012, and becoming Vice President of Government and Public Relations in 2014.

John came to LEPA with 20 years of Washington legislative and policy experience. He spent 13 years as a U.S. Senate aide, serving as Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Counsel for U.S. Senator Kit Bond and Majority Staff Director of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. Previously, he served 7 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including time as an attorney-advisor in EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. He began his federal government service as a Presidential Management Fellow at EPA and the White House Office of Management and Budget.

John has a B.S. in Science and Technology Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an M.G.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law.

Merritt Allaun

Paralegal and Industry Analyst

Merritt Allaun began working at LEPA in April 2018 and has over ten years of experience in the legal industry. She assists the LEPA team and association members with filings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Federal Courts. Merritt also assists with program content for LEPA meetings and events.

natalie webb

digital communications manager

Natalie Webb joined LEPA in November of 2017. As LEPA’s digital communications manager, she is responsible for maintaining LEPA’s digital presence and leveraging various digital platforms to help LEPA and its industry partners effectively engage with audiences.

Prior to joining LEPA, Webb worked at a number of advocacy organizations managing their digital communications efforts and VOX Global as a production manager. She holds a master’s degree in Strategic Public Relations from The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.