IPAA Board Announces Edith Naegele as New President and CEO

Sep 2, 2025IPAA Board Announces Edith Naegele as New President and CEO

WASHINGTON - Today, the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Edith Naegele as the association's new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 22, 2025. The IPAA has over 5,000 members who produce and develop oil and natural gas resources in 34 states across the United States along with members who service and support the industry.

Naegele is currently Vice President, Membership and Strategic Development & Corporate Secretary of the American Gas Association which represents more than 200 local energy companies committed to the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to more than 79 million customers throughout the nation. She has served in this executive role since joining the AGA in 2021. Prior to the AGA role, she worked for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in roles of increasing responsibility from 2003 with her last role as Senior Vice President where she oversaw membership development and engagement. Naegele holds a Master of Arts in Science, Technology and Public Policy from The George Washington University's Elliot School of International Affairs, and Bachelors of Arts in History and Asian Studies from the University of Oregon.

Naegele's priorities will include engaging with IPAA membership across the country to better understand the issues facing the upstream oil and natural gas industry. Jeff Eshelman, IPAA's current president and chief executive officer who has served IPAA for over 27 years, plans to remain with the association in a new role, helping with the leadership transition and advising on advocacy efforts and IPAA's Energy in Depth program which Eshelman founded in 2009 and directs. IPAA's federal advocacy efforts will continue to be overseen by IPAA's EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Dan Naatz.

IPAA Board Chairman Mike Hillebrand commented, "The Board of IPAA is thrilled to have Edith Naegele lead our capable Washington, D.C. based team and strengthen our member engagement. I am confident in Edith's ability to activate independent companies small and large and guide the association as it presents a unified voice for producers in Washington. Edith's intelligence, strong organizational and communication skills combined with her energetic, get-it-done persona qualify her well to bring IPAA into its next chapter. We have great opportunity ahead with a new leader and the current administration and Congress. The board and I look forward to working with Edith, the IPAA staff and member companies to achieve a legislative and regulatory environment that fosters energy dominance, economic growth and environmental stewardship."

Edith Naegele, said of the appointment, "I am excited to join the team at the IPAA and get out to meet our members, invigorate our events, and continue to elevate the message of the importance of the U.S. oil and natural gas industry to our federal legislators and regulators. I have chosen to advocate for commerce through my roles at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and more recently for the natural gas industry at the AGA in Washington, D.C. I could not be more energized to expand my mission upstream to the oil and natural gas industry through the IPAA which is approaching a century of advocacy for independent oil and gas operators."

For the full IPAA management list, visit https://www.ipaa.org/management-team/