David Skinner

David Skinner is the Chief Executive Officer of K. Carpenter Associates a market-leading consulting firm specializing in Energy and Technology. Prior to this position Mr. Skinner was the Co-Founder and Chairman of Energy Water Solutions (EWS) an oilfield services company focused on providing economical produced water treatment solutions to the oil and gas industry. EWS raised $9.4 MM in an Angel round and a $55 MM commitment in a secondary round with the help of Lazard as its investment banker. EWS is emerging as the leader in the oilfield water treatment space with the only patent protected, third-party validated technology able to produce potable water for beneficial use. Prior to EWS Mr. Skinner was a Founder and the CEO at Decision Strategies (DSI), a high-end strategy consulting firm specializing in the Energy, Technology, and Pharmaceutical industries.

At DSI, Mr. Skinner worked with Global 1000 boards and executive teams to create game changing strategies, identify new market entries, and evaluate options for significant growth resulting in over $400 billion worth of projects and transactions. While at DSI he grew the company from a startup to over $35MM in seven years earning it recognition as one of the top 100 growth firms in Houston. During his tenure as CEO Mr. Skinner managed year over year growth greater than 50% and an EBITDA margin of over 30%. David is an internationally known and invited lecturer and author of the best selling book “Introduction to Decision Analysis” now in its third edition. On the faculty of Rice University since 2004, Mr. Skinner teaches strategy and decision-making at the Jones School in the Executive MBA program. Through this teaching position Mr. Skinner has helped over 15 student-led companies get started, acquired or merged.

Mr. Skinner’s oil and gas background began in the late 1980’s at Conoco. While at Conoco in 1992, David was a founder of the Decision Analysis Affinity Group which is now the largest non-academic, multi-industry affinity group focused on quality decision-making. David is still active in this organization and continues to be instrumental in the advancement of better decision-making practices. David brings over 26 years of strategy development, management experience, and decision-making skills and holds degrees in finance and economics. Mr. Skinner has been an avid entrepreneur his whole life, starting his first brick and mortar company at the age of 13. With over twenty startups under his belt ranging from specialty chemicals, to real estate, to hospitality and software, he understands the issues that founders face and often consults with business and community leaders. David enjoys working with young entrepreneurs and sits on the board of Junior Achievement of the Southwest, the largest Junior Achievement organization in the US.