Leadership

Calder Hendrickson

Chairman & CEO

Calder Hendrickson is the driving force behind AquaSmart® and its pursuit of innovative, profitable technologies. A lifelong athlete, he leads with a team-focused mindset—building strong, high-performing teams that thrive on hard work, accountability, and smart risk-taking. Together with these teams, Calder identifies promising technologies, validates them through rigorous research, and brings them successfully to market. This collaborative approach has produced a portfolio of proprietary products that are reshaping the oil & gas industry and creating impact across concrete, agriculture, and lawn & garden markets. Calder and his wife, Ceri, live in Lubbock, Texas, where they are raising their five children.

Ceri Hendrickson

Chief of Finance and Administration

With a degree in Agricultural Business and a lifelong foundation in entrepreneurship—from working on the family farm to leading through major business expansions, Ceri brings over 15 years of experience in accounting, operations, and business management. As the Co-Founder of AquaSmart® and Chief of Finance and Administration, she leads with a relational style, combining financial strategy with a hands-on approach to operations, systems, and process optimization. Known for her fine-tuned attention to detail and passion for building efficient, scalable systems, Ceri plays a key role in the continued growth and health of the business. She is especially passionate about fostering a value-driven culture where both people and purpose thrive. Her leadership ethos is shaped by a commitment to excellence, stewardship, and service—values that extend beyond the workplace to her favorite role: life with her amazing husband, Calder, and their five super cool kids—Celah, Case, Cora, Cayna, and Crew.
AquaSmart™ Global Todd Naff

Todd Naff

Chief of Staff

Todd has been part of the AquaSmart® leadership team since its inception, helping shape the company’s direction with a strategist’s vision and an innovator’s mindset. A native Texan, he thrives at the intersection of creativity and analysis—whether charting new pathways for product development, sparking ideas for market expansion, or weaving together insights that connect technology with customer needs. His background in marketing from St. Edward’s University grounds his ability to frame big-picture strategies in ways that resonate with customers and partners alike. Outside of AquaSmart®, Todd brings the same imagination to his artistic pursuits, particularly songwriting, where his lyrical craft mirrors his gift for seeing patterns, possibilities, and new perspectives. He and his wife, Tessa, make their home in Bryan, TX, where they prioritize their pursuits of faith and health.
Dr. Oliver Mulamba

Dr. Oliver Mulamba, Ph.D.

Chief Technology Officer

Dr. Oliver Mulamba serves as Chief Technology Officer at AquaSmart® Enterprises, where he leads the research, development, and commercialization of advanced material solutions for agriculture, oil & gas, and construction industries. With a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Materials Science, Oliver combines academic rigor with practical industry experience to turn complex science into scalable, market-ready technologies. Since joining AquaSmart®, he has been instrumental in expanding the company’s polymer innovations beyond agriculture into large-scale oil & gas and concrete applications. He has been deeply involved in guiding the company’s intellectual property strategy, patent filings, and ensuring AquaSmart®’s technologies meet the highest standards of safety, compliance, and environmental responsibility. Prior to joining AquaSmart®, Oliver served as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Master’s Program in Engineering at West Texas A&M University, where he launched new programs, secured substantial research funding, and published widely in peer-reviewed journals. His unique career path bridges academia, entrepreneurship, and industrial innovation, positioning him as both a thought leader and a practical problem-solver. Oliver is passionate about building technologies that protect people, improve efficiency, and create long-term value. At AquaSmart®, he continues to drive an innovation-first culture focused on advancing sustainable solutions that serve both customers and communities.

Charly Miklaski

Director of Business Development

Charly Miklaski brings over 20 years of broad-based experience in the oil and gas industry, with deep expertise in completions operations, production optimization, and field execution. His well-rounded background provides a strategic perspective on the evolving challenges and opportunities in today’s oilfield environment. His in-depth technical knowledge and hands-on understanding of AquaSmart® ’s solutions at scale enable him to deliver meaningful impact and value to partners across the global energy sector. Charly’s combination of industry insight, engineering expertise, and real-world application of AquaSmart®’s technologies make him a vital asset to the team as the company advances its mission to transform completions efficiency and sustainability. In his spare time, Charly enjoys running and spending time outdoors.

Doug Dreher, P.E.

Director of Operations

Doug Dreher serves as Director of Operations for AquaSmart Oil & Gas, where he leads with a clear mission—bridging the gap between boots on the ground and the boardroom. With a foundation built in the oilfield and a career that’s spanned engineering, production, and executive leadership, Doug brings a unique blend of technical acumen and people-centered leadership to AquaSmart’s growing operations.
Doug’s career began the traditional way—roustabouting in the Texas oil patch, learning firsthand the grit and precision required to keep field operations running. Over the years, he advanced through roles at Stephens Engineering, Devon Gas Services, Halliburton, EXCO Resources, and Pioneer Natural Resources, consistently known for driving performance improvements, cost efficiency, and team alignment across complex projects and regions.
Today at AquaSmart, Doug is focused on optimizing performance through consistency, communication, and culture—helping his teams deliver excellence from the first customer call to the last barrel pumped. He is passionate about developing leaders at every level, ensuring the next generation of field supervisors and engineers understand not only the science behind the work, but the purpose behind the mission.
Doug holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University and is a licensed Professional Engineer. When he’s not driving operational excellence, Doug can be found mentoring in his local 4-H Robotics Program and spending time managing the lively schedules of his five children.

James Cheatwood

Strategic Integrator of Finance and Operations

James oversees the AquaSmart® Finance and Administration team with a strategic blend of expertise and empathy. With over twelve years of experience, he specializes in capital management, financial stewardship, and process optimization. James is deeply committed to leveraging automation and data-driven insights to enhance operational efficiency and drive sustainable results. A dedicated leader, he fosters a culture of collaboration and work-life balance, ensuring his team delivers excellence while maintaining well-being. His leadership philosophy centers on empowering his team to achieve their best, supporting the long-term success of both the AquaSmart® organization and its employees. Born in Midland, Texas, James comes from a lineage of oilmen and wildcatters. He currently resides in the DFW Metroplex with his wife, Katie, and their children, Luke and Grace. Outside of work, James is passionate about being actively present in his children’s lives, volunteering at their school, and supporting their pursuits in music and sports.

Lexie Vivian

Human Resources Manager

With over a decade of Human Resources experience in large-scale corporate environments within the oil and gas industry, Lexie brings a comprehensive background in HR operations, organizational development, benefits, and compensation. Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for people and a results-driven mindset, makes her an invaluable asset to the AquaSmart® team. Lexie is known for her natural ability to build strong, positive relationships across all levels of an organization, fostering a supportive workplace culture. Her exceptional communication skills and strategic approach to HR ensure seamless operations behind the scenes, directly contributing to team cohesion and overall success. A West Texas native, Lexie earned her degree from Texas Tech University in her hometown of Lubbock. She now lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with her husband, Michael, and their daughter, Georgia. Outside of work, Lexie enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time in nature with her family—whether at the beach or in the mountains.

Strategic Partners and Advisors

Buddy Petersen

As an advisor to AquaSmart® Mr. Petersen has over 25 years’ experience in the completions services industry. Prior to joining Alpine as the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Petersen was the Chief Operating Officer of FTS International, one of the largest well completion companies in North America, until it was acquired by ProFrac (NASDAQ: ACDC). Prior to FTS, Mr. Petersen held numerous senior leadership roles in middle-market energy services companies. Mr. Petersen began his career at Halliburton, where he spent 14 years working in various roles of increasing responsibility. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from New Mexico State University.

Paul Huckabee

Paul has 43 years industry experience specializing in Completions and Stimulation Design & Optimization for Low Permeability and Unconventional Resource Development. Paul was the recipient of the 2022 SPE International Award for Distinguished Contribution to Petroleum Engineering in Completions Optimization and Technology. Paul’s Advisory role with AquaSmart® is to work collaboratively with Operating Companies to create value through reduced completion costs and enhanced well performance through improved Stimulation Distribution Effectiveness. Paul is Author, or Co-Author of 35 Industry Papers and participated on 44 SPE event committees including 16 events with a leadership role. Paul served on the Program Committees for SPE’s Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conferences for 9 years and SPE’s Annual Technology Conference and Exhibition for 4 years. Paul also served on the SPE International Completions Advisory Committee for 5 years. Paul previously held positions of Principal Wells Engineer and Completions Engineering Advisor for Shell Oil Company, Corporate Completions Manager for Newfield Exploration, and President of Diagnostic Innovations, LLC. Paul has BS & MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University. Paul prioritizes his Christian faith and family and has served in advisory roles for Christian organizations, churches, and autism support organizations.

Rice Investment Group

Rice Investment Group (RIG) is a multi-strategy investment fund backed by the Rice family. The Rice brothers founded Rice Energy, an Appalachian Basin focused natural gas operator that later merged with EQT Corporation to form the largest natural gas producer in North America. RIG invests in all verticals of the energy sector and focuses on situations where its technical, operational, and strategic expertise can add shareholder value. The team has also sponsored two SPACs, Rice Acquisition Corp I (combined with Archaea Energy and Aria Energy, later sold to bp for $4bn) and Rice Acquisition Corp II (combined with NET Power for $1.5bn, NYSE: NPWR).