Executive Leadership

Larry Bell of Kinder Morgan Intrastate Pipelines has been elected to a two-year term as chairman of the Texas Pipeline Association (TPA). TPA is the largest state trade association in the country that solely represents the interests of the intrastate pipeline network. The association made the announcement last Friday at its Annual Meeting, held at the C. Baldwin Hotel in downtown Houston.

“We are very fortunate to have Larry serve as our chairman,” said TPA President Thure Cannon. “For many years, he has served on the TPA Board, most recently as vice chairman, and now we welcome his sage advice as chairman. We would also like to thank outgoing Chairman Vincent DiCosimo for his dedication and leadership over the past two years, as he led us through the last Texas legislative session and the rulemakings that have come out of SB 3, a massive new regulatory structure that helps ensure the integrity of the energy grid.”

Larry Bell is chief commercial officer of Kinder Morgan Intrastate Pipelines, which consists of Kinder Morgan’s Texas intrastate pipelines (Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline LLC, Kinder Morgan Tejas Pipeline LLC and Kinder Morgan Border Pipeline LLC); the Mier-Monterrey Pipeline (owned by Kinder Morgan Gas Natural de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.) in Mexico and the Waha to Texas Gulf Coast Pipelines, Gulf Coast Express LLC and Permian Highway LLC.

With more than 40 years of commercial experience in the North American natural gas markets, Bell has helped grow Kinder Morgan’s Intrastate Pipelines network since 1989. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

“I am very honored to have the privilege to serve as chairman of this great organization,” said Bell. “We face many challenges ahead, but we always take those on with a spirit of resilience and determination as we continue to serve the state and nation with the safe, efficient and cost-efficient delivery of the hydrocarbons Americans rely on every day.”

James Pinchback is Plains’ Vice President for Permian Pipeline Business Development and Commercial activities. He joined Plains in 2006 and serves as Plains’ top executive located in Midland. In addition to his responsibilities for Permian pipeline business development, he also coordinates the company’s operating and commercial activities in the region. His expertise has focused on a variety of roles at Plains, including Managing Director of Pipeline Commercial Operations. Prior to Plains, James spent 18 years with BP covering supply and trading, lease crude acquisition and marketing and with INEOS in the NGL and purity products space. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana Tech University.

Thure Cannon serves as president of the Texas Pipeline Association (TPA). Prior to joining TPA in 2010, Thure worked in the Texas Legislature for over 12 years serving as chief of staff for a state representative. Before his legislative tenure, Thure consulted on numerous political campaigns and interned for members of the Texas House and Texas Senate.

Thure holds a Master of Public Affairs degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. He has been a guest lecturer on Texas campaigns at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and has been a speaker at conferences and service clubs on the Texas Legislature and politics.

As a native Houstonian, Jennifer grew up surrounded by evidence that the city was and is the “Energy Capital of the World” and naturally gravitated toward a career in the industry. She joined the Texas Pipeline Association in the Fall of 2020 with the mission to broaden its regulatory and government affairs reach and deepen its influence in the public policy space.

A graduate of Texas State University, she held legislative policy roles for former State Senators Chris Harris (R-Arlington, then Vice-Chairman of the Business and Commerce Committee) and Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls, then Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources) in a time when the Texas shale boom was transforming the landscape of the country’s energy industry.

Keen to deepen her expertise, Jennifer earned her law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston in 2016.  She returned to the Capitol as Legislative Director and General Counsel for Senator Pete Flores, representing a district that encompassed two of the most significant oil and gas plays in the country, the Eagle Ford Shale and the Permian Basin. Jennifer’s law school education served her well as she contended with critical issues like eminent domain and private property rights. This blend of legislative and legal experience has provided her with a unique understanding of the myriad ways in which the industry touches the lives of Texans every day.

At the Texas Pipeline Association, she has built and strengthened relationships with legislators, regulatory agencies and their staff, and fellow trade associations. These connections support the Association and its members in advocating for the safe and efficient construction and operation of intrastate pipelines in the state of Texas.