2025 PBIOS President

Martin Graves

​​​​​​​A native son of Odessa, Texas, Martin Graves has spent a lifetime immersed in the culture, industry, and evolution of the Permian Basin. With over three decades of experience in oilfield services and construction, Martin is known for his down-to-earth leadership style, entrepreneurial resilience, and deep commitment to the region’s people and potential.

Martin graduated from Permian High School in 1979 and earned a BBA in Finance from Texas Tech University in 1985. He began his professional journey in banking, but the pull of the oilfield proved too strong. In the late 1980s, he joined Tripp Construction, working alongside his father-in-law Joe Young—a past president of the Permian Basin International Oil Show—and found his true path in energy services.

In 1991, Martin co-founded Insulation Products and what began as a family-run startup has grown into a trusted insulation supplier serving oil and gas infrastructure, food processing, refrigeration, and commercial cold storage sectors. Martin’s business philosophy is rooted in empowerment and flexibility. “We’re small enough that structure doesn’t drive us—trust does,” he says. His style focuses on letting team members lead in their areas of strength, a strategy that has sustained Insulation Products through industry cycles and setbacks alike.

Martin credits a pivotal moment in his career to an unexpected partnership: two Dallas-based professionals who, by chance, showed up at his office in the mid-1990s. Their collaboration helped him scale the business and forge relationships that remain strong today—a testament, he says, to faith, timing, and a little bit of luck.

A lifelong supporter of PBIOS, Martin first walked the show floor as a boy, tagging along with his grandfather, who operated a small oil company out of Big Spring. His earliest memories include watching his grandfather place tank orders directly from trusted vendors at the show. Martin joined the Oil Show’s General Board in 1988 and has served on the Executive Board since 2012. His role as President of the 2025 Oil Show represents both a personal milestone and a continuation of a family legacy.

This year’s theme, “The Basin’s Next Generation: Bridging Legacies, Powering Tomorrow,” resonates deeply with Martin. He sees PBIOS as more than a trade show—it’s a proving ground for new technologies, a meeting place for innovators, and a symbol of the Basin’s resilience. “We want attendees to walk away with value—real, practical connections and ideas that make a difference in their businesses,” he says. “And we want exhibitors that represent the cutting edge of where this industry is going.”

Outside of work, Martin is a family man at heart. He and his wife—also a Texas Tech alum—have been married since 1984. They enjoy traveling, especially to the snowy mountains of Colorado and Utah. Martin is a self-declared terrible golfer, a casual hunter, and a doting grandfather. His daughter Abby lives in Lubbock with her two children, while his son True works alongside him as a salesman for Insulation Products, continuing the family tradition in the industry.

Martin’s advice to young professionals entering oil and gas is simple: find a quality company, work hard, and stay loyal. “These cycles come and go,” he says. “But if you’re grounded, you’ll make it. This place teaches resilience better than anywhere else in the world.”

2025 PBIOS Honoree

Ben Shepperd

The Permian Basin International Oil Show is proud to recognize Ben Shepperd, President of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA), as the 2025 Oil Show Honoree, a distinction reserved for individuals whose leadership, service, and dedication have significantly impacted the oil and gas industry.

For nearly two decades, Shepperd has been a pillar of advocacy, tirelessly representing the voice of the Permian Basin in Austin, Santa Fe, and Washington, D.C. As PBPA President since 2006, he has built one of the most respected regional energy trade associations in the country, an organization that consistently punches above its weight thanks to his vision, diplomacy, and relentless drive.

Throughout his career, Shepperd has exemplified the values that define the PBIOS Honoree distinction: a lifetime of commitment, an unmatched record of service, and a deep belief in the strength and future of the Permian Basin. He joins an esteemed list of past honorees, including Red Adair, Jim Henry, Cloyce Talbott, Clayton Williams, Tim Leach, and Dick Sivalls.

Raised in Austin and born into a proud Texas lineage, Shepperd began his professional journey in economics, earning his degree from the University of Texas. Initially planning a career in banking, he shifted directions in the wake of the S&L crisis, later pursuing a degree in animal science from Texas A&M University.

His early work in agribusiness policy, including time with Commissioner Rick Perry and leadership roles at the Agritech Center in San Antonio, provided a foundation for a future shaped by public service and advocacy. It wasn’t until his tenure as Committee Clerk for the House Energy Committee under Rep. Buddy West and later work with the Texas Railroad Commission that Shepperd found his calling in oil and gas policy.

Since taking the reins at PBPA, Shepperd has transformed the organization from a two-person staff into a powerful advocacy engine for one of the world’s most critical oil-producing regions. Under his leadership, PBPA successfully challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken, a legal victory rarely achieved in federal environmental litigation. He also led the expansion of PBPA’s influence with the establishment of a permanent Austin office in 2009.

Ben Shepperd’s leadership style is grounded in collaboration and respect. D. Kirk Edwards, who helped bring Shepperd into PBPA leadership, praised his “unwavering dedication to the Texas oil and gas industry.”

Outside the office, Ben is a devoted husband and father. He and his wife, Jane, recently celebrated nearly 25 years of marriage. Their daughter, Elle, is in her senior year at Sewanee University.

In the Permian Basin community, Shepperd is equally committed. He serves on the Advisory Council for the School of Business at the University of Texas Permian Basin and is a board member of the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute Foundation, continuing a namesake tradition of public service and leadership in West Texas.

Reflecting on the honor, Shepperd shared: 

“I wasn’t expecting it. It’s such a tremendous honor. The Permian Basin International Oil Show is the premier oil and gas trade event in the world, and it’s been a joy to participate through PBPA. The board and organizers do an extraordinary job showcasing the latest technologies and celebrating the legacy of our industry.”

With this recognition, the PBIOS Board affirms what many already know: Ben Shepperd is not only an effective advocate and leader, he is a guardian of the Permian’s past and a bridge to its future.