Enterprise Systems • Data • Operational Strategy

Clayton Powell

Operational Systems & Data Strategy Leader

Enterprise modernization • Acquisition integration • Data governance • Decision intelligence

I work at the intersection of business operations, enterprise systems, and data—turning complex opportunities into practical improvements that scale across the organization.

Clayton Powell

Enterprise Impact

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Portfolio Supported

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Transactions Over $100MM

9+ transactions, each exceeding $100MM
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Workflow Efficiency Improvement

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Modernization Value Identified

Value and risk-mitigation opportunities

I am routinely brought into complex environments to drive modernization and innovation. When systems, processes, and priorities must evolve together, I bring structure to ambiguity, align cross-functional teams, and translate technical realities into executable strategy.

My work extends beyond functional management into enterprise-level execution: setting direction, quantifying business value, establishing governance, and building capabilities that last beyond any single project.

Core Proficiencies

Enterprise Systems & Digital Transformation


Lead transitions from fragmented, paper-based, and legacy workflows into integrated digital environments. Connect system architecture, process redesign, and business requirements to improve accessibility, auditability, and operational efficiency.

Business Modernization & Strategic Execution


Translate broad improvement opportunities into prioritized portfolios, project governance, value tracking, and cross-functional execution. Build the structure that moves ideas from discussion into implementation.

Data Governance & Quality


Establish standards, ownership, and automated controls that improve data reliability across systems and departments—shifting teams from reactive cleanup toward repeatable, rules-based stewardship.

GIS & Spatial Intelligence


Develop GIS as an enterprise business platform through accessible mapping products, training, governance, spatial analysis, and integration with operational data.

AI & Process Innovation


Evaluate practical AI use cases for document review, contract extraction, data standardization, retrieval, and workflow automation—connecting emerging technology to specific business needs.

Leadership & Organizational Capability


Lead through influence across functional boundaries, develop team capability, clarify accountability, and create environments where subject matter experts can own outcomes.

Selected Projects & Enterprise Initiatives

Business modernization and reporting

Asset Management Business Modernization

Led the modernization workstream from opportunity identification through portfolio governance and execution. Evaluated 45 opportunities, shaped 19 initiatives across six pillars, and identified approximately $37MM in value and risk-mitigation opportunities.

Lease records data and workflows

Enterprise Lease & Contract Data Quality

Designed automated data-quality rules for expired leases, tract discrepancies, parcel and map-reference validation, obligations, and depth analysis. The platform expanded beyond Lease Records to support Land Operations, Division Orders, and Records Management.

GIS and enterprise integration

GIS Enterprise Modernization

Helped deliver the ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2-to-11.5 upgrade, improving platform performance, security, monitoring, search, and user experience. Established governance reviews and a GIS operating model for consistent support.

AI-enabled document review

AI-Assisted Lease & Document Intelligence

Advanced evaluation of AI-assisted lease abstraction, legal description review, free-text standardization, provision extraction, document retrieval, and repository metadata automation.

GIS dashboards and spatial planning

Operational Mapping & Surface Visibility

Led requirements and stakeholder workshops for a Surface Dashboard bringing agreements, ROWs, roads, deeds, SWDs, and ownership layers into a unified spatial view. Continued development of planning tools, dashboards, and ChordTraX.

Acquisition integration

Acquisition Integration

Designed repeatable approaches to land and accounting data integration, supporting due diligence, reporting continuity, system stability, and operational readiness through major transactions.

Leadership, team engagement, and organizational development

Leadership, Engagement & Culture

Built a high-engagement team culture, earning strong results in company engagement surveys—including 100% team engagement and improvement in five of six categories in the 2026 survey. Selected within the company as an example of effective leadership and invited to share leadership practices and lessons with others.

Modernization Portfolio & Leadership

The Asset Management modernization effort brought structure and financial discipline to a broad set of improvement ideas. I established recurring working sessions, project scoring and selection tools, prioritization, requirements gathering, technical ownership, sequencing, value-capture methodology, and centralized tracking.

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Opportunities Evaluated

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Strategic Initiatives

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Modernization Pillars

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Modernization Portfolio NPV10

Initiatives included Inventory Protection, Revenue Suspense Management, Document Repository Modernization, the Surface Development Workspace, Non-Chord PPC Review, and Purchase Offer After Transfer. The work required sustained coordination across Land Operations, GIS, Division Orders, Development, Surface, Data Analytics, IT, and Regulatory.

Technical Knowledge

Enterprise Data & Systems

  • Enterprise system implementation and migration
  • Enertia (Land, Accounting, Operations)
  • Business requirements and workflow design
  • Master Data Management and data governance
  • Snowflake data warehousing concepts
  • ETL / ELT workflow design
  • API integration fundamentals
  • SharePoint and document repository administration

Analytics & Business Intelligence

  • Advanced SQL query development
  • Power BI dashboard development
  • SSRS report creation
  • DAX KPI modeling
  • Land data reporting and extraction
  • Acquisition data integration
  • Accounting analytics (DD&A, accruals)
  • Data integrity auditing

GIS & Spatial Intelligence

  • Esri ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Enterprise
  • ArcGIS Portal and Experience Builder
  • Web mapping and dashboard configuration
  • DSU tracking system implementation
  • Spatial data modeling and analysis
  • Geospatial reporting integration
  • Portal and enterprise geodatabase governance
  • Cross-system map linkages

Automation, AI & Innovation

  • AI-assisted document and contract analysis
  • Lease abstract and provision extraction use cases
  • Semantic document search design
  • Automated data-quality rules
  • Document metadata and retrieval workflows
  • Operational process automation
  • AI training and enablement
  • Innovation portfolio leadership

Professional Experience

Leading lease records and GIS operations while extending impact into enterprise modernization, data governance, and technology strategy.
  • Lead Lease Records and GIS operations with a focus on modern systems, strong data foundations, team development, and scalable business capabilities.
  • Led the Asset Management Business Modernization WIG effort, evaluating 45 opportunities and organizing 19 strategic initiatives across six pillars, with approximately $37MM in identified value and risk-mitigation opportunities.
  • Established modernization portfolio governance, project scoring, prioritization, value tracking, requirements, and executive reporting; active portfolio reached approximately $37MM NPV10 during 2026.
  • Designed automated lease and contract data-quality controls covering expiration, tract discrepancies, parcel validation, map references, obligations, and depth analysis; expanded use across multiple Land functions.
  • Advanced AI-assisted document review and lease-data use cases, including abstraction, legal descriptions, free-text standardization, and provision extraction.
  • Led GIS user enablement strategy, training curriculum, GIS Power Hour, governance reviews, and the GIS operating model.
  • Partnered with IT on the ArcGIS Enterprise 11.2-to-11.5 upgrade and helped improve GIS infrastructure stability, monitoring, and maintenance planning.
  • Led stakeholder requirements for the Surface Dashboard and continued delivery of operational mapping, planning tools, and ChordTraX enhancements.
  • Represented Land and GIS in enterprise data governance activities, including Atlan evaluation, master data quality reviews, and the Data Steward community.
  • Supported cleanup of approximately 28,000 Business Associate records and advised on the next phase of owner-data cleanup.
  • Built team capability and a high-engagement culture; 2026 team survey results showed 100% team engagement and improvement in five of six categories. Recognized internally as an example of effective leadership and selected to share leadership practices with colleagues across the company.
Focused on modernization, repeatable processes, and scalable reporting.
  • Modernized lease records operations and digital tracking systems.
  • Implemented Landworks reporting, DSU tracking, and mortgage management workflows.
  • Built depth categorization and expiration tracking systems.
  • Developed enterprise reporting and data extraction strategies across systems.
Led people, processes, and integration work across major land events.
  • Managed a 500,000-net-acreage position.
  • Oversaw $1.5MM+ in annual rental and surface payments.
  • Led integration for a $785MM acquisition covering 55,000 net acres.
  • Facilitated a $16.5MM divestiture covering 51,000 net acres.
Built the technical foundation that continues to inform systems leadership.
  • Participated in $1.5B acquisition due diligence.
  • Built SQL and SSRS reporting systems.
  • Implemented SharePoint scanning and SCSM ticketing systems.
  • Led land and accounting system integrations.
Contributed to enterprise accounting system conversions and systems architecture.
  • Major contributor to Enertia conversion from Excalibur.
  • Developed accounting systems using Dynamics GP and InfoPath.
  • Managed DD&A and lease impairments up to $105MM.
  • Created SQL reports and data analytics workflows.
Focused on financial reporting, asset tracking, and early-stage system process development.
  • Contributed to Enertia conversion from Excalibur.
  • Developed accounting systems using Dynamics GP and InfoPath.
  • Managed DD&A and lease impairments up to $105MM.
  • Created SQL reports and data analytics workflows.

Leadership & Continued Development

Leadership & Team Development

Earned strong company engagement-survey results, including 100% team engagement in 2026, and was selected internally as an example of effective leadership to share practices and perspectives with colleagues. Completed Chord Energy’s three-month Leadership Cadence program, facilitated a Land Department public-speaking group, and presented operational advancements at quarterly business reviews, including an IT QBR.

Project Management

Completed FranklinCovey Project Management training, strengthening project planning, prioritization, and execution practices used in cross-functional modernization work.

AI & Data Skills

Completed company-provided AI training and selected relevant topics from the Land DataCamp learning track to deepen technical understanding and practical application.

Personal About Me

As a Baylor graduate with a passion for continuous growth, I’m driven by curiosity and a desire to understand how things work. From complex data systems in the oil and gas industry to hands-on hobbies and technical crafts, I’m at my best when I’m building, analyzing, improving, or learning something new.

Professionally, that mindset translates into a technical leadership style grounded in exploration and problem solving. I enjoy understanding the mechanics behind processes and identifying smarter, more efficient ways to operate. I’m always expanding my toolbelt—whether that means mastering new technologies, refining analytical approaches, or strengthening leadership skills that help teams perform at a higher level.

Outside of work, I enjoy hands-on projects, building things from the ground up, and experiences that broaden perspective. At the core, I value technical, professional, and personal growth. I believe the best leaders are lifelong learners who stay curious, adaptable, and engaged with the world around them.
WoodworkingProgrammingTravel

Open Dialogue

Enterprise Systems. Modernization Strategy. Decision Intelligence.

I’m always open to thoughtful conversations around operational modernization, enterprise data architecture, acquisition integration, AI-enabled process improvement, and leadership in systems-driven organizations.

If you're leading transformation, scaling infrastructure, or navigating complexity across departments, let’s talk.

Modernization StrategyTurning improvement opportunities into executable, value-focused portfolios
Enterprise Data GovernanceBuilding trusted data through standards, ownership, and quality controls
AI & Process InnovationApplying emerging technology to practical business workflows
Leadership Across FunctionsAligning teams and subject matter experts around shared outcomes
“[Clayton] plays an important role as thought leader in data management, integration, and process modernization.”
Land Senior Director
“His diplomacy and leadership skills really set him apart.”
Senior Business Intelligence Developer