Our Name
“Sua Sponte” is the motto of the US Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment. Latin for “of his own accord”, Sua Sponte describes an act taken without formal prompting from another party.
The fighting spirit demonstrated by Army Rangers throughout history inspires us. We see our role as professionals and entrepreneurs in the energy industry as a daily challenge and a labor of love and service to our country.
“Proximity, Authenticity, Empowerment”
Proximity: We’re close to our people, property and service providers. Authenticity: We constantly seek to narrow the gap between what we think, what we say and what we do. And we believe empowerment and freedom to be an essential component of achievement, living a full life and creating value. In short, our ethos reminds us to stay close, be real and believe in the potential of people.
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”
2 Peter 1:5-8
Meet the individuals who drive our success. Our leadership team brings decades of experience to the table, ensuring that Sponte Operating continues to thrive in the ever-evolving energy landscape.
Chris Widell currently serves as President & CEO of Sponte. After serving 6 years in the US Army, Chris entered the oil & gas industry, working Production, Completions and Reservoir Engineering roles at Newfield Exploration, Anadarko Petroleum and Dale Operating Company, evaluating, acquiring and developing oil and gas properties in the Gulf or Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and North Dakota. Widell graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in Civil Engineering and earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.
With a knack for turning complex problems into simple solutions, Sean is a seasoned petroleum engineer who knows how to strike oil and a good conversation. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the renowned Colorado School of Mines, he has the technical chops to back up his witty banter.
Sean has navigated the ups and downs of Drilling, Completion, and Workover operations across a variety of terrains, from many of the bustling US basins to the rugged landscapes of Kurdistan, the choppy waters of the North Sea, and the hot summers of West Africa.
Sean’s extensive field experience is matched only by his commitment to operational efficiency and safety—because nothing ruins a day like an unexpected geyser.
Whether Sean is troubleshooting in the field or brainstorming innovative solutions, he brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and a sense of humor that keeps the team motivated and the operations running smoothly. After all, in the world of petroleum engineering, a little laughter can be as valuable as a barrel of oil.
Wendy Chandler, CPA joined Sponte as the VP, Accounting & Finance in May 2022. Wendy has spent over 20 years at upstream oil and gas operating companies and has extensive expertise in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Mississippi, and Kansas. Wendy has experience with federal BIA and ONRR regulatory reporting as well as many state specific regulatory bodies. She has a BS in Accounting & Information Management and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas, and is a licensed CPA in the State of Texas. Wendy is an active member of Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies, Women’s Energy Network, and Financial Executives International.
With over 20 years and counting of operational experience from drilling to P&A’s, Michael leads field operations with a focus on Safety, efficiency, and optimization. Leveraging a science-based data approach to daily operations due to his background in physics, has yielded Sponte with unmatched capability to pivot and capitalize on projects in a fast paced, high demand markets. Armed with experience and lessons learned from the Eagle Ford to the Marcellous, no challenge is too daunting.
Brian Lehrmann joined Sponte as the VP, Land in 2024. Prior to Brian joining Sponte, he held various positions in the Land and Business Development departments at Pioneer Natural Resources and Aethon Operating. Brian has managed, sold and acquired assets all over Texas, Colorado, Mississippi, and New Mexico. Brian graduated from the University of North Texas for his undergraduate and earned an MBA from the University of Dallas. Brian is an active member of the AAPL.
700 N Pearl St, Ste. N2150, Dallas, TX 75201