Get To Know the New President of NARO
Below is a Letter From Jason Fitzgerald to the Members of NARO Upon His Confirmation as President of the Organization
Dear NARO Members,
I’m honored to introduce myself as the 2026 National President of the National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO). My name is Jason Fitzgerald, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve this organization and continue the strong leadership momentum established by those before me. First, I want to express my sincere gratitude to outgoing President Matt Sands. Matt’s leadership and dedication have left a lasting impact on NARO, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation he and our board have created. I want to take a moment to also recognize the incredible work of our NARO staff. Jon Corkern, Kim Merritt, and Pattie West have done a phenomenal job supporting our members and keeping our organization strong. Their dedication and professionalism have been instrumental in NARO’s success. I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Pattie West as she steps down from Registrar. Her years of service and commitment to NARO have left a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful for all she has done. At the same time, I’m excited to welcome our new team members, Jennifer Peace and Justin Williams to the association staff. We look forward to the fresh ideas and energy they will bring as we continue to grow and serve our members.
A little about me: I come from a long line of oil and gas producers spanning four generations in North Texas, which shaped my passion for this industry early on. Professionally, I’ve worked on both sides of the table, in operations and mineral management, which gives me a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities royalty owners face. Today, I serve as Mineral Assets Senior Manager at Whitley Penn, where I help interest owners nationwide manage their assets effectively. Before that, I spent four years with MineralWare, leading business development for one of the leading oil and gas mineral management software platforms. I was born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, a community with a rich history in oil and gas, and today I call Fort Worth, TX home. I’m a proud graduate of Texas Christian University, where I earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance Real Estate while also competing on the Varsity Golf Team. Recently, I became engaged to my wonderful fiancée, Molly, and outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family, cheering on TCU athletics, and exploring the outdoors with my chocolate lab, Charlie.
I’ve been fortunate to participate in many NARO events over the years including presenting at the National Convention and presenting during webinars. Outside of NARO I have assisted with teaching mineral management classes for royalty owners and also presented at other industry events. In 2023, I joined the National Board as a Director at Large and later served as Vice President. Now, as President, my focus will remain on the pillars that make NARO strong: education, advocacy, and community. We have exciting opportunities ahead to expand resources for owners, and strengthen our chapters. As always, I encourage you to stay engaged. Attend events, volunteer, and share your experiences. Together we can ensure NARO continues to be the trusted advocate for royalty owners nationwide.
Thank you for your confidence and support.
Warm regards,
Jason Fitzgerald, CMM
National President, NARO
Mineral Assets Senior Manager, Whitley Penn
Connect with Jason
About NARO
NARO is a volunteer led, member based, 501(c)6 education and advocacy organization established in 1980 to assist U.S. mineral owners. The mission of NARO is to support, advocate and educate for the empowerment of mineral and royalty owners. Their educational events are tailored to help you understand the challenges, benefits and responsibilities of private mineral ownership.
About NARO
NARO is a volunteer led, member based, 501(c)6 education and advocacy organization established in 1980 to assist U.S. mineral owners. The mission of NARO is to support, advocate and educate for the empowerment of mineral and royalty owners. Their educational events are tailored to help you understand the challenges, benefits and responsibilities of private mineral ownership.
