Lester Zitkus graduated in 1987 from the University of Evansville with a BS in Mineral Land Management and a Business Administration Minor. Immediately following his graduation, he started working as a field contract landman for Equitable Resources in various states in the Appalachian Basin. In 1990, he was hired by Equitable (now “EQT”) as a Supervisor of Title and Division Orders. During his 19 plus years with EQT, he held the positions of Land Manager, Director of Land Affairs, and various Vice President positions over Land, Business Development, and Field Operations. In 2007 he left EQT and joined Chesapeake Energy Corporation where he served in the position of Vice President, Land for Chesapeake’s Eastern Division. After 6 years at Chesapeake, in March of 2014 he joined Gulfport Energy Corporation where he currently serves as its Sr. Vice President of Land in its Oklahoma City, OK headquarters office.

Lester has served the industry in the capacity of President and Board Member of the Virginia Oil and Gas Association, Board Member of the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association, regional Board Member of IPAA, as well as serving on the Board of Directors and as Regional Director for the Appalachian Association of Professional Landmen. Prior to his role as current AAPL President, he has served on AAPL Board of Directors for several years and served three different terms on the AAPL Executive Committee, as 3rd vice president, as Treasurer, and most recently as 1st Vice President. He has also served on the Board of Directors for AAPL’s Education Foundation, and as the chair of the education committee, the finance committee, investment advisory committee and as assistant chair of the NAPE operators committee.