The Tenmile Land Way

Chad Johnson, founder and owner of Tenmile Land, is responsible for guiding the company’s strategic direction and operations, including mineral acquisitions, land purchases, and lease negotiations. When not at the helm, Chad indulges in travel and healthy living with his wife Breeana, and cherishes moments spent with family and friends.

Breeana has been an integral part of Tenmile Land’s executive management team since day one, helping steer the company towards success while upholding the importance of community involvement and volunteerism. Outside of work, she finds joy in leading yoga classes and spending time with her loved ones, further fostering a sense of community and connection.  Breeana looks forward to the company’ s growth and expansion in the coming years with anticipation and optimism.

Serving as Vice President, Ben is involved in every aspect of the day-to-day operations at Tenmile Land. Before joining Tenmile Land in 2018, Ben was a partner at a local law firm, where he primarily focused on oil and gas law, real estate law, business law, wills, trusts, and estates. He graduated with a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Economics at West Virginia Wesleyan College and then earned his law degree at West Virginia University.

A competitive swimmer throughout college, Ben has always loved sports and an opportunity to compete. Ben is very thankful that all of those years wearing a swim cap did not affect his ability to grow amazing hair.

Ben and his wife live in Clarksburg with their three boys.

Dan is the Director of Acquisitions at Tenmile Land, where he plays a crucial role in daily operations. He oversees the acquisition team, serves on the management team, and negotiates mineral and land acquisitions. With a career in the oil and gas industry dating back to 2010, Dan has gained extensive experience and developed high-level project management and leadership skills.

Before joining Tenmile Land, Dan worked for a nationwide integrated land services company, starting as an entry-level administrator and eventually becoming a project analyst. During this time, he worked on alignment projects and process improvement measures and led kick-off meetings to ensure client requirements were met and implemented.

At Tenmile Land, Dan values the opportunity to work with the crew and interact daily with landowners. He is passionate about providing excellent service and strives to make every business transaction positive. Dan is an active member of the American Association of Professional Landman (AAPL) and the local chapter, Michael Late Benedum Chapter (MLBC), representing members in the Northern and Central Regions of the Appalachian Basin.

Outside of work, Dan resides in Bridgeport with his wife, Kristy, their two daughters, and their family dog Maverick. When he’s not busy with his love for history and West Virginia University, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, attending sporting events, and exploring new places. He is also a member of Horizons Church.

Mike Poling joined Tenmile Land full-time in 2014 and manages all of the properties owned by the company. Well known for his strict behavior and attention to detail, Mike is an invaluable part of our organization. Mike and his wife enjoy living on their farm in Doddridge County and raising their two beautiful children.

Shawna is the Tenmile Land Office Ninja. Her official title is Chief Operating Officer, and a summary of what she does here would be next to impossible to compile. Shawna was one of the first employees in the company, and according to her, the best business decision that Chad has made to date. Shawna shares the same family history as Chad (they are first cousins) and grew up in the oil and gas business. Shawna is a member of many organizations, including, Women’s Energy Network (WEN), National Association of Division Order Analysts (NADOA), and Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Besides her office ninja skills, Shawna has completed a Spartan Beast Race and loves working out. Shawna says that her motivation comes from her family and that setting a good example for her three children is of utmost importance to her. Shawna and her husband, Jay have three children. Shea, who is attending Elon Law School; Gabby, who is attending Florida Atlantic University’s Harriet L Wilkes Honors College; and Cooper, who is a junior at Robert C. Byrd High School.

Jeremy is the Director of Abstracting at Tenmile Land, where he oversees all aspects of abstracting and title research. With a highly efficient team already in place, he is excited to expand and enhance this department. Previously, Jeremy held the position of Land Acquisitions Manager at a publicly traded oil and gas operator, where he played a key role in a large-scale Marcellus drilling program.

Jeremy is a respected figure in the land professional community in Appalachia, having served as the President of the Michael Late Benedum Chapter of the AAPL. He is also involved with the MLBC Foundation, a charitable organization comprised of land professionals that supports various vital causes in the region. Jeremy is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experiences and has been a featured speaker at educational, corporate, and industry events throughout his career.

In his personal life, Jeremy is happily married to his best friend, Tara, and they reside in Bridgeport with their children and their spirited border doodle, Newt. He loves being in nature during his free time, mainly engaging in board sports, hiking, biking, and fishing. While he enjoys traveling to new destinations, Jeremy has a particular fondness for exploring the hidden gems of his home state, West Virginia. Tara believes he has a true talent for planning travel experiences in this beautiful region.