BIG IDEAS NEED BOLD PARTNERS
Our Philosophy
At Tres Energy Partners, our philosophy is simple: we invest with purpose and partner with intention. We invest as owners, not traders. Backed by long-term family capital, we combine the discipline of private equity with the flexibility to pursue bold, complex opportunities that others might overlook. We partner with management teams to grow businesses and create lasting value, offering not just capital but hands-on operational support and energy expertise.
What Sets Us Apart
At Tres, we see the world differently – and that is precisely what makes us so different.
We think like owners.
We work shoulder to shoulder with management teams — because building lasting value means being in it, not just backing it.
We run toward complexity.
The deals others avoid are the ones we’re built for – strategic, intricate, and full of potential.
We know energy inside and out.
This isn’t just a sector we dabble in. Energy operations is where we’ve spent decades, uncovering opportunities others missed.
We combine scale with agility.
Backed by the resources of a large company, we move with the nimbleness and decisiveness of a small boutique investment firm.
We bet on big ideas.
Big, transformative opportunities are what drive us – because playing it safe has never built anything great.
We are in it for the long haul.
Market cycles don’t faze us. We stay steady, focused, and committed to our partners.
Our Leadership
Rob James
Senior Managing Director
Rob joined The Sullivan Brothers Family of Companies as Chief Investment Officer in 2020, bringing more than 25 years of experience in upstream, midstream, and energy infrastructure projects. The next year he helped found Tres Energy to strategically focus private long-term capital toward the sector. Prior to Tres, Rob was a managing director with an upstream private investment fund. He also led the development of a Gulf Coast storage facility that was later sold to Vitol. Rob remained at Vitol for over a decade helping drive business development efforts. Rob is a licensed attorney with a JD from The University of Texas School of Law.
Jeff Yoesel
Managing Director – Operations
Jeff joined Tres Energy in early 2021, contributing more than 25 years of expertise in upstream oil and gas operations toward Tres’ portfolio development and management. Before Tres, Jeff led reservoir engineering at EnergyQuest, a Quantum-backed oil and gas producer. Jeff began his career as an operations engineer at Chevron and holds a degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M.
Patrick Cohn
Managing Director – Finance
Patrick joined Tres Energy in 2021 with more than 15 years of experience in energy finance. Before Tres, Patrick worked alongside Rob as a managing director at Jumar Energy Capital and served as CFO for Encore Permian, an investor in upstream minerals and non-operated leasehold investor with assets throughout the Permian Basin. Patrick started his career in Jefferies’ Energy Investment Banking group and holds a degree in Economics and History from Emory University.
Kurt Hanson
Senior Associate
Kurt joined Tres Energy in 2023 to focus on sourcing and evaluating investments, leading transaction execution, and working with management teams to create value across the portfolio. Before Tres, Kurt was an Associate at Bayou City Energy, an energy-focused private equity fund. Earlier in his career, he gained hands-on operating experience at Fleur De Lis Energy, where he worked on upstream asset development. He began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Energy Group at Stifel, advising clients on mergers, acquisitions, and capital market transactions. Kurt holds a Master of Science in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from The University of Texas at Austin.
Built on a Firm Foundation
Since being founded in 2021, Tres has deployed over $1 billion in capital, fueling growth and innovation across the energy industry. But our story did not start there.
As part of the Sullivan Brothers Family of Companies, Tres builds on a legacy defined by conviction, hard work, and discipline. Built on that stable foundation, Tres has the strength, resources, and energy expertise few private investment firms can match. For our partners, that means more than just access to capital – it means working with a team that understands what it takes to embrace a bold vision and turn it into reality.