Our Team
Randy Smith
Founder
Randy Smith’s career began in Natchez, MS, on workover rigs. He worked pipeline jobs over the summers on both land and offshore Gulf of Mexico. He later earned a degree in coaching and teaching science from Delta State University.
Randy spent four years in Iran with SEDCO, progressing from a roughneck to a driller and teaching drilling and well control. He then served as a personnel coordinator for West Africa with SEDCO, also working in the North Sea on offshore rigs.
In 1986, Randy established Randy Smith Training Solutions, where he taught well control, stuck pipe prevention, True training, drilling technology, and leadership and safety leadership in over 40 countries until his retirement in 2008.
Marcus Mason
Chief Executive Officer
Before joining Smith Mason & Co, Marcus Mason launched his career in the oil and gas industry at Baker Hughes in June 2008. He began as a mud engineer in the Haynesville Shale and was promoted to account manager in the Marcellus and Utica Shale in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After three years in that role, Marcus and his family relocated to Denver, Colorado, where he assumed the position of Sales Manager for Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids in the Western Geo-Market, covering North Dakota to California.
During his tenure as Sales Manager, Marcus successfully led a sales team, driving revenue growth and expanding market share in the Rockies. Recognizing his outstanding performance, he was further promoted to the role of Operations Manager for the Western Geo-Market. Marcus’s time at Baker Hughes provided him with a solid foundation in management, safety, and leadership.
Larry Schmermund
Chief Operating Officer
Before joining Smith Mason & Co in 2014, Larry accrued 41+ years of oil and gas industry experience, including offshore and office roles. He began his career as a roustabout on offshore drilling rigs, transitioning to an office-based Rig Move Engineer in 1986. For 15 years, he successfully operated his own company, offering rig moving, shipyard project management, stability instruction, licensing instruction, and new build services to a global client base. Larry also authored textbooks and provided training for clients worldwide.
In 2006, Larry joined Randy Smith Training Solutions as the Worldwide Marine Training Manager, and in 2008, he assumed the role of Technical Training Manager for North America. During this time, he expanded the team and revenue in North America, navigating the company’s acquisition by Moody International and subsequent buyout by Intertek.
Jennifer Accardo
Operations Manager
Jennifer Accardo currently serves as our Operations Manager. She first joined Smith Mason & Co. as the Well Control Certification and Maritime Licensing Specialist in 2014. Prior to joining Smith Mason & Co., she was with Intertek Consulting & Training where she served as the Certification/Licensing Specialist for North America.
Jennifer has over 15 years of experience in IADC and IWCF program administration and over 10 years of experience with maritime licensing for USCG, Liberia, Panama, and Vanuatu flag states.
She holds a BA in Political Science from UL Lafayette and is a Notary Public for the State of Louisiana.
Kryston Mayfield
Executive Administrator
Kryston Mayfield, our Executive Administrator, joined Smith Mason & Co. in May 2022 after serving as Training Administrator/Project Coordinator at Intertek C&T. At Intertek, she attended the IADC Introductory Course to enhance her understanding of field operations.
Kryston earned recognition from Schlumberger for her promptness and exceptional customer service. She was also honored with a certificate of recognition from Intertek for her valuable contributions in a team member’s absence.
She holds an Associate of Science in Business Administration and Management from Southern New Hampshire University and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management.
Kirby Lee
Well Control & Drilling Technology Instructor
Kirby began his oil and gas career as a mud engineer at Newpark Drilling fluids. He then dedicated 15 years to WCS as a team member and well control instructor, contributing to their growth as a major training provider. In 1998, he transitioned in-house with R&B Falcon and then Transocean as a well control instructor. Kirby joined Randy Smith in 2002 as a technical instructor and remained there through the Moody International acquisition and Intertek buyout before joining the Smith Mason & Co team.
Jeff Prilliman
Well Control & Drilling Technology Instructor
Jeff started his career as a Wireline Field Engineer at Schlumberger in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and held various field roles in the Gulf of Mexico and Saudi Arabia. He worked in sales and software development at Schlumberger’s New Orleans and Sugar Land, Texas locations.
Jeff joined Randy Smith Training Solutions as a Technical Instructor, teaching Well Control Certification, Stuck Pipe Prevention, and Safety Leadership courses globally for 5 years. He transitioned to Baker Hughes, initially as a field office LWD advisor, eventually becoming Global Marketing Manager, LWD. After a brief return to Schlumberger in Midland, Texas, where he sold LWD services, Jeff joined Smith Mason & Co as a contractor in 2017 and became a full-time instructor in November 2018.
Hannah Smith Mason
Business Development & Community Outreach Coordinator
Hannah is a professional artist, an elected School Board Member, and a community advocate with a proven track record of success. She co-founded LASOAR and held Secretary roles on the boards of the Acadiana Symphony and Junior League of Lafayette. She also served as Vice President of the Woodvale Parent Teacher Club and as a room mother from 2014 to 2023.
Hannah excels in sales, fundraising, event management, social media, art, and design. In addition to her work as an artist, she is involved in community outreach and business development for Smith Mason & Co. Along with a lifelong background in the oil and gas industry, she also holds a bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College and is a graduate of Lafayette High School.