Alan Shepard ’03

Alan Shepard ’03 was the featured speaker at the Feb. 18 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar. Shepard is the president and chief executive officer of CNX Resources Corporation in Canonsburg, Pa.

“February 18, 2026, I attended the Senior Business Seminar presented by Mr. Alan Shepard, an esteemed alumnus of Thiel College. The session was significant as it was attended by Ms. Ruth Miller, the distinguished individual after whom this seminar series is named. Mr. Shepard shared insights from his extensive professional journey, which has been characterized by strategic transitions across various industries and organizations.” Eunseo Lee ’26

“Alan Shepard is one of the more interesting characters I think we’ve had thus far. Immediately I found it interesting to see an accountant so charismatic, but seriously what stuck out was the path of his journey.” Spencer Cleary ’27

“Before Alan really got into his presentation, he gave us a disclaimer saying that he can give us advice, but there is no specific answer for how he got to where he is today. He gave us background on who he was and where he was from.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“Throughout Shepard’s full story he mentioned how fortunate he was for everything that has happened to him. He started in Jamestown where he didn’t do well in high school but managed to get a good score on his SAT, which is what landed him here at Thiel College.” Preston Lefkowitz ’27

“Alan Shepard’s presentation clearly demonstrated how a strong educational foundation, self-awareness, and commitment can lead to executive leadership. Shepard is from Jamestown, Pennsylvania, a town near my hometown, making his story more relatable. Shepard mentioned that he chose accounting because it came easily to him, describing it as feeling like ‘just adding.’ Shepard earned his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Business Administration from Thiel College in 2003. He later completed his MBA in Finance and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. Shepard is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania, which further enhances his credibility in the finance and energy sectors.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“During his time at Thiel, he worked as an assistant to Professor Ligo. At first, he did not intend to pursue a career in accounting because he believed technology might replace many accounting jobs. However, as he continued studying, he became genuinely interested in the field. He devoted himself to preparing for the CPA exam and earned an exceptional score, which he described as a major turning point in his life.” Miyeon Lee ’26

“Shepard has spent over twenty years building a career in accounting, finance, and energy management. He currently serves as President and CEO of CNX Resources Corporation, after previously holding roles as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. Before joining CNX, he was CFO of EdgeMarc Energy Holdings, LLC and held senior financial leadership positions at CONSOL Energy and Walter Energy Inc. Early in his career, Shepard worked at PwC, where he gained a solid foundation in accounting and reporting.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“Shepard began by telling us that he once sat in the same seats we are sitting in now. It was inspiring to realize that someone who was once in our exact position is now leading at the executive level. It reminded me that success is not reserved for a select few, but it is built over time through persistence, discipline, and vision.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“Something else Alan mentioned stuck out to me as well: being smart, hardworking, and having a positive attitude keeps you on the team, and only having two out of the three is risky. Having all three guarantees you get to keep your job, but if you only have one of those traits, then you’re going to be the first to get cut if a company needs to let people go.” Lorene Byler ’26

“What stood out to me most in Alan’s advice was his emphasis on attitude. He said being smart and hardworking matters, but a positive mindset is what keeps you on the team. He noted that success is rarely linear and that there is usually room for one more person who is truly good at what they do.” Lindsey Pearce ’27

“He mentioned that he was the CFO of another company and unfortunately it went bankrupt, but it’s not the end of the world, you can still get a job, and your family still loves you, and it’ll be okay. This stuck out to me because it is very easy to feel like the world Is falling whenever something that dramatic happens but like he said, it will be OK.” Brett Channell ’27

“Mr. Shepard’s journey showed me that professional growth is rarely a straight line. I was especially comforted by his advice on how to handle setbacks. He explained that if I ever feel like my career path is "breaking down" in one direction, I shouldn't be discouraged. Instead, I should see it as an opportunity to pivot and explore a new trajectory. This lesson gave me a more flexible and positive outlook on my future career.” Eunseo Lee ’26

“I found it particularly interesting that he mentioned how success is rarely linear because this was something last week’s speaker, Ricardo Daley, also emphasized. Hearing this advice repeated by two successful and motivating individuals made the message feel even more significant. It reinforced the idea that setbacks, pivots, and unexpected turns are not signs of failure but natural parts of growth.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“Another quote he had was, ‘If you break down on the side of the road, start changing the tire.’ I really liked this one because you are never going to get anything accomplished if you just sit around and wait for someone to help you. You have to take initiative and start pursuing your own goals.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“Don’t document your stupidity.’ This quote is from the famous Professor Jesse Ligo and stuck out to me because in my family, we have a similar quote, ‘Say it, forget it, write it, regret it.’ When you write something down, especially via email, it will stay with you forever. You must be cautious with what you write and make smart decisions.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“He also told us how he is always learning. He is either listening to or reading a book on a wide range of subjects to broaden his perspective. He encouraged the reading of history books because history really does repeat itself, and you will find that out in the business world. Nobody is truly special; there is some part of history that follows closely to you at some point.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“He also reads many books in his free time, and he mentions this one book that is called Infinite Game. This book was written by Simon Sinek, and he mentions there are two types of game in life and business which are infinite and finite. Finite games have known players, fixed rules, and a clear end like sports, but on the other hand infinite games have known and unknown players, changing rules, and no defined endpoint like business or politics. Sinek argues that business is an infinite game. The goal isn’t to win, but to keep playing and thrive over time. And that’s what Shepard’s focus is on his route as President and CEO of CNX.” Dwayne Simpkins ’26

“Toward the end of his presentation, Alan mentioned that he’s a collector of ideas and likes to see everything as useful. I think this is a good sort of philosophy to adopt because it encourages you to focus on growth rather than the fact that you may not be where you want to be yet; the small wins will eventually get you to where you want to be in the future.” Lorene Byler ’26

Lessons Learned

“It is okay to not know exactly what you want to do in your life.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26
“You have to be willing to help yourself first before someone else can even begin to help you.” Lorene Byler ’26
“Nothing is linear. Embrace the journey.” Spencer Cleary ’27
“Don’t document your own stupidity.” Brett Channell ’27
“Be smart, hardworking, and have a positive attitude and you will always be employable.” Trey Grazier ’27
“There’s always room for one more good one.” Miyeon Lee ’26
“Find small wins in day-to-day life.” Lorene Byler ’26
“If you break down on the side of the road, start changing the tire.” Dwayne Simpkins ’26
“Accept that some problems don’t have a solution. Learn to live with what you can’t overcome. Spencer Cleary ’27
“Understand the difference between finite goals and infinite strategies.” Trey Grazier ’27

Dinner “Dishing”

“I had the opportunity to sit next to Alan Shepard and share a table with Professor Jesse Ligo and Amy Ligo, which made the experience even better. I was able to ask Alan more about what his role as CEO looks like day to day and speak with Amy about her career in computer science. As someone pursuing a degree in information systems, I found that conversation especially valuable. It was exciting to connect with someone who has experience in a field I hope to enter in the future. Being able to make that kind of professional connection made the dinner not only enjoyable, but also inspiring and encouraging for my own career path.” Giovanna Franz ’27
“Dinner was a great experience, as usual. I had the honor of sitting with Ruth Miller and Roberta Leonard, among my peers. It was so cool to hear Mrs. Miller tell stories of the old days of Thiel and about previous seminar classes. The Ash Wednesday dinner was divine, and the tiramisu was unlike any dessert I have ever had, I am still thinking about it two days later.” Trey Grazier ’27
“Although it was not officially my turn to attend the dinner this time, there happened to be an open seat, so I was able to join. I was especially happy to share the table again with Prof. Oakes, who had given a lecture previously. It felt nice to reconnect after some time. The conversations flowed smoothly, almost like the tiramisu served for dessert, soft and pleasant.” Miyeon Lee ’26
“What made the evening especially memorable was sitting beside Dr. Ruth Miller, the woman this class is named after. It was truly an honor to meet her and connect with the person whose late husband was the mind behind such a unique class experience. It was also fun to learn that she is one of the many youthful faces behind St. Paul's Nursing Home’s TikTok and Facebook page. Not only is she famous among Thiel Alumni and students, but people from all over the US know her as well! Ruth talked about how they have gotten multiple PR packages, including one from CROCS, the trendy shoe brand, which sent one pair for every member in their living community, including Jibbitz. She talked about how it made them all feel as though they were making a difference for the younger generation.” Lindsey Pearce ’27
“I had the pleasure of eating with Ruth Miller and Roberta Leonard and we had a great time. I was skeptical of how the food would turn out at first due to it being Ash Wednesday with no meat, but I was pleasantly surprised. Turns out I’m a fan of eggplant and the tiramisu was unbelievable.” Spencer Cleary ’27