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Tim Smith

Over the last 25 years, Tim has excelled as a television news producer adept at producing top rated and award-winning documentaries, interviews & news segments for America’s leading news outlets. The quality of his work is attested to by winning a national and regional Emmy, five Emmy nominations, two Gracie Awards, Grierson Award, Genesis nomination & Cable Ace nomination.

Tim has worked with and directed top news talent including Lester Holt, Brian Williams, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, Judy Woodruff, Norah O’Donnell, Jim Lehrer, Bob Woodward, Chuck Todd, Charlie Rose, Natalie Morales, Roger Mudd and Savannah Guthrie. His strong record of big gets includes interviews with Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Dick Cheney, John Updike, Joe Biden, Audrey Hepburn, Ted Kennedy, Sandra Day O’Conner, Gerald Ford, Laura Bush, Donald Trump and Mitt Romney.

Samantha Gault

Samantha is the Executive Director of the Mather Homestead Foundation and has a BA from Dartmouth College and an MA from Middlebury College. This beautifully preserved house and landmark offers a glimpse into American revolutionary history through rich and engaging programming, including literary conversations, lectures, and events. This past year Samantha and the Mather Homestead have had a focus on the America 250 celebration from the point of view of Middlesex Parish. Samantha reflected, “for me, studying history and looking back has always been about not losing my way.  How can you know where you are or where you are going if you do not know where you have been? That is as important for nations and communities as it is for individuals”.

The Mather Legacy

Directed by Tim Smith and narrated by Scott Pelley, this short film is a powerful tribute to both the Mather family and the enduring American spirit. Spanning nearly four centuries and interviewing experts in American history, The Mather Legacy chronicles the family’s journey from their 1635 arrival in the New World to the present day.

Darien’s Mather Homestead. Built in 1778 and raided by Tories during the Revolutionary War, Mather Homestead was home to six generations of Mathers, including Moses Mather, Darien’s leading voice for freedom in 1778. It is now dedicated to historical education.

There will be discussion after the 30-minute film.

Steve graduated from Lehigh University with a BS degree in engineering and obtained his MBA in finance from the Wharton School, Univ. of Pennsylvania. He has worked his entire 45-year career in the petroleum industry, holding positions with Exxon, Standard Oil of Ohio, British Petroleum, and Hess Corp. Steve has been involved with, and spoke on, chemical plant design, advertising and promotion, supply and logistics, government affairs, oil and gas trading, financial hedging, oil and gas marketing, and other current topics of interest in the global oil markets.

Add “world traveler” to the list. Steve logged more than 6.5 million frequent flier miles over his career. “I’ve been to Russia six times, China three times, and I lost track of Southeast Asia,” he says. When Villas talks, his stories blend humor, humility, and gratitude. His legacy isn’t just financial. It’s the ripple effect of generosity, mentorship, and heart. “Money isn’t the most important thing you can give,” he says. “What matters is what you share of yourself.”

Global Oil and Gas Market

Steve Villas analyzes the global oil market, highlighting that while the United States leads global production at over 13 million barrels per day due to horizontal drilling and hydrofracking, it remains reliant on imports due to domestic demand and refinery setups. The global market handles roughly 100 million barrels daily, with demand shifting from flat Western consumption toward rapidly growing middle classes in China and India. He will also discuss the impact of the Iran war and the periodic closing of the Strait of Hormuz on supply.

Steve demystifies oil pricing and discusses other geopolitical influences, including how OPEC Plus manages global pricing through strict production quotas rather than fixed prices, and how the Russian shadow fleet circumvents international price caps using covert ship-to-ship transfers. Villas has strong confidence in free markets, asserting that society will never fully run out of oil, though its long-term market dominance will eventually transition to new technologies.