---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001072613-23-000318"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "EP"
cik: "0000887396"
company_name: "EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP"
filed_at: "2023-05-04T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-15T23:49:19.918244+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Empire Petroleum promotes Larry Faulkner to CFO, appoints Kevin Vann to board

## Summary
- Stephen L. Faulkner promoted to CFO effective April 28, 2023; also remains Chief Accounting Officer; base salary $260,000/year.
- J. Kevin Vann appointed to Board of Directors as independent director; term expires at 2023 annual meeting.
- Faulkner previously served as Controller and CAO; prior roles include VP/Controller/CAO of WPX Energy and CFO of Lobeck Taylor Foundation.
- Michael Morrisett relinquishes principal financial officer duties; Faulkner reports to him as CEO.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001072613-23-000318
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: EP
- cik: 0000887396
- company_name: EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP
- filed_at: 2023-05-04T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261323000318/0001072613-23-000318-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261323000318/emp_8k-18719.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001072613-23-000318
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001072613-23-000318.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001072613-23-000318.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Stephen L. Faulkner, Jr. changed role as Chief Financial Officer at EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP.
  - Action: promoted
  - Role: Chief Financial Officer
  source text: On April 28, 2023, Stephen L. Faulkner, Jr. (Larry), age 51, the Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Empire Petroleum Corporation (the “Company”) was promoted to Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261323000318/0001072613-23-000318-index.htm
- Executive change
  J. Kevin Vann was appointed as Director at EMPIRE PETROLEUM CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: On April 28, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed J. Kevin Vann to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors for a term expiring at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/887396/000107261323000318/0001072613-23-000318-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.