Waylan R. Johnson,President of Aztec Oil & Gas, Inc.,entered into the oil & gas industry over 20 years ago. He began his career in 1989 working for an independent oil and gas exploration company. After gaining crucial industry experience, Mr. Johnson ventured out and, in the fall of 1990, founded his first oil company which participated in numerous drilling ventures throughout Texas. In 1992 Mr. Johnson sold his ownership interest in the company and concentrated on performing financial consulting work for numerous privately help industry companies. By 1993, Mr. Johnson formed his second private investment firm. Over the next seven years, his firm held interest in multiple drilling prospects, produced numerous properties, and drilled and operated their properties on behalf of the company’s internal partners.
In 2000, Mr. Johnson co-founded Border to Border Exploration (BBX). BBX became the third company to take oil and gas leases in what has now become the Bakken Shale (the third largest oil field discovery in the United States in recent years). BBX was able to take a $1.5 million investment and develop it into a gross value of approximately $55 million. Mr. Johnson later sold out of his general partnership with BBX but still continues to hold interest in the limited partnership. Over the next couple of years, Mr. Johnson founded several privately held companies, all based out of Austin, Texas. One of these companies is Resaca Resources, LLC., a registered, bonded oil and gas operator with the Texas Railroad Commission (operator # 703236).
Mr. Johnson has been instrumental in developing business plans and exploration programs for both his own companies and others. Additionally, Mr. Johnson is active in the investment field and continues to manage his own personal investments in the oil and gas industry. Throughout Mr. Johnson’s career, he has established long-term business and personal relationships with many public and private oil and gas companies which contribute significantly to Resaca’s success and Aztec’s deal flow and industry resources.
Ariane E. Cox, VP, Secretary/Treasurer, Ms. Cox graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelors of Science in Economics & Business. She first worked as a legal secretary/assistant in a law practice where she assisted in trial preparation and prepared pleadings, affidavits, discovery, etc. From 2006 through 2008 she worked as an Account Manager at TFI Resources where she provided daily support to contractors and client companies in addition to filing tax reports and reconciling accounts. She joined Aztec in 2009 as Administrative Coordinator for all of Aztec's Activities and also serves as Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Larry A. Hornbrook,Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Hornbrook has been a Texas Certified Public Accountant since 1978 and has been in private practice as a public accountant since 1990, either as a sole practitioner or as a partner in a partnership. His clientele are in a variety of industries including oil and gas, real estate, construction, and services. He performs tax research and planning, tax return preparation, financial statement preparation and corporate restructuring. Among other endeavors, Mr. Hornbrook was Tax Manager for Transcontinental Energy Corporation, an independent oil and gas producer and contract driller that offered public limited partnerships, from 1983 to 1986. He prepared federal and state income tax returns and investor reports for over 30 partnerships involving more than 10,000 partners. Mr. Hornbrook also served as Tax Manager for Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. (now Devon Energy Corp.) from 1978 to 1983. Mitchell was one of the largest independent energy firms headquartered in Texas and owned and operated oil and gas wells, contract drilling rigs, pipelines, compressors and liquid extraction plants. He additionally was Tax Senior for Arthur Andersen & Co from 1975-1978. Mr. Hornbrook received his B.S. (Management) Cum Laude from the University of South Dakota. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1969-1972 receiving a Meritorious Mast for excellent performance of duties. He also received a Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal with two stars.
Cindy S. Jones, Assistant to Chief Financial Officer, As Assistant to CFO, Ms. Jones oversees the financial responsibilities of the firm and all managed partnerships as well as records and reporting to the Texas Railroad Commission. She holds a BS in Finance and General Business from the University of Texas in Austin and has over 15 years of experience as a Controller/CFO. Her responsibilities include the handling of all aspects of the financial procedures and applications, from drilling expenses to revenue payouts.
Kenneth E. Lehrer,Sr. Economist, in 1982 formed a consulting organization engaged in the areas of economics, finance, economic damage analysis (including business and technology losses), banking, business, ESOP and non-public business valuations, securities, healthcare, fairness and advisor opinions, intellectual property valuations, real estate and corporate finance. His company both prepares institutional economic/finance reports, feasibility analysis, corporate business plans and provides litigation support (having been qualified in both state and federal courts) in the areas of economics, real estate, banking, corporate and IP valuations, class actions and finance. Dr. Lehrer served from 1984 to 2002 as an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the University of Houston, Graduate School of Business Administration and is presently an Adjunct Professor of Finance and Economics at the University of Phoenix (Houston Division). He holds four degrees from New York University: B.S. (Finance), MBA (Banking), MA (Economics) and a PhD. (Urban Economics). Dr. Lehrer is registered with the SEC as an Investment Advisor. Mark L. Baize, Manager of Field Operations, Mr. Baize received a degree in Economics from Texas A&M, Corpus Christi. After spending 18 years as a Drilling Superintendent with Exxon Co., USA, South Texas Division, he opened a consulting practice. His experience during the subsequent years included drilling supervision and environmental operations in the oil and gas industry. Mr. Baize’s experience also includes the bidding process, negotiating with service companies and drilling economic, safe wells. In addition, Mr. Baize is co-owner and Vice-President for Resaca Resources, LLC.
Business Development
Amy J. Escalera, Director of Marketing/Media Relations, After graduating from the University of Southern California with a Bachelors degree in Communication and Film Production, Ms. Escalera worked in the Business Development department of a Los Angeles, CA based Entertainment Company as the Executive Creative Assistant. Ms. Escalera now acts as Director of Marketing/Media Relations for Aztec Oil & Gas, Inc. She is responsible for all media/public relations with Aztec including all marketing, advertising, promotions, and web design/management.
Katie A. Ball, Administrative Assistant, Prior to graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in PreMedical Economics, Ms. Ball completed a summer internship with Kerr McGee Oil & Gas, Co., where she served as a Lease Analyst Assistant. Upon graduation, Ms. Ball went to work for the Heart Hospital of Austin where she became largely involved with the marketing side of the industry. Ms. Ball recently switched her career focus back to the oil and gas industry by joining Aztec and now serves as an administrative assistant and marketing assistant to Ms. Escalera.
Consultant
Franklin C. Fisher, Jr.,Senior Consultant (former CEO/Chairman), in 1964, joined a small, engineering/fabrication firm in Houston, Texas, and subsequently bought control in a leveraged buyout. Diversification and rapid growth of the firm was implemented. In 1980 a holding company was formed for the various enterprises which included: construction (domestic and foreign), petrochemical plant rework, steel fabrication, design and erection, hydraulic motors (development and manufacturing), engineering/design, products distribution (domestic and foreign), oil & gas investment and production (domestic), real estate investment (domestic), foreign investment (mine clearing firm in Egypt), and chemicals.
Mr. Fisher later sold most of the firms to concentrate on personal investments in oil and gas and other areas. In 1975, Mr. Fisher became Chairman and a major shareholder of Ashford Bank (MBank Memorial), which in 1983 was profitably sold to Mercantile Bank. Mr. Fisher remained as Chairman until mid-1985 and on the Board until 1986. Since 1983, he has concentrated on his oil and gas activities, investments and companies in which he owned interests. He is also a well known consultant on strategy formulation and implementation, financial restructuring, mergers, investment analysis, and operational management. Mr. Fisher received his B.A. from Texas A & M University which he attended on an accelerated program while on a football scholarship. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from University of Texas which he also attended on an accelerated program. He was admitted to practice law in Texas in 1964, and was appointed to U.S. District Export Council by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in 1976 and for several subsequent terms.
Geology
Russell Wheeler, Geologist, Russell Wheeler is a graduate of Colorado State University and the Gemological Institute of America, where he earned a BS in Geology and also a GG in Gemology. He began his career in 2002 working for Border to Border Exploration, LLC as an exploration geologist. For the past 6 years, he focused on drilling deep, high pressure horizontal wells in the Austin Chalk, Bakken Dolomite, and Barnett Shale. His responsibilities have focused on subsurface mapping, 2D/3D seismic interpretation, directional steering, well logging, exploration economics and computer systems management. His geological research and mapping abilities, along with his expertise on "state of the art" 3D work stations, are tremendous benefits to Aztec.
Betsy Suppes, Geologist, Betsy Suppes has a Masters degree in Geology from Tulane University. She has over 20 years industry experience, primarily as a Development Geologist for Texaco U.S.A. Ms. Suppes’ previous work experience included: prospect generation, workover recommendations, production logging campaigns, wellsite work, well log and seismic evaluation, reserve assessment and risk analysis. While working for Texaco, Ms. Suppes received an M.B.A. from The Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. Subsequent to the Chevron-Texaco merger, she has consulted for firms in Houston and private investors.
Jim Cole, Geologist, Mr. Cole received both a Masters and Bachelors Degree in Geology from the University of Oklahoma. He has over 50 years experience in all phases of petroleum exploration from hands on to management. His main expertise is merging proven exploration techniques with advanced 3-D seismic technology. After 16 years with Exxon progressing to Manager of Geological Offshore Operations in the Gulf of Mexico, he left to pursue his own endeavors and ultimately became owner and President of J.M. Cole Company focusing on domestic and international oil and gas exploration.
Land
Cory Doggett, Special Projects Manager, Prior to joining Aztec, Mr. Doggett spent eight years as a forensic, field landman, primarily engaged in the due-diligence process for oil and gas transactions.His experience during the prior ten years included operational management in the DSD and retail industries.His responsibilities with Aztec include, among other things, the oversight of the due-diligence review and curative process for oil and gas acquisitions/divestitures and drilling projects.
Engineering
Randall Wilkins, Consulting Petroleum Engineer, Mr. Wilkins has more than 25 years of experience in the oil & gas industry in a variety of technical and executive capacities including 7 years as Drilling/Completion Engineer for Pennzoil Exploration, 11 years as Drilling Engineer and Operations Manager for Tana Oil and Gas Corp. and 7 years with Basa Resources, Inc. as Vice President of Engineering. Mr. Wilkins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Tommy (Randy) Reid, Consulting Production Supervisor, Mr. Reid has been involved in the Petroleum Industry for over 29 years and has extensive oil & gas drilling and production experience. Throughout the years, Mr. Reid has served as a Roughneck, Relief Tool Pusher, Driller, Company Representative and Independent Consultant and has worked for the likes of Butler Drilling Company, Templeton Energy, Inc., and Sumbera Associates. In 2004 Mr. Reid founded T.R. Services and currently functions as a Consulting Production Supervisor for Aztec.
Karen Marshall, Staff Field Engineer, Ms. Marshall was born and raised in Houston, TX and recently graduated in May 2011 from University of Texas, Austin with a BS in Petroleum Engineering. Prior to graduation, Ms. Marshall completed three summer internships in the oil and gas industry that focused on reservoir and production engineering. Some specific tasks included optimizing production and generating AFEs for uphole recompletions, drill locations, and gas lift design changes. Since joining the Aztec team, her current focus has been in analyzing and forecasting Aztec’s current and future production as needed for reserves reports.
