Our Team

Dante Caravaggio

CEO and Director

Mr. Caravaggio has 40+ years of experience in the oil and gas industry.  He has held Executive and program management positions with Kellogg Brown and Root, Parsons Corp, Jacobs Engineering and Sun Oil in locations in North America, Asia, and the Middle East all related to energy, mining, and power. In these roles, Mr. Caravaggio gained global market knowledge in oil and gas, engineering and construction services, hydrocarbon, environmental, power, water, refining, chemicals, and midstream markets.

Mr. Caravaggio has a comprehensive understanding of market drivers, competitive best practices, and has hands-on international experience in North Americas, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. He has built strong relationships with investors, clients and suppliers, and he has also been an integral player in several high value acquisitions over his career.

Mr. Caravaggio has his BS and MS in Petroleum Engineering from University of Southern California and his MBA from Pepperdine University.

Mitchell B. Trotter

CFO and Director

Mr. Trotter has 40+ years of experience in various controller and CFO roles after beginning his career in 1981 with Coopers & Lybrand. Most of his experience was in the engineering and construction industry with a majority of the time with public companies.

In those roles Mr. Trotter managed up to 400 plus staff across six continents supporting global operations with clients in multiple industries across private, semi-public and public sectors. Many of his clients were in the oil and gas, and chemicals industries.

Mr. Trotter earned his BS Accounting from Virginia Tech in 1981 and his MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1994.

David M. Smith, Esq.

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Mr. Smith is a licensed attorney in Texas with 40+ years of experience in the legal field of oil and gas exploration and production, manufacturing, purchase and sale agreements, exploration agreements, land and leaseholds, right of ways, pipelines, surface use, joint operating agreements, joint interest agreements, participation agreements and operations as well as transactional and litigation experience in oil and gas, real estate, bankruptcy and commercial industries.

Mr. Smith has represented a number of companies in significant oil and gas transactions, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property research and development and sales in the oil and gas drilling business sector.

Mr. Smith holds a degree in Finance from Texas A&M University, a Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law and is licensed before the Texas Supreme Court.

Jesse J. Allen

Vice President of Operations

Mr. Allen has 40+ years of experience operating and managing onshore and offshore oil and production in the US and internationally.  He brings considerable knowledge as his expertise includes artificial lift, completions, well stimulation, workovers and operationally challenging wells in high-temperature and high-pressure environments as well as extensive project management.

Mr. Allen has worked for several key companies in the oil and gas industry starting with Sun Production Company (which later became Oryx Energy, then Kerr McGee and finally Anadarko Petroleum) and including various technical and managerial roles with Chesapeake Energy.

Mr. Allen holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Texas Tech University, is a Professional Engineer, and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the American Petroleum Institute.

Mark H. Williams

Vice President of Finance and Administration

Mr. Williams has more than 30 years of experience in various controller-type roles with major global public companies. He brings considerable knowledge and experience in supporting business operations, budgeting and forecasting, systems design, purchasing, client contracts and sales support. Mr. Williams was involved in audits, SOX compliance, policy design, acquisitions and integrations, system enhancements, and other financial matters. 

In his finance role, Mr. Williams is responsible for the accounting services, audit lead, equipment financing, cash flow forecasts, payables and receivables management, and tax support. He will also provide support in policy documentation, system and IT support, benefits and HR coordination, and M&A analysis and integration.

Mr. Williams earned his BBA in Accounting degree from William & Mary in 1991.