As a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington,
Larry Crain accumulated broad business insight during his terms
for Texas Instruments, in the 1970s and
also with Vice President for National Comp Associates, where he was top producer
for five years. Throughout his 20-year oil and gas career, Crain has
focused on the ownership, operation and funding of oil and gas prospects/properties
generated by PetroMax Operating Co., Inc., which he founded in 1988.
As Operating Partner, Crain’s management
of daily operations allows him to maintain the successful relationships
he has amassed with oil and gas industry partners, private estates,
and individuals participating as non-operators with PetroMax Operating
Company. Crain’s knowledge of the cyclical nature of the oil
and gas industry strengthens his belief that now is the best time
to capitalize on the relationships PetroMax Operating Company has
with the majors and large independents.
Larry is married, the father of two sons and a
daughter, and has three grandchildren.
Mike Hoover has accumulated over 25 years of personal
experience in the oil and gas industry including petroleum land management,
geological evaluation and interpretation, open-hole and cased-hole
engineering, and production management, including intrastate pipeline
operations.
While completing his college degree at Abilene Christian University,
Hoover worked at Burns Oil and Gas as an assistant to a former Texas
Railroad Commissioner (District 7B) in a regulatory compliance consulting
field. Following graduation, he worked in his father's oil and gas
exploration business, Dymar Corporation, becoming educated in all
areas of the business, from office operations to drilling, completion,
prospect evaluation, regulatory compliance and general field operations.
Hoover eventually chose to pursue his own place in the industry as
a self-employed prospect generator, specializing in the Gulf Coast
area, resulting in annual drilling prospects for his personal account
and his industry partners.
Larry Crain invited Hoover to join forces in 1989. As Operations
Director for PetroMax Operating Co., Inc., Hoover accomplishes a wide
variety of tasks, including prospect generation and evaluation, geological
prospect review, well-planning (legal, drilling through production,
sales), post-completion operations (product marketing, re-completion
implementation, and land management), and management of all operational
aspects of Trans-Sabine Pipeline Co., which includes 25 miles of intrastate
pipeline systems.
Mike is married, and is the father of a son and a daughter. As an
alumnus, he serves on the Board of Trustees of Dallas Christian School
and actively volunteers as the school’s tennis coordinator.
After Gaines’ graduation from Abilene Christian University,
he served over a year of active duty with the United States Air Force.
Gaines continued with a reserve career until 1989, when he formally
began his professional accounting career.
Gaines’ first seven years of accounting were spent with Sanders-Chance
Corporation, Republic Gypsum and the University of Texas at Dallas.
His experiences required a wide range of expertise such as automated
accounting systems, job-costing systems, staff auditing, general ledger
responsibility, internal audit preparation, due diligence on acquisition
targets, and general management of accounting staff.
By early 1990's, Gaines moved into the rarefied area of SEC Corporate
Accounting and Reporting, and the preparation of internal audits along
with internal and external financials, including EBITDA reporting
and special projects. These responsibilities for the Southland Corporation
also required 1 ½ years in Japanese financial reporting.
As his career progressed, Gaines developed his own firm, Flynt Gaines
& Associates, Inc. He also began his own small natural gas company,
Basin Gas, Inc., active in the Barnett Shale of Denton County. Eventually
Gaines redirected his professional efforts, coupling his accounting
career with PetroMax Operating Company. Gaines marshaled in a new
era of financial capability, providing advanced corporate accounting,
advanced joint interest accounting, updated computer, and accounting
and office systems. His responsibility for financial reports, internal
financial controls and information systems is vital to the company.
Flynt is married, and is the father of two daughters.
Robert Sparks has over 25 years experience in the generation,
acquisition, exploration, development, and operations of oil and gas
properties. As a graduate of Lamar University, his professional career
has focused on the business development and marketing side of the
industry for independent oil and gas companies.
Beginning in 1977, Sparks served in the positions of President, Vice
President of Sales and Marketing, Director of Business Development,
and Business Development and Marketing Consultant to independent oil
and gas operators. He has weathered the ups and downs of the industry
as a 'hands on' participant, and has created a winning business model
for every phase of the industry. Under Sparks’ direction, independent
oil and gas companies have increased their market presence, located
capital sources to fund prospects, enlarged exploratory and development
budgets, strengthened communication from field to partners, and improved
overall visibility in an industry once ruled by the majors.
Sparks’ professional journey also includes prior achievement
in retail and wholesale distribution, business development and consulting,
oil and gas development, business and personal counseling, ministry
development, and fund-raising and capital acquisition for privately-held
companies. Additionally, he earned two Master’s Degrees in separate
fields of study.
Sparks is married, and is the father of a son and three daughters.
He is also active in the field of human growth and development as
a leader and counselor in his local church.