Zion Oil and Gas Leadership (2017)

 

John M. Brown – Founder and Executive Chairman of Zion’s Board of Directors

John M. Brown, the company’s founder, has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since its organization in April 2000. He served as CEO until September 2004, and as President of Zion until October 2001. In January 2010, Mr. Brown was appointed Executive Chairman. In October 2012, Mr. Brown was appointed by the Board as the Interim Chief Executive Officer in addition to continuing as the Executive Chairman. On January 1, 2014, Mr. Brown was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and continuing as the Executive Chairman. Effective June 15, 2015, Mr. Brown has stepped down from the role as CEO. Mr. Brown has extensive management, marketing and sales experience, serving as corporate director of purchasing at GTE Valeron, a subsidiary of GTE Corporation from 1966 to 1986, and as corporate director of procurement at Magnetek, Inc. during 1988-89. Until 2012, Mr. Brown has been also an officer and director of M&B Holding Inc. a provider of cement walls and floors for industrial buildings, office buildings and home developers.

Victor G. Carrillo – Chief Executive Officer

Effective June 15, 2015, Zion’s Board of Directors appointed Victor G. Carrillo as Zion’s CEO. Mr. Carrillo was appointed to Zion’s Board in September 2010 and appointed Executive Vice President in January 2011. In October of 2011 he was appointed as the Company President and Chief Operating Officer. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce and the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University. Mr. Carrillo is a petroleum geologist and geophysicist, attorney, former city councilman, former county judge, and former statewide elected official. From 2003 to 2011, Mr. Carrillo served as a commissioner of the Railroad Commission of Texas (the state agency with regulatory jurisdiction over Texas oil and gas exploration and production and pipelines), having served twice as chairman of the three-member statewide elected board. Mr. Carrillo holds a law degree from the University of Houston, a Master of Science degree in geology from Baylor University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Hardin-Simmons University. Mr. Carrillo also received an honorary doctorate degree from Hardin-Simmons University in May 2006.

Dustin Guinn – Executive Vice Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer

Prior to joining Zion Oil & Gas in July 2016 as Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Guinn served as the Chief Executive Officer of Viking Services since June of 2011. Mr. Guinn’s primary responsibilities included operational and strategic management focusing on the growth, deployment and profitability of assets in the United States, Turkey, Northern Iraq, Oman, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and other strategic countries within the Middle East, North Africa, as well as Central and Eastern Europe. Mr. Guinn has extensive experience in transactional mergers and acquisitions involving both entity and asset purchases as well as the integration of those acquisitions and was intimately involved in the growth of Viking, in terms of financial, operational, structural, reporting and management growth since its inception in 2008.

Prior to assuming the responsibilities of CEO in 2011 Mr. Guinn served as President of Viking International and Viking Geophysical in which he leveraged his financial background and experience to focus on the continued development of operational efficiencies, reporting implementation, profitable asset deployment and accountability focusing on ROI metrics. Mr. Guinn was integral in the procurement and negotiation of many of Viking’s key long-term, ongoing service contracts and MSA’s that Viking benefited from. Mr. Guinn has also served in a number of capacities within Viking such as CFO, Treasury Manager and Financial Analyst, which have allowed for the opportunity to have a balanced and well-rounded understanding of the business.

Mr. Guinn graduated with honors, from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance, during which point and time he competed in both track and field and football (Three Year Starter at Tight End) and earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from West Texas A&M.

Martin van Brauman – Corporate Secretary and Treasurer, Senior Vice President

Martin M. van Brauman was appointed to the Board effective April 1, 2014 and since January 1, 2012 has been the Corporate Secretary and Treasurer and since June 1, 2013 has been a Senior Vice President. Previously between July 1, 2007 to January 31, 2009, he served as the Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary, Senior Vice President and Board director. Between February 1, 2009 to July 1, 2009, he served as the Chief Legal Officer. He is Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been in private legal practice in Dallas specializing in international and corporate tax and business corporate law. Previously, he spent 12 years as a Senior Attorney (International Specialist and Petroleum Industry Specialist) with the Office of Chief Counsel, IRS, followed by three years as a tax consultant with Deloitte & Touche and Grant Thornton. He has published on subjects related to taxation of international oil and gas ventures. Mr. van Brauman holds a B.E. degree from Vanderbilt University, a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from St. Mary’s University and an M.B.A. (Beta Gamma Sigma) and LL.M. (Tax Law) from Southern Methodist University. He has been an Adjunct Professor at Southern Methodist University, School of Law, LL.M. Tax Program and at the University of Texas at Dallas, Masters of Accounting Program.

Michael Croswell – Chief Financial Officer

Michael B. Croswell Jr., CPA, is currently serving as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He has served as Zion’s Corporate Controller since April 2011. In February 2013, Mr. Croswell was promoted to Vice President of Administration and in August 2016, he was promoted to CFO. Michael is a corporate accounting and management professional with a diverse range of industry experience. He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1997 and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1994 and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Dallas in 2013.

Dr. Lee Russell – Senior Geoscience Advisor

Dr. Lee R. Russell has been an independent Geoscience Consultant with the Company since August of 2012. He has over 41 years of industry experience in research and exploration positions with Shell Oil Co., Arco, and Sun Oil, as well as in his own exploration pursuits and consultancy. Projects have ranged from domestic exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, Rocky Mountains, and Alaska, to international projects in East and West Africa, North Sea, Norway, Onshore China, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Newfoundland. He is a published author of many scientific articles and served as a Panel Chair and Co-Author of a National Research Council study on “Solid Earth Sciences and Society.” He received his BA in Geology from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1970, and MSc and PhD degrees in Geology and Geophysics from Texas Tech University in 1972 and 1977. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, serving two terms as Associate Editor, and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America.

Jeffrey Moskowitz – VP and Israeli Branch General Manager

Mr. Jeffrey Moskowitz is a certified attorney in Israel with over 30 years of experience primarily in the areas of corporate and commercial law. Mr. Moskowitz served as an attorney and in-house legal counsel at Koor Industries, a major Israeli industrial concern. For over ten years, Mr. Moskowitz has been providing Zion Oil & Gas legal advice regarding various aspects of operations in Israel. Mr. Moskowitz has developed an expertise in all aspects relating to the Israel oil and gas industry, including helping to guide exploration companies such as Zion through the complexities of governmental permitting and regulatory issues. Mr. Moskowitz has extensive experience working with the Israel Securities Authority and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that will serve as a very valuable asset in assisting with corporate strategy and implementation. Since 2008, Mr. Moskowitz has also assisted Martin M. van Brauman, Zion’s Corporate Secretary/Treasurer/SVP, in establishing and maintaining the Bnei Joseph Foundation, an Israeli charity.

Mr. Moskowitz graduated from Bar Ilan University with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. Mr. Moskowitz served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as a combat medic.

Paul Oroian – Director

Paul Oroian was appointed a director in November 2003. Since its founding in 1983, he has served as President and managing partner of Oroian, Guest & Little, P.C., a certified public accounting and consulting firm based in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Oroian holds a Bachelor of Science – Business Administration from Bryant College. He has served as a board member of Technology Oversight Committee and the IRS Regional Liaison Committee of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and was Vice President and a director of the San Antonio CPA Society between 1992-1998. He currently serves as treasurer, and is a director at the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio (YOSA).

William H. (Bill) Avery – Director

William H. Avery was appointed to the Board as a non-employee director, effective September 1, 2013. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Avery worked on a broad variety of administrative, financial and legal matters for the Company. He served as Vice President of Finance and Treasurer commencing 2003 until 2007. He worked full time as Executive Vice President and Treasurer and as a director commencing in 2007 with responsibility for administration, finance and legal until 2010. From December 2012 to current, he has been retained as General Counsel on a part time basis under an independent consulting contract. Mr. Avery has a BBA in Finance and Economics from Southern Methodist University and a Juris Doctor from Duke University.

Forrest A. Garb – Director

Forrest A. Garb, appointed a director in November 2005, is a petroleum engineer well known in the petroleum industry for providing independent consulting services for more than 45 years. His consulting career began with H.J. Gruy and Associates, Inc. and its successors, where he served as a Vice President for four years, executive Vice President for ten years, and President for fifteen years. In 1988, Mr. Garb founded Forrest A. Garb & Associates, Inc. a privately-owned petroleum consulting firm, where he served as chairman and CEO until his retirement in 2003. Mr. Garb was educated in petroleum engineering at Texas A&M University (BSc and Professional MSc) and received his early training at Socony Mobil Oil Company in Kansas, Texas, Louisiana and Venezuela. Mr. Garb is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and is a past President of the Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers. He is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery, the American Arbritration Association, the Petroleum Engineers Club of Dallas, the Dallas Geological Society, and is a member of the AAPG. He is a charter member of The American Institute of Minerals Appraisers. He is a registered professional engineer in Texas.

Justin Furnace – Director

Mr. Justin Furnace was appointed a director in April 2012. Mr. Furnace is the Corporate Manager of External Affairs for Hilcorp Energy Company, in Houston, Texas. Previously, from May of 2010 to September 2012, he was the President of the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO), a trade association representing the interests of more than 2,300 independent oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners throughout Texas. As TIPRO’s president, Mr. Furnace was responsible for overseeing the association’s governmental affairs in Texas and Washington D.C. and representing the interests of the association membership before various regulatory bodies among other things. Prior thereto, from 2007 to 2010, Mr. Furnace served as chief of staff and legal counsel to then Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. He was the Chairman’s top policy advisor, in charge of evaluating, assessing and implementing all legal, technical and legislative strategies. Prior to his tenure at the Railroad Commission, from September 2004 to December 2006, he practiced law at the Beaumont office of Mehaffy Webber as an associate in the firm’s business and litigation departments. While at the firm, he focused on both transactions and litigation relating to oil and gas, real estate and corporate matters. A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, Mr. Furnace currently serves on their Board of Development. He later received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech University School of Law. Mr. Furnace’s background in commercial oil and gas law and his regulatory experience makes him a valuable objective resource for our company on these matters.

Gene Scammahorn – Director

Mr. Gene Scammahorn joined Zion as an independent member of our Board of Directors in October of 2012. Mr. Scammahorn graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma and is a Texas Certified Public Accountant as well as a Certified Financial Planner.  He has over 30 years of business experience including having worked for two “big four” public accounting firms, major oil and gas companies, as well as in banking and consulting. From 2001 to 2012, he was the Internal Audit Services Director, Xerox Business Services, LLC and continues as a consultant to Xerox Business Services, LLC.

Kent S. Siegel – Director

Kent S. Siegel, was re-appointed to the Board of Directors in January 2013.  He previously served on our Board from November 2003 to April 2011 and also served as Zion’s Chief of Finance from July 2010 to April 2011.  He has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Siegel and Siegel, P.C. since 1984. Siegel and Siegel is a firm of certified public accountants and attorneys at law based in West Bloomfield, Michigan, at which Mr. Siegel practices as a tax and bankruptcy attorney and CPA. Mr. Siegel holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Michigan State University School of Business, a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University School of Engineering. He currently serves as chairman of the Temple Israel School Board Fund Raising Committee.

Ralph F. DeVore – Director

Mr. DeVore’s career includes over 25 years in advertising and marketing as an entrepreneur doing business with Fortune 100 companies such as PepsiCo, Walgreen and Philip Morris. In addition, he held a management position with The Sherwin-Williams Company, a Fortune 500 company. He currently serves as President of Christian Commerce Corporation, a 501(c)(3) private foundation which he founded in 1984. The focus of the foundation is promotion and ducation of Christian principles through world-wide evangelism. He also serves in a consulting role to other Christian ministries who call on his business expertise and years of ministry experience. Ralph earned a B.S. in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University and is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a Texas Real Estate Broker license. He is on the Boards of Christian Commerce Corporation and Hal Lindsey Website Ministries.