Alfuth joined Starboard Resources, a small company focused on oil and gas exploration and production in Texas and Oklahoma, in 2012, after 12 years in financial markets. “It was a chance to put [investment experience] into practice," he says. "When you’re on the investment side, you screen for investments, and then hope management can execute. This was kind of the opposite, where we can go and find the right investments and also execute.”

Accomplishments: Helped lead Starboard’s turnaround, including securing a bank facility, rolling out a hedging program and restructuring the balance sheet, to bring the company into growth mode. Holds a bachelor’s and an MBA from Texas A&M University. Hosts Q&A lunches for college students interested in the industry, and also serves on the Texas A&M MBA Advisory Board.

On mentorship: “I know that when I was an MBA student, it was such a struggle to get people at the executive level to notice you. I look back and try to not be like that and try to give [students] as much advantage as possible in terms of answering questions and offering guidance. Whether you’re getting an undergrad or an MBA it seems like from day one you have to know what to do with your career, so I try to pass along what I have learned since graduating.”

Goals: “We’d like to grow this company to the next level. We have a great team in place and a strong asset base from which to become that management team that successfully executes for investors. Our focus is ‘can we grow this into something where we can take it public, or sell it off in a few years, or roll it up and make it something bigger?’”

Outside of Starboard, a personal goal is to build a broad network of energy executives to serve as mentors for aspiring students looking to enter the industry.

Oil and Gas Investor is accepting nominations for the next installment in its 20 Under 40 series. Please submit nominations online at oilandgasinvestor.com/20under40, or email submissions to associate editor Caroline Evans, cevans@hartenergy.com.