The New Jersey native will never leave California, which is the third-largest domestic producer despite tough permitting laws. He and his wife are raising a daughter, who will start school next year.

“I love Southern California. It’s a great place to raise your family.” Had “a weird intuition” the state would experience an energy renaissance. “I think people are starting to look more into California.”

Was a partner and managing director of energy research at Global Hunter Securities Inc. when, in 2011, a mutual acquaintance introduced him to Armen Nahabedian, Citadel’s chief executive. “I wasn’t really looking for the opportunity. It sort of found me, which is always better.” Has more than 20 years’ experience in financial and capital-markets sectors as an analyst, and prefers research to investment banking.

His advice for aspiring CFOs is that, while “trying to build something is a lot more rewarding than trying to critique somebody else,” it is also tough. “Now I basically get to live and die by my own success and failures, and it’s a different mentality and a different risk-reward.”

Accomplishments: Named the 2011 Wall Street Journal All-Star Analyst at Global Hunter Securities. Holds a BA in economics from East Carolina University.

On California’s resources: “The majors dominate California and typically don’t seek out exploration. It is easier for the majors to grow through the checkbook rather than the drillbit. With OXY recently announcing it is spinning off California into a separate company, we think the company’s thirst to continue acquiring smaller producers will only increase.”

Goal for Citadel: “I think over the next five years, we have the opportunity to grow into one of the larger independent producers in California.”