Brian Hansen, principal of Vortus Investments, is today’s Forty Under 40 featured honoree.

Vortus Investments is a private-equity firm focused on lower- to middle-market deals across the U.S. The firm, based in Fort Worth, Texas, earmarks $50 million to $75 million per deal, Brian said, and sets itself apart from competitors by having an “asset in hand” rule.

Brian counts Scott Sheffield, former CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (NYSE: PXD)—where he worked for 14 years before joining Vortus in 2014—as a role model.

“[Sheffield] has been a big influence on my career. … He always advised against using leverage to drive returns and followed that advice through the renaissance of the Permian, focusing on the reservoir’s economic return instead of its debt capacity,” Brian said.

Click here for Brian’s complete profile.

Take a look at all of the Forty Under 40 honorees.