About
Leadership Team
Our leadership team's combined knowledge, expertise, and abilities cultivate strength, and drives our mission –“Investors First.”
Franz Ronnie
CEO & President (Founder)
Franz Ronnie developed leadership skills when he served in the Marine Corps. Mr. Ronnie has a natural talent for engaging, communicating, motivating, and leading people. His focus has always been to build a network and infrastructure of professionals who can execute highly valued operations for his companies and investors. Franz’s goal is to create opportunities for private and industry partners to generate long-term residual income, grow a multi-faceted business, develop legacy assets, and provide generational wealth to everyone involved. Mr. Ronnie has a complete understanding of what it takes to advance Merica Oil’s agenda. He has proven to have the skills to bring our company to further success. Mr. Ronnie supports several charities, including The Sempre Fi and the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and traveling
Milton Smith
Lead Consulting Geologist
Milton Smith is from a 4th generation oilfield family and started working for the family oil company in Illinois at the age of 11, performing various tasks related to well maintenance such as cleaning up wellsites, pulling rods/tubing, running chemicals, gauging tanks, pumping wells while the normal pumper was on break, and assisting service companies when they were short-handed. He graduated from SIU with a BS (1999) and MS (2007) in Geology. He worked for several companies(Weatherford, Chesapeake Energy, Ascent Resources, and Geovision Geosteering) in the oil and gas industry, gaining experience in tasks such as wireline operations, analyzing borehole image logs and petrophysics, geosteering wells, and prospecting for oil and gas in unconventional plays. He has worked in various regions, including the IL Basin, LA onshore, inland waters, and offshore, as well as Marcellus, Point Pleasant, Haynesville, and the Utica-Trenton interval of the Appalachian Basin. In addition to his professional work, he also volunteers with the Boy Scouts and USA Archery as a merit badge counselor, advancement chair, unit commissioner, and level 1 coach, helping introduce the sport of archery to youth and adults in the OKC metro.
Paul Richardson
Consulting Geologist
Paul Richardson gained a B.S. Degree in Petroleum Geology from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in Geology from Oklahoma State University. Formerly with Devon Energy Corporation, Double Eagle, and Panther Energy. With over 14 years as a geologist, he has expertise in the Rockies, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, including the Permian, Ardmore, Marietta, Anadarko, Gulf Coast, and Powder River Basins. His skill set includes data organization and software such as Petra, Geographics, and Petrel. Paul’s interests include his family, gardening, and farming.
Bobby Sayadeth
Senior Landman
With over 20 years of experience in the Energy Industry. As the Senior Landman for Merica Oil Company, Bobby has extensive experience working in nearly every state that produces oil and gas in the United States. Throughout his career, Bobby has performed various critical functions, including title examination, mineral and surface acquisition projects, due diligence, land administration, third-party gas gathering, and Marketing department responsibilities. His deep industry knowledge and proven track record of success have made him an invaluable member of the Merica Oil Company. Outside of work, Bobby is an avid Paintballer who also enjoys hunting, fishing, and golfing.
Alex Villarreal
Chief Growth Advisor
Obtained a Bachelor's degree in Southern California and began working in the field of marketing, leveraging his leadership skills and attention to detail in strategic communication and consumer behavior analysis. Driven by a passion for innovation and digital strategy, Alex expanded his expertise into operations and became adept at optimizing business processes and creating engaging customer experiences. His adaptability and proficiency in leveraging cutting-edge technologies led him to the role of Chief Growth Advisor, where he provided strategic guidance on business expansion and revenue generation. A Marine veteran who served with distinction during OIF. In his career, Alex has remained committed to supporting fellow veterans and positively impacting the world. His passion for marketing, operations, and digital expertise, sets him apart as a dynamic professional capable of driving growth and achieving exceptional results in many industries. Alex enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, and traveling during his off time.
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