Corporate Counsel Geologist

Travis Creed, J.D

Bowling Green, KY • 270-***-**** • ******.******@*****.*** • www.linkedin.com/in/travis-creed-7342916

Corporate Attorney and Business Executive who has repeatedly identified market opportunities to innovate revenue-generating businesses that span diverse industry sectors, including legal (litigation, appellate and corporate), real estate, energy, investment banking, finance (residential and commercial), portfolio management, securities (Reg. D Offerings, SEC filings, Corporate Governance) and technology. Special expertise in real estate acquisition, leasing, portfolio work-outs and development. Inspiring team leader who is passionate about leading teams and enhancing talent within cultures of continuous learning, collaboration and transparency. Business leader with a reputation for building and managing relationships based on a foundation of trust and integrity.

Business Management/Strategic Planning: Acquired and oversaw operations of electrical contracting company providing commercial and residential services, concurrent with practicing law. Re-organized company and sold for multiple. Leveraged entrepreneurial vision to drive strategy, establish operating processes, develop products and build/lead/train sales teams of several organizations, to achieve overall goals and missions.

Capital Raising: Raised money for diverse range of business endeavors including real estate development, oil and gas exploration, and technology including roadshows to secure angel/private investors. Expertise in Securities Act of 1933 and 1934 as related to Reg. D offerings.

New Product/Investment Development: Revitalized revenue and sales team that was demoralized by downturn in oil and gas exploration investments and provided alternative for investors by acquiring pools of performing mortgage loans and creating opportunity funds sold through captive broker-dealer.

Complex Problem Solving: Created innovative solution to avert bankruptcy and/or legal action upon collapse of secondary mortgage market by negotiating workouts, renegotiating debt, and servicing / selling mortgages.

Leadership Strengths that Deliver Stakeholder Value

Operations Management

SEC filings for public company

Business Development

Investor and Banking Relations

Legal Representation

In-House Counsel

Litigation Arbitration

Banking and Finance

Real Estate Development

FINRA Arbitrations

Mortgage Trading

Capital Raising

Portfolio Management

Reg D Offerings

Opportunity Funds

Marketing Social Media Marketing

Oil and Gas Exploration

Mineral Leasing Royalties

Team Building and Leadership

Training and Motivating

Revenue and Profit Optimization

Building Businesses through Vision, Strategy and Innovation

CORPORATE COUNSEL – FREEDOM CRUDE, LLC (2019 – Present)

Formed new entity, following 2018 changes in tax law, to take over operations of Bayou City Exploration. Raise money for oil and gas exploration through private placement of financial instruments. Manage multiple mortgage backed opportunity funds. Source oil and gas projects, commercial real estate acquisitions, and mineral leasing/purchase projects.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT CORPORATE COUNSEL

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD – BAYOU CITY EXPLORATION, INC (2013 – 2018)

Tasked by company President to revitalize dormant oil and gas exploration company with operations in Houston, which raised money through private placement securities (Reg D offerings). Worked with outside counsel to complete required filings (10Q, 8K, 10K, proxy statements,etc.) Personally acquired controlling interest in company with two partners and took company private.

Worked with CFO to bring company’s financials up to standard, collect outstanding receivables, negotiate debt payments and return company to good standing.

Assumed contract with broker/dealer, acquired Blue Ridge’s oil and gas partnerships and opportunity funds, and created four new opportunity funds.

Held position of Corporate Counsel with several related entities since 2007. Companies sold Reg. D offerings through broker-dealer based in Connecticut with two “captive” branches in Bowling Green, KY. Duties included serving as local counsel for broker-dealer through FINRA, SEC and Kentucky audits. Beginning in 2013, served as Defense Attorney for FINRA complaints by investor(s), representing broker-dealer, brokers and associated persons. Developed extensive working knowledge of Securities Acts of 1933, 1934, and FINRA Customer Code of Arbitration including, but not limited to rules related to “Standards of Commercial Honor and Principles of Trade”, “Know Your Customer”, “Suitability”, “Communications with the Public”, “Direct Participation Programs”, “Supervision”, and “Elective Arbitration.” Experience with what began as voluntary participation via FINRA dispute resolution portal (now mandatory). Practical experience vetting and choosing arbitration panels (public and private) and negotiation of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent agreements. As of November, 2020 have a case pending in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals related to the “two year rule” found in FINRA Bylaws (FINRA jurisdiction) and inherent flaws in FINRA arbitration system.

Handled contract work and title issues relating to oil and gas operations, mineral rights acquisition and leasing drafted private placement memorandums, subscription agreements, limited partnership agreements, participation contracts, joint venture agreements and other documents related to issuance of private securities. Worked to establish offices in Florida and Texas, negotiated real estate and equipment leases.

Managed “Blue Sky” filings and other state registration requirements related to the issuance of securities.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT CORPORATE COUNSEL – BLUE RIDGE GROUP, INC (2007 – 2013)

Initially hired by sister company of Bayou City Exploration, Inc to formulate strategy for averting bankruptcy or legal actions resulting from $24M capital raise for projected real estate development prior to collapse of market, which left company holding $12M in debt and real estate that couldn’t be immediately sold or developed. Negotiated with banks and private lenders to co-develop or restructure debt to keep loans off of non-accrual. Role expanded to include corporate counsel responsibilities and outside positions with investment in technology company and company-owned stagnant public company. Led cross-functional team of five.

Executed workout by renegotiating debt, and selling and surrendering properties to cancel debt, avoiding bankruptcy and potential court proceedings.

Identified opportunity during residential mortgage meltdown to partner with loan servicing company on acquiring pools of performing mortgage loans with balances of ~$50M to create “Opportunity Funds” for in-house brokers to market.

Drove $30M in sales and revitalized brokers’ business.

Served as Corporate Counsel through two SEC audits, two FINRA audits, and three state audits.

Appointed Chairman of the Board (2010 – 2014).

CORPORATE COUNSEL – PEERIUM, INC (2008 – 2013)

Recruited to startup by angel investor to provide legal expertise and guidance to founders on raising capital from venture capital firms, angel investors and hedge funds.

Attended meetings with venture capital companies and participated in roadshows; “translated” highly technical information to nontechnical stakeholders.

Drafted employee, stockholder, end user license agreements, NDAs, stock option plans, and stockholder agreements; wrote Reg D offering and private placement documents. Personally raised 1.2 million in initial funding round.

Managed outside counsel on issues related to corporate governance, securities and company wind down.

AVALAR, LLC, Little Rock, AR. – Mortgage trading company. (2005 – 2007)

FOUNDER MANAGER

Established model and collateral maintenance procedure to secure lines of credit for purchase and subsequent sale of residential mortgages as securities.

Conducted due diligence, acquired and sold average of $500K to $1M in mortgages monthly, completing $15M in total transactions.

Early Experience

Owner General Manager – Acquired and directed operations of electrical contracting and servicing company (Summit Electric in Bryant, AR), concurrent with practicing law. Re-organized company and sold for multiple.

Associate Attorney – General Practice Law Firm with focus on labor, employment and appellate work in 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and Arkansas Supreme Court; wrote legislation including amendment to Arkansas Teacher Fair Dismissal Act on behalf of Teachers Union.

Education

JD – University of Arkansas, Little Rock, AR

BA, Political Science and Minor in Business Administration – Westminster College, Fulton, MO

Bar Admissions Affiliations

Licensed to practice law in Arkansas and Kentucky

Member – Kentucky Bar Association, Arkansas Bar Association

Professional Development

Geology for the Non-Geologist – University of Tulsa

Community/Volunteer Activities: Coached youth basketball and football.

Personal Interests include travel, golf, geology, art

MERGING LEGAL EXPERTISE AND BUSINESS ACUMEN TO SOLVE COMPLEX CHALLENGES

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