Management

David E. Combs

After a stint in the Coast Guard and the Oil and Gas Credit Division of Los Angeles based Crocker National Bank, David joined Termo in 1966 with an MBA from the University of Southern California. He succeeded his father, Eldredge as President of The Termo Company in 1981 and successfully merged the company and its affiliate, Termo of Texas, in 1987. Today, he is President and Chairman of The Termo Company.

David is active in wildlife conservation organizations and has served on the Board of Trustees for the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, as California State Chairman of Ducks Unlimited, and is currently on the Board of Directors of The Bear River Club Company.  In the past, he has served on the boards of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, California Independent Producers Association, Long Beach Memorial Hospital, and as a board member and President of the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation.

Francis H. Roth

Francis joined Termo in 1998 as a Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and is currently a member of the Termo Board of Directors. Francis has more than 50 years’ experience in the industry including engineering positions with Amoco and Chevron and, most recently, was President of HarCor Energy in Houston. He received a BS degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Kansas, an MS from the University of Oklahoma, and an MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles. Francis is a Registered Petroleum Engineer in California and Texas and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Norbert W. 'Bill' Buss

Bill joined Termo in 1995 and is Vice President of Operations. He is responsible not only for production operations, but also reservoir, reserve, and acquisition analysis. Bill has a BS in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He worked for Southern California Gas Company for ten years as manager of engineering for reservoir development of their gas storage fields, and for Aminoil USA, Inc. in Huntington Beach in their onshore and offshore oil fields for the eight years prior. An avid runner and golfer, Bill is a California Registered Professional Petroleum Engineer, has served on the board of Long Beach Based Oil Operators, is currently on the board of CIPA, and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Paul Buika

Paul joined Termo in 2007 and is now the Geology Manager. He has more than 32 years’ experience in the industry including geological positions with Unocal, McFarland Energy, Samedan Oil / Noble Energy, and Petrogulf Corporation. He received a BS in Geology from the University of Rochester and an M.S. in Geology from Texas Tech and is a member of AAPG and PSAAPG. Paul enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, and playing golf.

Robert Ransom

Bob Ransom joined Termo in 2017 as Controller. He has more than 20 years’ experience in oil and gas accounting and finance including Controller positions with Coastal Drilling Company and McFarland Energy. Bob also held positions of Vice President - Treasurer and Vice President of Corporate Development with McFarland Energy. He began his oil and gas career working summers as a roustabout and well puller in the Midway Sunset Field of California. Bob holds a BA in Rhetoric from U. C. Berkeley, has passed the CPA exam and done post graduate study in accounting and finance at CSU Bakersfield and CSU Long Beach. He was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma at CSU Long Beach. Bob enjoys building, restoring and riding vintage steel bicycles and playing an occasional round of golf.

Jeff Farquhar

Jeff moved from Denver to join the Termo team as Senior Land Manager in 2022.  He is responsible for land management functions in support of oil and gas exploration and production operations, including acquisitions and divestitures.  Jeff has over 20 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, including land management positions with Great Western Petroleum and Noble Energy.  He received a BBA from the University of Oklahoma in 2001 and immediately began his career in the energy industry.  Jeff is active in the Los Angeles and Denver Associations of Professional Landmen.  Jeff enjoys golfing, traveling the world and cheering on his Oklahoma Sooners.

Chris Cacek

Chris joined Termo in 2011 as an Engineering Technician and has risen through the ranks to recently become Termo's Operations Manager overseeing all field operations. He has nearly 20 years of industry experience, nine of which were spent working in the artificial lift sector. Chris has a desire for education, which earned him Associate Degrees in Business, Economics, Human Development and Math & Science, along with a BS in Business and an MBA. In 2018, Chris earned a BS in Petroleum Engineering from University of North Dakota, which resulted in a promotion to Petroleum Engineer. Chris enjoys traveling and the outdoors with his wife and children.

Ralph E. Combs

Beginning at the age of sixteen, Ralph started as a roustabout for Termo in the fields of southern California.  In 2003 he rejoined Termo as a Regulatory Specialist for the company’s Wyoming Operations and is now the Manager of Regulatory, Community, & Government Affairs overseeing project permitting, community relations, and regulatory compliance.  Ralph holds an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Montana, Missoula and an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business and Management, and is an active member of CIPA and SPE. He also serves on the California Oil Museum Foundation Board and enjoys landscape photography and paddling.