Jared L. Clarke of Oxbow Holdings, a company focused on evaluating oil and gas wells and properties across the United States, brings significant insight into companies aiming to grow, scale, or acquire new assets. Clarke’s experience highlights the importance of having a clear strategy for acquiring working interests and building valuable relationships in a competitive market.
Oxbow Holdings operates in the oil and gas industry by buying partial ownership in top-quality properties across the U.S. The company aims to benefit everyone involved by working with the best operators and selecting prime locations. This approach has earned them a strong reputation for precise and smooth business deals. Oxbow Holdings is focused on providing excellent value to its investors and partners, a goal Clarke has supported throughout his career.
Clarke’s background is particularly instructive regarding raising capital and forming partnerships. He earned a degree in Human Resources Development from Texas A&M University. He also pursued studies in criminology and history at Sam Houston State University. His education gave him a well-rounded perspective, but his early career experiences shaped his understanding of the energy industry.
Clarke began his career as a Project Engineer at The Walsh Group, where he gained a deep appreciation for the importance of building solid relationships within the industry. These connections would later prove invaluable when he founded Forza Resources in 2009, a company that provides land and legal services, mineral asset management, and acquisition and divestiture services across multiple states.
Forza Resources was Clarke’s first major entrepreneurial venture, giving him the platform to leverage the network he had built over the years. Clarke’s approach to partnerships has always been rooted in trust and mutual benefit, which has allowed Forza Resources to grow into a respected player in the energy sector. His success at Forza provided a blueprint for his work at Oxbow Holdings, where the emphasis is again on finding the right partners and creating deals that benefit everyone involved.
Raising funds and securing strategic partnerships often comes down to timing and trust in the oil and gas industry. Clarke emphasizes the importance of understanding the market dynamics and being ready to act when the right opportunities arise. “You need to recognize when the time is right to approach investors or partners with a proposal,” Clarke says. “It’s not just about having the best assets or the most favorable market conditions—it’s also about knowing when people are ready to invest or collaborate.”
Jared Clarke notes that building strategic partnerships involves deeply understanding each party’s contributions. In the oil and gas sector, partnerships often require a blend of technical expertise, financial backing, and operational experience. Oxbow Holdings excels at evaluating potential partners’ strengths and weaknesses and determining how these elements can complement their existing business.
One critical factor in raising funds, Clarke explains, is transparency. Investors and partners want to feel confident that they understand the risks and rewards of a given project. “You have to be upfront about everything—the good, the bad, and the uncertain,” Clarke says. The more transparent you are, the more likely you are to build trust with potential investors and partners.”
This commitment to transparency is a core value at Oxbow Holdings, where evaluations are conducted precisely and shared openly with all stakeholders. By providing accurate and comprehensive assessments of oil and gas properties, Oxbow can build credibility with investors and potential partners. This credibility, in turn, makes it easier to raise the necessary funds for acquisitions and new ventures.
Another critical aspect of raising funds and forming partnerships is flexibility. In an industry as volatile as oil and gas, companies must be able to adapt to changing conditions. Clarke has seen firsthand how market fluctuations, regulatory changes, and geopolitical events can impact deals. “You have to be prepared to pivot if necessary,” he explains. “Sometimes that means changing the structure of a deal or finding a new partner who can bring something different to the table.”
At Oxbow Holdings, flexibility is built into the business model. By focusing on non-operated working interests, they maintain a degree of operational agility that allows them to respond quickly to changes in the market. This agility is particularly valuable when securing financing, as investors are more likely to back a company that can adjust to new circumstances and deliver results.
Jared Clarke believes building strong, lasting relationships is the key to raising funds and forming strategic partnerships. “It’s all about relationships,” he says. “Whether you’re dealing with investors, operators, or landowners, the goal is to create lasting partnerships. If you can do that, you’ll find that the funding and the opportunities will follow.”
By focusing on transparency, flexibility, and building trust, the company has navigated the complexities of the oil and gas industry while delivering value to its partners and investors. As the energy landscape continues to evolve, Jared L. Clarke and Oxbow Holdings are well-positioned to continue their growth, thanks to a clear vision, a strong network, and a commitment to doing business correctly.