HOUSTON, April 28, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Rock Energy Resources, Inc. (OTCBB:RCKE), an independent, domestic oil and natural gas company, today announced the expansion of its Board of Directors with the appointment of Mark G. Harrington as Vice Chairman, effectively immediately.
In addition to providing board leadership and general corporate oversight, Harrington will counsel and direct the Company's executive management team on the formulation and execution of key business growth strategies; financings, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate finance matters; and strategic partner development and collaboration.
According to Rocky Emery, Rock Energy's President and Chief Executive Officer, "Winning Mark's support and active participation on our Board is a significant coup for Rock Energy Resources, and one that we are immensely proud of achieving. His professional experience as an accomplished energy executive with deep, corporate finance expertise should prove invaluable to us. We are very proud to welcome him to our team and look forward to tapping his wealth of knowledge, perspective and industry influence to advance our Company's key growth strategies."
Harrington has built a successful 30-year career focused nearly exclusively on anticipating and capitalizing on key energy market dynamics. Having authored more than 20 publications, he has earned national recognition for his insightful industry forecasts and keen business acumen, and has been featured on CNBC, Canada AM, Dow Jones News and Bloomberg.
After earning a BBA and MBA in Finance from the University of Texas, Harrington began his career in 1977 as an energy analyst at the U.S. Trust Company and in 1978 joined Carl H. Pforzheimer & Co. in the same capacity. In 1980, he became a partner in the firm and, in 1982, was named President of Chipco Energy, Pforzheimer's in-house investment arm which focused on private equity investments and exploratory drilling projects. In 1985, he formed Harrington and Company, where he created the Energy Vulture Funds to pursue distressed opportunities in energy and to incubate emerging energy companies. EVF-incubated companies included Calgary-based HCO Canada, Ltd., where Harrington also served as founder, Chairman and CEO; and Houston-based HarCor Energy, a then NASDAQ NMS-listed company that he led as Chairman and CEO until its sale in late 1997. In 2003, he assumed the role of President and COO of AMEX-listed Dune Energy, Inc. to oversee the Company's successful market launch, and then served as President and CEO of Quinduno Energy, Inc. beginning in 2004 through 2006 following its sale to Petrosearch Energy.
Harrington currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Best Energy Services, Inc., a Houston-based company he co-incubated and helped successfully raise nearly $40 million in debt and equity financing; execute the roll-up and integration of several energy equipment and services companies; and commence trading on the OTC Bulletin Board in March 2008.
Commenting on his appointment to Rock Energy's Board, Harrington noted, "Since I met Rocky several years ago, I have greatly admired his intuitive business sense, unwavering standard of ethics and commitment to excellence in everything he does. Moreover, once I had the opportunity to carefully assess the Company's Diatomite project in California, I quickly determined that it is one of the singularly most exciting projects I have ever encountered. Consequently, I feel very privileged to have been invited to join the Board and play such an important role assisting Rocky and his team in achieving their ambitious growth objectives."
About Rock Energy Resources, Inc.
Originally formed in April of 2004 as Rock Energy Partners LP, Rock Energy Resources, Inc. is an oil and gas company based in Houston, Texas, that seeks out untapped, onshore natural gas and crude oil resources using cutting-edge 3D technologies. Rock Energy Resources, Inc. currently produces and sells natural gas and crude oil from two locations: the Wilcox trend in Colorado County, Texas, and the Monterey Formation in Santa Barbara County, California. For more information on the Company, please visit www.rockenergypartners.com.
Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements made in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements made herein are not a guarantee of future performance. This news release includes forward-looking statements, including with respect to the future level of business for the parties. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from estimated results. Management cautions that all statements as to future results of operations are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and events that may be beyond the control of Rock Energy Resources, Inc., and no assurance can be given that such results will be achieved. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability to procure, properly price, retain and successfully complete projects, and changes in products and competition.