Todd Berryman

Regional vice president and manager, energy lending, Bank of the West

• First job: petroleum engineer

"I started out on a team of engineers for Marathon Oil Co., responsible for about 2,000 oil wells in southern Illinois," Berryman said. "I also was one of four engineers doing rig duty on a small drilling rig. One week per month was devoted to working on it around the clock."

Berryman said his first job provided the foundation for his career in the oil industry. Additionally, it paid $21,000 a year which, he added, was good money for a college graduate.

"After three years I asked for a transfer out west, and my manager thought Iraan, Texas, was close enough. I quit and moved to Colorado four months later."