About Us

Founder & Principal

As an accomplished business executive with a degree in Chemical Engineering and a solid foundation in business and private equity, I leverage over 25 years of experience from my career at ExxonMobil, in senior positions within the global Downstream Business Unit, where I honed strategic leadership skills and a keen business acumen. 

After concluding my corporate career, I embarked on an entrepreneurial path, founding and overseeing multiple private firms and ventures. I have orchestrated successful mergers and acquisitions, leading to favorable exits for diverse portfolio companies.

Throughout my career, I have held pivotal CEO/President roles across various sectors, including oil & gas, private equity, and technology. Currently, as the Founder & Principal of BlackOak Energy, LLC, I spearhead a management advisory firm specialized in the oil & gas industry.

My commitment extends beyond the boardroom to philanthropy, exemplified by my service on the Board of Directors and Board of Governors for Operation Smile—a non-profit providing medical services to children with facial deformities worldwide.

Harnessing my extensive network, I strategically employ business and public sector relationships to contribute meaningfully to both charitable and entrepreneurial endeavors. 

My entrepreneurial spirit and leadership skills have afforded me the opportunity to hold C-Level roles at the helm of dynamic organizations seeking innovation, growth, and strategic vision.

Partner

Dr. Del Valle is a highly experienced executive in the oil and gas industry with a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. He has a strong background in refining, supply, trading, marine transportation, project management, and evaluation economics. With 34 years at Exxon and over 20 years in consulting and oil trading, he is a well-established expert in project evaluation economics, supply logistics, acquisition economics, and bidding strategies for industrial customers.

Dr. Del Valle has extensive experience in negotiating supply contracts, marine chartering agreements, and engineering design and construction projects for pipelines and storage terminals. He served as an executive contact and a member of the Board of Directors for the Supply and Refining division of Gulf Oil Company Refinery in Puerto Rico (Capeco).

As a lead project manager, he successfully developed a greenfield import storage terminal in the Dominican Republic, including new marine docking facilities and pipelines, with a project value of $145 million.

Dr. Del Valle is actively involved in academia as a member of the Board of Directors for the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Florida International University. 

Dr. Del Valle is a partner of BlackOak Energy, LLC, a management advisory firm to the oil & gas industry. 

Partner

Mr. Steigerwald is a seasoned petroleum professional with diverse experience in refining, supply chain logistics, trading, and economics. Formerly a manager with Exxon for 17 years, he has held key positions in operations, project development, and quality control. His extensive expertise spans the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.

Specializing in bulk liquid logistics, refinery design, and terminal development, Mr. Steigerwald's career has been marked by his ability to optimize operations, reduce risk, and navigate complex claims. His skills include auditing, operations management, and investment assessment.

As an independent consultant, he has worked with various clients on projects ranging from low-sulfur bunkers fuel production to emergency water supply proposals in conflict zones. He has also been a key advisor to the Panama Canal Commission, contributing to the reassessment of the petroleum industry's use of the Canal.

With a remarkable track record in business development, operations management, and strategic advisory, Mr. Steigerwald continues to make significant contributions to the global petroleum industry. 

Mr. Steigerwald is a partner of BlackOak Energy, LLC, a management advisory firm to the oil & gas industry.

Partner

Mr. Ducheny holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and has pursued post-graduate studies in Environmental Engineering. He began his career at Esso Standard Oil Puerto Rico, where he served as Operations Manager for the Central Caribbean Region. In this role, he oversaw all logistics and operations, including supply, transportation, aviation fueling, and marine operations.

With his expertise in logistics, Mr. Ducheny transitioned to become the Operations Manager for the Division of Supply and Marine's Transportation Group within Exxon Trading Inter-America. In this position, he was responsible for monitoring the performance of Exxon's tanker fleet and coordinating chartering activities as needed.

During his tenure, Mr. Ducheny held the position of Senior Advisor for South America, focusing on safety and distribution. He played a crucial role in implementing and advising on safety, health, and environmental programs, including ExxonMobil's Operations Integrity Management Systems (OIMS) that ensure the safety and integrity of all operations, Industry Loss Prevention Systems, Quality Control Management Systems, and Processes Administrative Controls Systems.

After retiring, Mr. Ducheny continued to contribute his expertise as a consultant to the petroleum industry, providing professional services to companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total, and SOL. 

Mr. Ducheny is a partner of BlackOak Energy, LLC, a management advisory firm to the oil & gas industry.