Chris Bentley, president and CEO of Bellatorum Resources, is today’s featured Forty Under 40 honoree.

Based in Spring, Texas, Bellatorum Resources is a veteran-owned and operated firm specializing in the acquisition of land and royalty interests. Bentley, a former military man, formed the firm alongside his wife in 2016. 

Less than three years after launching Bellatorum Resources, Bentley now oversees nearly $30 million in assets and leads a team of 16 employees. The decorated veteran (he earned numerous medals and personal awards during his 14-plus year service with the Marine Corps) has made it his mission to help other military retirees. 

“It’s super difficult for veterans when they get out of the military to find a job in the civilian world,” Bentley says. “But we have transferrable skills and can add a lot of value to any organization. I figured why not create a place where we can at least try to hire veterans first?”

Bentley made his initial foray into the land acquisition space as a land and right-of-way agent in 2014. He also was briefly employed as director of business development at a small tech company before returning to the energy space.

Click here for Chris Bentley’s complete profile.

Take a look at all of the Forty Under 40 honorees.