MEET OUR TEAM
With over 200 years of combined business experience, including 65+ years in working interests, BlackGold Wealth's leadership brings unparalleled expertise to the fund. This seasoned team ensures efficient operations, strategic decision-making, and risk management, driving the fund toward its objectives while maximizing investor confidence and returns.
DARCY HARBOTT
CEO/FOUNDER
Darcy Harbott is a distinguished entrepreneur and investor with a career spanning over four decades. Known for his unwavering commitment to innovation and growth, he has founded more than 18 successful companies, secured three patents, and holds over 100 limited liability companies. In addition to his entrepreneurial achievements, Darcy serves on numerous company boards and advisory committees, leveraging his expertise to guide businesses toward success. His recent ventures include an impressive eight-figure company exit, demonstrating his strategic acumen and business prowess.​
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Darcy’s entrepreneurial journey is complemented by 18 years of corporate management experience. His expertise covers a broad spectrum of disciplines, including finance, marketing, business management, operations, business development, new business start-ups, franchising, and alternative investments. For the past 3.5 years, Darcy has channeled his personal capital into oil and gas assets. This success has led to the launch of the Black Gold Wealth Fund, focusing on working interest wells within the United States.
BRUCE COMPTON
PARTNER
Bruce Compton brings multiple decades of business and financial experience to the fund, and is considered one of the most experienced, respected, and high integrity individuals in the oil & gas industry. Bruce and his wife Macy personally holds over 800 Working Interest Wells, and has deep experience, connections, and resources within the industry that are unmatched.
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Bruce has been a certified public accountant for 38 years, specializing in income tax and audits across industries including oil and gas exploration, banking, retail, manufacturing, construction, and real estate. In addition to his financial expertise, Bruce was a standout athlete, selected 11th overall in the 1977 MLB draft by the Cleveland Indians. His diverse background combines strategic financial acumen with discipline and leadership.
MICHELLE HUGHES
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Michelle Hughes brings over 28 years of experience in the corporate environment. Her knowledge & expertise in Business Financial Management and Corporate Systems Processes implementation has elevated her to the top. Michelle’s extensive background and proficiency in financial oversight, strategic planning, and fiscal responsibility has made her an invaluable asset to multiple companies over her career. From 2009 to 2022, Michelle held the CFO position for a multi-million-dollar corporation. Currently, Michelle is the CFO for a Private, High Net Worth Family office. Her CFO leadership position is responsible for managing over 100 private LLC investments, co-leading business acquisitions, and implementing strategic, high level tax strategy, while ensuring robust financial health for various organizations within the family office setting.
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Her expertise encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including budgeting, financial reporting and compliance, executed with the utmost professionalism and integrity. Known for her excellent organizational skills and ability to streamline financial processes, Michelle consistently delivers value through strategic insights and prudent financial management. Her leadership in financial matters has been instrumental in driving growth and ensuring the long-term success of the companies she has served.
PAUL CHEN, CFA
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & INVESTMENT STRATEGY
Paul Chen brings over two decades of experience in institutional asset management, real estate, and alternative investments. He began his career at Prudential as a Financial Analyst on the mortgage-backed securities trading desk, then spent four years at ING (now Voya) as part of the portfolio management team overseeing the world’s largest mortgage derivatives portfolio, exceeding $5 billion in assets. In 2011, Paul joined Wells Fargo to establish and lead the firm’s mortgage derivatives trading business, which he successfully ran until retiring from Wall Street in 2018.​
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Since then, Paul has focused on building a diversified investment portfolio spanning residential and commercial real estate—including serving as a general partner on two multi-million-dollar syndications—and alternative investments across multiple sectors.
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He holds an MBA with a specialization in Quantitative Finance from New York University and is a CFA Charterholder.
David Cragle, Esq.
LEGAL/GENERAL COUNSEL
Over more than 35 years in practice, Mr. Cragle has acted as commercial counsel in a wide range of commercial undertakings and disputes. His practice spans numerous areas of commercial law, including real property investment and development; oil and gas contracting, property interests, and related controversies; domestic and international commercial acquisitions; financings, equity, and divestiture transactions; enterprise corporate and partnership taxation (federal and state); and general corporate matters such as entity selection, formation, and advanced joint venture structuring and documentation. His experience also includes mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, recapitalizations, closely held business structuring, mezzanine and working capital financing, and the negotiation and documentation of complex commercial contracts, as well as nearly $1 billion in private securities offerings.
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In addition, leveraging his finance and accounting background, Mr. Cragle has served as a CFO and provides contract CFO and accounting advisory services. These services include project financial analysis and development, tax planning, entity selection analysis, lending and capital structure analysis, evaluation of private financings and securities offerings, business plan review and development, and tax compliance advisory support.
JESS WEAVER, CPA
KETEL THORSTENSON
Jess Weaver is an experienced and highly dynamic tax professional with over 15 years of expertise in accounting and tax strategy. His career is distinguished by his ability to develop innovative, tailored solutions for investor groups and multi-entity business owners, helping them optimize their financial outcomes. Jess is known for his “outside the box” thinking, which has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor capable of navigating complex financial landscapes with creativity and precision.
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Jess specializes in delivering strategic tax planning that saves clients both time and money, leveraging his deep understanding of the tax code and its applications across diverse industries. His meticulous attention to detail, combined with an energetic and forward-thinking approach, ensures that clients receive personalized service designed to meet their unique needs and long-term goals.
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More than just an accountant, Jess acts as a strategic partner, deeply committed to the success of his clients. He goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional results, fostering trust and building lasting relationships. With a proven track record of excellence, Jess continues to set a high standard for innovation, service, and dedication in the world of accounting and tax advisory.
Brady Harbott is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in business administration, entrepreneurship, and real estate.
In 2014, Brady earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of North Dakota. He also earned a spot on the Dean’s List for his outstanding academic achievements. While in college, Brady began his investing career in real estate. He soon moved into publicly traded markets as well as alternative private markets. Over the past 13 years, Brady has personally acquired over 1,000 doors of Class A multi-family apartment assets, 7 Marriott hotel properties, and holds numerous commercial real estate assets sprinkled throughout the United States.
In 2022, Brady joined the Borderless Alternative Investment Organization, and most recently has joined its sister company, The BlackGold Wealth Fund Group. Brady’s current role as Director of Client Investor Relations focuses on strengthening the customer relations team, enhancing internal communications processes, and implementing AI platforms and efficiency metrics to optimize engagement and operational effectiveness. Brady has recently been promoted to the BlackGold Wealth Fund Advisory Board, where he will leverage his pragmatic and disciplined approach to assist in researching investment opportunities.
BRADY HARBOTT
DIRECTOR OF INVESTOR RELATIONS
