Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> July 9, 2001

Thomas Raabe – Arete Industries Inc (aree)

THOMAS P. RAABE has served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Arete Industries, Inc., since May 1, 1998. Mr. Raabe formerly served as special securities and business counsel on specific projects from time to time for the company since approximately 1994. Mr. Raabe has 18 years' experience as an entrepreneurial attorney and business consultant, practicing law in Colorado and representing corporate clients in complex situations across the nation. Mr. Raabe has been a Founder, Director and/or Counsel for a number of start-up and development stage companies including robotics, high-technology, durable medical equipment, advanced composites, optics, engineering, film entertainment and most recently, outdoor and extreme sports ventures. Mr. Raabe has been involved as Special Counsel for a number of public and private companies with the responsibility to design and execute corporate finance transactions, capital restructuring projects and corporate securities compliance for several Securities Exchange Act reporting companies. During 1995 and 1996, Mr. Raabe served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Quality Products, Inc. Mr. Raabe served as CEO and Director of the parent as well as Senior Executive Officer and Director of the subsidiaries for a period of 12 months during which two of the three subsidiaries were determined not capable of rehabilitation and liquidated to pay down the secured creditor. Mr. Raabe then formed Boulder Sports, LLC, to pursue acquisitions and capital funding transactions, with principal focus on extreme and outdoor adventure sports related technologies and businesses. Mr. Raabe received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Denver and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver College of Law, in 1981. In addition, Mr. Raabe pursued a graduate degree in Mineral Economics jointly with his Law degree and completed three semesters' graduate course work and comprehensive examinations toward a Doctorate degree from the Colorado School of Mines. Profile
TWST: Would you begin with an overview and historical sketch of the

company?

Mr. Raabe: Arete Industries was formerly known as Travis Investments,

Inc. It went public in 1987. In 1998, I took