Forty Under 40: Derek Nixon, Varel Energy Solutions

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Derek Nixon, president and CEO of Varel Energy Solutions, is today's featured Forty Under 40 honoree.

Growing up with a father in the oil and gas industry, Nixon was surrounded by its influence from a young age and felt at home among the energy industry.

"It was a natural feeling to grow up interested and curious about our world’s reliance on energy and how I could contribute to it," he said.

Nixon was able to become Varel's youngest vice president in history at the age of 34 by taking on challenges, even when they were daunting, and surrounding himself with a good team comprised of many different talents.

"The best lesson I was ever taught was to hire people that want your job that are as good as you, if not better," he said. "Poor leaders hire people that are not as good as them."

When he’s not running his company or spending time with his wife and kids, Nixon is an active board member and vice president of philanthropic organization Family Promise of Lake Houston, which supports homeless families.

Click here for Derek Nixon's full profile.

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