Anthony Bahr: Bridging Engineering and Business
Anthony Bahr, a 1991 graduate, exemplifies the synergy between engineering, business, and entrepreneurship. Based in Houston, he has nurtured a business acumen that has led to the establishment of several thriving enterprises, earning him recognition as a forward-thinking leader in the industry.
Inspiring Future Innovators
As the co-founder and CEO of WildFire Energy, Bahr leverages his experiences to inspire Texas A&M University engineers to expand their horizons. He actively supports and contributes to Mays Business School programs aimed at fostering this mindset.
“My contributions are intentional, aimed at achieving specific outcomes rather than out of obligation,” Bahr explains, who is also a member of the Mays Dean’s Advisory Board. “As a businessman and investor, I seek to channel my resources into ventures that promise returns.”
Early Entrepreneurial Spirit
Bahr’s entrepreneurial journey was influenced by his father, a chemical engineer with a Harvard MBA who ran his own business and offered consultancy services. Following in his footsteps, Bahr began selling greeting cards at age 10 and mowing lawns during his teenage years.
This entrepreneurial zeal persisted through his college days at Texas A&M, where he balanced two businesses alongside his engineering studies. “I’m what some might call a ‘serial entrepreneur,'” says Bahr, recognized as one of EY’s 2025 Gulf South Entrepreneurs of the Year. “I’m always on the move, passionate about building and launching new ventures.”
From Traditional Path to Entrepreneurial Ventures
After obtaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in petroleum engineering, Bahr embarked on a conventional career path with various oil and gas firms across California, Louisiana, and Texas. However, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to pursue an MBA at California State University, Bakersfield.
Returning to Houston, Bahr co-founded WildHorse Resources with classmate Jay Graham in 2007. “I’ve always aspired to own my business and steer my own course,” Bahr shares. “We achieved this through a series of energy companies that played a role in the shift towards independent operations and the rise of private equity in the domestic oil and gas sector.”
Transforming Engineering Careers
This industry evolution has reshaped the career paths of new engineers entering the energy field. “Previously, an engineer might join a company like Exxon and gradually climb the corporate ladder,” Bahr notes. “Today, engineers are expected to engage in broader decision-making processes, including financial risk management and capital allocation, much earlier in their careers.”
Advocating for Business Education in Engineering
Recognizing this shift, Bahr championed the integration of business courses for engineers. In 2016, he, along with Graham and their spouses, funded the Petroleum Ventures Program, a groundbreaking partnership between Mays and the College of Engineering’s Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering. In early 2025, Bahr further contributed to establish the Anthony Bahr ’91 Engineering MBA program, an accelerated MBA designed for Aggie engineers to gain business acumen right after their undergraduate studies.
Bahr believes these initiatives will provide Aggie engineers with a competitive edge. “Educational institutions have been slow to adapt to the evolving landscape their graduates face,” Bahr observes. “These programs will equip Texas A&M engineering students with essential business knowledge, complementing their technical education and accelerating their professional growth.”
