About Us

The first Barto company was founded over thirty years ago by Jerrel (Jerry) Barto as a commercial and residential development firm in Southern California. In 1979, the Barto enterprise entered the oil business with the acquisition of a property with oil wells (West Newport Oil Field) for commercial and residential development. Today business activities have expanded to include crude oil production, petroleum refining, real estate development and environmental remediation. The company's policy of acquiring key personnel along with properties and businesses has been a cornerstone to its success and has contributed to its impressive safety record, operating economics and efficiencies, and environmental consciousness. Jerry Barto continues to be active in overseeing the many affiliated companies along with his son, Craig Barto, who is President of Signal Hill Petroleum, Inc. and David Slater, Vice President of Signal Hill Petroleum, Inc. All maintain roles in industry organizations, including the Independent Petroleum Association of America and California Independent Petroleum Association, and have developed working relationships with local, state and federal legislators and regulators.