Dr. Cress received a B.S. in Geology from Los Angeles State University, a M. S. in Geology from San Jose State University and a Ph. D. from Colorado School of Mines.
While at the U.S. Geological Survey,  Dr. Cress participated in detailed and regional geological mapping studies of the complex overlapping tectonics, Paleozoic stratigraphy and hydrocarbon potential of north central Nevada, southern Idaho and western Wyoming. At Veezay Geoservice, Dr. Cress participated in detailed and regional evaluations of the complex overthrust belts, hydrocarbon potential and hydrocarbon systems of  western Montana, western Wyoming and the central Appalachians. Subsequently, as team leader while at Pennzoil, Dr. Cress directed regional petroleum stratigraphic studies of the Western Cordillera and a seismic evaluation of the eastern Idaho, Wyoming, and northern Utah overthrust. He was indirectly responsible for the discovery of the Chicken Creek field in the Wyoming overthrust. While a senior explorationist at Gustavson Associates, Dr. Cress evaluated the hydrocarbon  potential of the Bakken Shale in the Williston basin. Subsequently, he generated shallow coal bed methane prospects in west central Wyoming.

Application of knowledge of clastic and carbonate reservoirs, fracture systems and overthrust and rift systems in hydrocarbon prospect generation are special skills of Dr. Cress. Since 2001, at Thomasson Partner Associates, Dr. Cress has generated multiple shallow oil leads, prospects and drillsites in multiple projects in Montana. Most recently, he has generated multiple projects, leads and prospects in the challenging Great Basin.