Management Team
WILLIAM V. SCHARA / Chief Executive Officer / President / Director
Mr. Schara is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 27 years of experience in finance and accounting in the mining industry. Mr. Schara has extensive experience in business start-ups and international business, with a focus on managing small public companies and mining company joint ventures. Mr. Schara was recently Chief Executive Officer of Nevoro Inc., a Canadian mining company traded on the TSX. Mr. Schara was also the former Chief Financial Officer of Minera Andes Inc., a publicly traded, development-stage Canadian mining company as well as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Yamana Gold Inc. (formerly Yamana Resources Inc.). Mr. Schara is a Director of Marifil Mines Limited, a Canadian exploration company traded on the Canadian TSX Venture Exchange.
TED R. SHARP / Secretary / Treasurer / Chief Financial Officer
Ted R. Sharp, Chief Financial Officer, is President of Sharp Executive Associates, Inc., a privately held accounting firm located in Nampa, Idaho, which provides CFO services to clients. Prior to 2003, he worked for 14 years in positions of Chief Financial Officer, Managing Director of European Operations, and Corporate Controller for Key Technology, Inc., a publicly traded manufacturer of capital goods based in Walla Walla, Washington. From 1981 to 1989, Mr. Sharp worked in both public accounting and private industry. He holds a B.A. degree from Boise State University and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the states of Washington and Idaho.
WILLIAM ORCHOW / Interim-Chairman of the Board
William Orchow is a former Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Revett Minerals Inc., a mining corporation listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. From 1994 to 2002, Mr. Orchow was President and CEO of Kennecott Minerals Company. Previously, he was President and CEO of Kennecott Energy Company, the third largest producer of domestic coal in the U.S. He also served as Vice President of Kennecott Utah Copper. Mr. Orchow has held senior management and director positions with Kennecott Holdings Corporation, the parent corporation. He has also been a director and member of the Executive Committee of The Gold Institute, a director of the National Mining Association, and a director of the National Coal Association. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Westminster College in Salt Lake City and Chairman of its Finance Committee.
DAVID S. ATKINSON / Director
David S. Atkinson is co-founder and portfolio manager for Forza Partners, a hedge fund formed in 1999, that has been focused on the precious metals sector since 2002. Previously, Mr. Atkinson managed a hedged growth portfolio for Carlson Capital, LP and later cofounded and managed Tsunami Partners, LP, both funds located in Fort Worth, Texas. He has been an affiliate of the Market Technicians Association (MTA) since March 1994 and received MTA accreditation as a Chartered Market Technician (CMT) in July 2001. Mr. Atkinson received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin.
CHARLES G. BIGELOW / Director
C. G. “Riz” Bigelow was President of WGM Inc, an Alaska minerals consulting and contracting firm from 1972 to 2005. During his tenure he conceived, placed, and directed turnkey exploration programs for resource companies and syndicates ($250 million accountability). From 1962 to 1972, he managed the Kennecott Corporation's Alaska mineral programs. His projects culminated in the making of five of the six most notable metal mines to enter production in Alaska over the last 100 years (Greens Creek, Red Dog, Fort Knox, Pogo and Valdez Creek) with two (Arctic and Lik) in the development drilling phase. Mr. Bigelow discovered the Ambler District and Chandalar Copper Belt, which share the southern Brooks Range mineral belt with the Goldrich-held Chandalar Mining District. He earned a B.S. Degree in Geology at Washington State University, was sponsored to the Harvard University Program for Management Development, served on the Governor’s Map Advisory Board, and is past-President of the Alaska Chapter of the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
KENNETH S. EICKERMAN / Director / CPA
Kenneth S. Eickerman is the Chief Financial Officer for Revett Minerals Inc., a mining corporation listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Previously, Mr. Eickerman served as Vice President and Controller of Mustang Line Contractors, a company that builds electric transmission lines. Between 1989 and 2002 he was employed by Pegasus Gold Corporation (currently known as Apollo Gold Inc.) in various capacities ranging from Corporate Operations Accountant to Controller/Treasurer, with cash flows of $100 million annually. Prior to that he was Manager, Internal Audit Department of Sterling Savings Association, Spokane, Washington. Mr. Eickerman is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of Washington.
MICHAEL G. RASMUSSEN / Director
Dr. Rasmussen has more than 25 years of experience in mining and exploration in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Peru. Dr. Rasmussen is the Vice President, Exploration for Mines Management, Inc. (NYSE-Market: MGN, TSX: MGT) and held senior roles at Echo Bay Mines and Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE: KGC, TSX: K) and Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE: EXK, TSX: EDR). He earned a PhD in Economic Geology from the University of Washington and a masters degree in geological sciences from Loma Linda University. He is a member of the Society of Economic Geologists, Geological Society of America, Northwest Mining Association, and the American Institute of Professional Geologists. He has conducted exploration extensively throughout Mexico, having overseen programs in the states of Chihuahua, Durango, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, and elsewhere throughout the Sierra Madre, as well as having been responsible for exploration in New Mexico, British Columbia and Washington State, where he is credited with the discovery of the Emanuel Creek epithermal gold deposit for Echo Bay Mines.