Directors and Officers

John D Mason - President & CEO
John Mason’s portfolio includes over twenty-nine years of experience, initially as a stock and futures broker.  Mr. Mason specializes in junior oil and gas issues, including researching and developing customized business plans for oil and gas prospects with attention to delivering the utmost assurance to investors of increasing share value.  Mr. Mason has dealt with small underwriting firms and advanced to being with national firms such as Walwyn Stodgell Cochran Murray Ltd. (CIBC) and Dean Witter (Canada) Inc. (CIBC). Mr. Mason also served as President and CEO of Lippon Capital Markets Inc. and Lippon Oil Resources Ltd. where he successfully directed investors to unique opportunities in the oil and gas markets.  In addition, Mr. Mason served as President and CEO of Lomtoc Ltd. acting as a liaison between junior oil and gas companies and private capital funds, banks, and investors. He is a member of the American Society of Petroleum Accountants.

Wayne Carter, CPL, P.Land - Vice President Land & Contracts
Wayne Carter has forty years of industry experience, primarily as a Professional Landman. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Montana State University, he commenced employment in the Oil Patch with Texaco Exploration Canada Ltd. as a Staff Landman and Assistant to the Chief Landman.  Mr. Carter then became Land Manager for Suncor Inc., and then for Brinco Oil & Gas Ltd.  His next position was with United Canso Oil & Gas Ltd. as Vice-President of Land. Mr. Carter became President of Lenyoran Enterprises Ltd., a privately owned resource and land management company, offering a comprehensive range of leadership competencies including negotiation, management, and administrative services to a variety of small to large-sized private and international oil and gas firms. He was appointed President and CEO of Hampton Court Resources Inc., trading on the TSXV. Mr. Carter served on the Board for the Department of Municipal Affairs for the government of the province of Alberta and was President and CEO of Lamplighter Energy Ltd. until 2005. He has acted in a consulting capacity to various energy trust companies and start-up junior oil and gas companies. Since 1990, he has served as Chair of ELLAP for the Metis Settlements Tribunal in Alberta.  Over his career, Mr. Carter has operated in Canada, the United States, and Europe. He was formerly President of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen and a Director of the American Association of Petroleum Landmen.

Joe Straka, Ph.D., P.Geologist - Vice President Exploration
Joe Straka has thirty-seven years of industry experience as a geologist, manager, and consultant. He has been significantly involved in both classic and carbonate exploration and development programs in thirty-five Canadian, United States, and international basins and structural belts but has focused especially on Alberta.  Dr. Straka was formerly Exploration Manager for Shell Oil Canada, managing three divisions.  He also served as Regional Geologist for Western Canada for over seven years as well as Senior Geologist for Shell Oil USA for six years before accepting the position with Shell Oil-Canada. Dr. Straka developed the Barssey (Triassic) Oil Field and developed the Noel, Blackhawk, Puggins, and Sundown gas fields while with Canadian and Hunter Exploration Ltd. Over his career, he has been directly involved in the discovery and development of oil and gas prospects resulting in approximately 2 TCFGE (two trillion cubic feet gas equivalent) of reserves in classic and carbonate reservoirs.

Ron Pacholko, P.Eng. - Director
Ron Pacholko has over thirty years of professional engineering experience in the oil and gas industry. He is currently serving as Vice President with a local petroleum engineering firm, providing consulting services to the oil and gas industry primarily in reservoir and evaluation engineering, acquisition and divesture activities, field operations and development, project management, and prospect assessments.  Mr. Pacholko has extensive experience in the producing sector of the petroleum industry, having worked in numerous technical, financial, and managerial capacities, with both junior and intermediate producers. Mr. Pacholko has been employed with such firms as Ashland Oil Canada, Alberta Energy Company (EnCana), and Pembina Resources.  He has also been responsible for providing general management of production operations, reservoir engineering, and business development as an officer for Margin Energy (Calgary). Mr. Pacholko has served on numerous industry committees dealing with operational, regulatory, and fiscal issues.