Mainland Resources, Inc. is guided by a group of experienced senior managers with practical, hands-on knowledge gained from many years of working directly at building value in junior to middle-market energy companies around the world.
 

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Nicholas W. Atencio
Mike Newport
Simeon King Horton
WIlliam D. Thomas
J. Jack Cox
Charles A. Morrison
Angelo Viard
Peter G. Wilson
Rajim Jivraj
 

COMMITTEE

Stephen Kennedy Smith Jr.
Phillip Shaefer
Amanda Millner-Fairbanks

Nicholas W. Atencio – CEO and Director

Mr. Atencio, who has been employed in the upstream E&P sector for almost 30 years, is a proven oil and gas company executive with a record of successful green-field and development projects. He has a wide range of experience in E&P operations with a strong, proactive, leadership style in addition to proven financial and P&L management. Mr. Atencio has served with large independent oil and gas companies at the senior and executive level for over 20 years.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Atencio served as the COO and Co-Founder of Remora Energy, a private company focused onshore in Colombia, where he was involved in growing the company from its inception in 2007 to its current lease holding of approximately 1 million gross acres in 11 blocks and an inaugural drilling program consisting of 11 wells with a 91% success rate resulting in the addition of 2,800 net barrels of daily production.

Mr. Atencio also held the positions of VP of Operations Gulf of Mexico and VP of International Operations for Kerr McGee Oil & Gas Corporation. During his period with Kerr McGee the company successfully expanded its international portfolio and accelerated its activity in the Gulf of Mexico becoming one of the leading E&P companies active in the Gulf of Mexico Deep Water.

Mr. Atencio worked for over a decade at Apache Corporation where he held a variety of management roles in onshore and offshore operations both domestically and internationally. During this period Apache dramatically expanded its Gulf of Mexico and US onshore portfolio and delivered multiple successful international developments.

Mr. Atencio began his career in 1981 at Tenneco Oil Company in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Mr. Atencio received his Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 1981.

Mike Newport – President

Mike Newport has nearly thirty years of experience in all phases of oil and gas land management with expertise in acquisitions, operations, divestitures, Land Contract preparation, negotiations and broker supervision.

Mr. Newport started his career with Amoco in their New Orleans office in 1979, where he spent two years. He was actively involved in supervising brokers and writing all forms of Land Contracts for North and South Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

He became a District Landman for Harkins & Company in their Jackson, Mississippi office, where he spent four years assembling drilling prospects and all land activities associated with operations in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. Mr. Newport then spent the next four years with Harkins at their Oklahoma City office, where he had the same responsibilities for Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana.

Mr. Newport joined Greenhill Petroleum in 1989 in Houston, Texas, where he was the Land Manager over a six-year period in their Permian Basin Region operations. In addition to Land Management activities, he was actively involved in acquisitions and divestitures for Greenhill.

After leaving Greenhill, Mr. Newport has spent the last thirteen years managing brokers for West Texas, South Texas, East Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama and North Louisiana, as well as performing all land management activities for various operators actively drilling and completing wells in these areas.

Mike Newport received a BBA in Finance in June of 1977, an MBA degree in August of 1978 and also completed hours for a Petroleum Land Management degree in May of 1979, all from the University of Oklahoma.

Simeon King Horton, P. Geo - VP of Geology and Director

Simeon King Horton is a Petroleum Geologist with an extensive background in exploration and development of major oil and gas projects working as a consultant for oil and gas companies. Over her 31 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, she has always been associated with independent geologists who have been very aggressive and successful.

Upon graduation, Ms. Horton worked for Mr. Dudley Hughes, an independent geologist, in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1977 to 1986. During that time, she gained broad experience in the Mississippi/Alabama Salt Basin, Black Warrior Basin in North Mississippi and Northwest Alabama, and South Florida. The main targets of exploration were the Smackover/Norphlet Formations (located in the Salt Basin), the Paleozoics (located in the Black Warrior Basin), and the Sunniland Lime (located in South Florida). Ms. Horton was also exposed to the Perth Basin in Australia. As District Geologist, she was extensively involved in the exploration and development of a very aggressive drilling program and all facets of the industry. In 1986, Ms. Horton moved to Shreveport, Louisiana where she was a consultant for various oil and gas investors until 1989. From 1989 to 1996, she worked with Grigsby Petroleum in Shreveport, Louisiana, a company owned by Mr. Jack Grigsby, an independent geologist. Grigsby Petroleum is very active in North Louisiana and East Texas with numerous properties. Among these are Hosston and Cotton Valley production. Ms. Horton was responsible for all the producing properties, the development of the properties, and the drilling of new wells for Grigsby Petroleum.

From 1996 to present, Ms. Horton has been a consulting petroleum geologist. She has been very active in the Hosston/Cotton Valley trends in North Louisiana and East Texas. She has generated drilling prospects in the area, and has successfully been responsible for the drilling of the Hosston/Cotton Valley in an area where there are sixteen to twenty wells per section.

Simeon King Horton received a Bachelor of Science degree with a Major in Geology and a Minor in Mathematics from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1977. She graduated with honors and was selected Outstanding Graduating Senior in Geology for the academic year of 1976-1977. She attended geology field camp thru the Rolla School of Mines, University of Missouri, which was conducted in the state of Utah. Ms. Horton is an active member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologist and the Shreveport Geological Society, Shreveport, Louisiana.

William D.Thomas - CFO and Director

William D. (Bill) Thomas has a lengthy career in finance and accounting for the natural resource sector spanning more than thirty years. Most prominently, Mr. Thomas held various successive management positions with Kerr McGee Corporation’s China operations based in Beijing, China, ending in 2004 with his final position as Business Director of Business Services. He was previously General Manager (1999-2002), and Finance and Administration Manager (1996-1999) of the company’s China operations.

While in China, Mr. Thomas was responsible for Finance including Sarbanes Oxley reporting, Budgeting, Treasury, Procurement, IT, Taxation, Marketing, Insurance, Business Development including commercial negotiations with the Chinese partner, China National Offshore Oil Co (CNOOC) and other Chinese and joint venture partners.

Mr. Thomas focused heavily on supporting exploration and development operations for three operated blocks in Bohai Bay, as well as evaluation and negotiation of new venture blocks in East China Sea and the South China Sea. He was also responsible for the liaison with CNOOC and other Chinese oil companies, Kerr McGee US management and joint venture partners, where his main focus was to ensure cost effective and timely achievement of various approved work programs and budgets. He was also Chief Representative for Kerr McGee on the Joint Management Committee (JMC).

Mr. Thomas previously worked as Manager of Fixed Asset Accounting for Kerr McGee Corporation’s US operations (1996), as Finance Director of Kerr McGee’s UK operations based in London/Aberdeen (1992-1996), and Kerr McGee’s Canadian operations in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (1984-1992), including the company’s predecessor company, Maxus Canada Ltd, which was acquired by Kerr McGee Ltd.

Over the course of his career, he has been involved in all aspects of managing accounting, budgeting, HR, administration, IT, insurance, taxation and other business support aspects surrounding gas properties for Kerr McGee.

Notably, Mr. Thomas was responsible to ensure compliance with COPAS, SEC, FASB and international accounting regulations. He participated on a team that developed the Oracle accounting system application to the Kerr McGee’s worldwide operations. He was involved in the initial entry into the UK North Sea – a startup of local and expatriate personnel that eventually developed into a core area (over $1Billion) for Kerr McGee, including the company’s first operated offshore oil field in the UK (Gryphon).

J. Jack Cox - Advisor

J. Jack Cox has a long history in the engineering management of oil and gas projects in the southern United States, mostly in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Mr. Cox began his career in the role of engineer with the Chevron Oil Company in 1962. Over a period of more than 19 years, he managed a series of successively larger projects with increasing management positions in the engineering division. First as a Drilling Engineer, then Reservoir Engineer and later moving up to Formation Evaluation Specialist, Senior and Staff Reservoir Engineer and finally as Division Petroleum Engineer. Mr. Cox gained hands-on knowledge working with virtually all types of formations in the Gulf Coast/Mississippi region. He benefited from the experience of developing drilling and production operations, evaluating reservoirs and managing economic evaluations for one of the largest integrated oil and gas companies in the United States.

Drawing on his experience, Mr. Cox founded Anderson Oil Company, Inc., an independent drilling and production company in 1981. The company has successfully managed a variety of oil and gas projects for over 28 years. It is primarily involved in small to medium scale drilling and production in Mississippi and Louisiana. Mr. Cox oversees all aspects of operations and management of Anderson Oil Company, Inc., which he continues to serve as its President.

Mr. Cox is a registered petroleum engineer in Louisiana and Mississippi. He is the past Treasurer, Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Delta Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and served the National SPE as a Board Director.

J. Jack Cox received his B Sc. in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University.

Charles A. Morrison - Advisor

Charles A. Morrison is a professional geologist and consulting geophysicist with a varied background in evaluating and consulting on oil and gas exploration projects. He has a particularly broad understanding of oil and gas prospects in the Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama regions of the southern U.S., which he has worked on since the early 1970s.

Mr. Morrison initially worked as a Seismic Data Analyst interpreting seismic data for Western Geophysical Company of America (1971-1973). He quickly became the Staff Geophysicist for Cities Services Oil Company in Jackson, Mississippi (1973-1976) and Chief Geophysicist for First Mississippi Corporation (1976) there. He has since opened his own Geophysical consultancy firm, which he has operated since 1976, except for a brief stint as Exploration Manager for Miller Exploration Company (1998-2002).

Over the span of his career, Charles Morrison has been responsible for the review, interpretation and evaluation of hundreds of 2D and 3D seismic surveys. He has personally evaluated prospects in the Upper Gulf Coast region, the Arkoma, Anadarko and Williston Basins for leading oil and gas companies.

As President of his own successful consulting geophysical company, he continues to offer independent management of field operations and evaluation of oil and gas explorations projects in both onshore and offshore prospects.

Mr. Morrison is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Society of Exploration Geophysicist, the Mississippi Geological Society and is a Registered Professional Geologist in Mississippi.

Charles A. Morrison received his B Sc. in Geology from Louisiana Tech University.

Angelo Viard - Director

During the past ten years, Mr. Viard has been involved in providing companies with advisory services including, but not limited to, managerial, investment strategy, finance, information technology, compliance, accounting, business development, mergers and acquisitions, and capital fund raising in a wide range of industry sectors across the United States, South America and Europe. Mr. Viard has been (June 2007-present) the president/chief executive officer of Viard Consulting Services. From approximately August 2006 through June 2007, Mr. Viard was the IT operations manager for Bare Escentuals where he was responsible for developing, coordinating multiple related projects in alignment with strategic and tactical company goals Mr. Viard was also a senior IT audit consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

From approximately December 2004 through August 2005, Mr. Viard was the chief executive officer and founder of Technology Mondial Inc., in Costa Rica. He was previously employed with OpenTV Inc, as IT manager; Thomas Weisel Partners LLC where he was an IT brokerage services manager; BancBoston Robertson Stephens & Co. where he was a senior system engineer, and Environmental Chemical Corporation where he was a technical analyst.

Mr. Viard holds a master in computer science, a BS in business management and administration, and an A/A in computer business administration and networks.

Peter G. Wilson - VP of Corporate Development - Director

During the past 18 years, Peter G. Wilson has been actively involved in senior level management of public companies through his private investment company. His experience spans a wide range of project finance, development and contract negotiations within the mining, energy and real estate industries. His business experience includes international assignments in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Switzerland and Norway. Mr. Wilson has worked extensively with overseas investor groups and within the E&P market in Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma.

From October 2008 to present, he has lead the finance and exploration team as President and CEO of Morgan Creek Energy Corp, which is planning new drilling initiatives in Oklahoma and New Mexico in late 2009 and 2010 During April 2007 through October 2009, Mr. Wilson was the President and Director of Hana Mining Ltd., a publicly TSX-V listed exploration company seeking to develop a major copper-silver resource in Botswana, Africa. As the lead financier, Mr. Wilson raised more than CDN $12 million which lead to the current discovery of more than 3 billion pounds of copper and 52 million ounces of silver. Additionally, during 2005 and 2006, he served as the president and chief executive officer of Sun Oil and Gas Corp., and from 1997 to 2005, Mr. Wilson was a director and vice president of Petroreal Oil Corp., a small oil producer engaged in energy asset purchases aggregating more than $130,000,000.

From 1993 to 1999, Mr. Wilson was the vice president of Samoth Equity Corporation (now Sterling Center Corp.), a $150 Million real estate lender, where he began his involvement with capital markets and finance.

Rahim Jivraj - Director

Rahim Jivraj has been an entrepreneur for over ten years, in venture capital for eight years, and has assisted various private and public entities as a corporate advisor on matters related to finance, development and investor relations. Mr. Jivraj previously served as the President and a Director of the Company from September 2007 to February 2008. Mr. Jivraj was associated with two boutique venture capital and merchant banking firms based in Vancouver, Canada before leaving to pursue independent ventures in 2008.

From March 2007 to November 2008, he founded and became the CEO and a Director of Spring & Mercer Capital Corporation, a public company listed under the TSX Venture Exchange’s Capital Pool Company Program, which enables seasoned directors and officers to form and list a “Capital Pool Company” whose primary objective was to seek and acquire a business suitable for continued listing of the company on the Exchange. Mr. Jivraj has also served on the Boards of Directors of Afrasia Mineral Fields Inc. (from November 2005 to December 2006) and Hastings Resources Corp. (from October 2007 to May 2008), both public companies listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. On April 16, 2010, Mr. Jivraj was appointed as the President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Uranium International Corp. (OTCBB: URNI), a public company quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board.
 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Stephen Kennedy Smith Jr. - Advisory Committee Chairman

Stephen Kennedy Smith Jr. has a long and active career in the development, funding and expansion of companies in the energy sector.

Mr. Smith serves on the Kennedy family financial advisory board and is active in the Kennedy family financial investment and real estate development business. He served as Deputy Campaign Manager for Senator Edward Kennedy during his Presidential and Senatorial campaigns and as a senior staff member of the US Senate, was responsible for foreign policy and judiciary issues.

Mr. Smith founded Kennedy Smith Sammaweera, a real estate investment and development business specializing in smart growth and sustainable development related real estate. He has also served on the board of the John F. Kennedy Library, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial, and the Congress on New Urbanism and the Northeastern University School of Public Policy. During his career, Mr. Smith has been involved in several high-level peace negotiations and has served as a consultant to the Irish peace process and the organization of African Unity. He is a three-time winner of Harvard's Danforth Award for Excellence in Teaching and a recipient of the Lyndehurst Foundation prize for social and artistic achievement.

Mr. Smith holds an M.A. from Harvard University, a J.D. from Columbia University, and an M.A. Ed. from the Harvard’s School of Education.

Phillip Schaefer

Philip Schaefer is the founder of World Pension Forum.

Mr. Schaefer has created the World Pension Forum in order for participants to meet with leading business, financial and political leaders around the world to help educate pension fund managers to make the most knowledgeable investment decisions possible.

A former partner at Bear Sterns for seventeen years, Mr. Schaefer has had an illustrious career in private enterprise as well as public service.

He was appointed to the U.S. Council on the Humanities and confirmed by the United States Senate. He was also appointed by President Carter to the U.S. Circuit Judge Nominating Commission and appointed to the Small Business Administration. After graduating from Antioch College in 1964, Mr. Schaefer became a member of the first Peace Corps group sent to Kenya. Swahili remains his second language.

Mr. Schaefer organized the first post-apartheid conference in South Africa with President Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu. That conference was followed up by conferences around the world that included hosting several Nobel Peace Prize Winners including Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev, Kim Dae Jung, Lech Walesa, the late Yitzhak Rabin, and Elie Wiesel.

Amanda Millner-Fairbanks

Amanda Millner-Fairbanks is currently the education editor at GOOD Magazine, a nonprofit magazine and website promoting the efforts of individuals and businesses to bring positive change through individual and collaborative effort. Ms. Millner-Fairbanks has worked in journalism since graduating from Columbia University. She began her career by working as an assistant to the executive producer for Brian Ross Investigative Unit at ABC News during the Democratic Convention of 2004.

Most recently, she worked in the editorial department of the New York Times, where she researched and authored articles on education. She was a contributor to the Washington Post Newsweek Interactive during 2007, producing and hosting a series of short profiles for video, podcast and print form.

Ms. Millner-Fairbanks worked at Newsweek for Special Projects while she interned for the publication in 2006. She has also taught in the New York City school system in the Teach for America Corps from 2003 through 2005.

Amanda Millner-Fairbanks holds a Master of Science in journalism (2006) and a Master of Arts in politics, both from the Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University. She also holds a B.A. in Government (2003).