Joseph G. D’Arrigo has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since our formation on January 25, 2005. Since the Company’s inception in 2005, he has been responsible for guiding the Company throughout all aspects of its early stage development, including capital formation, project assessments, lease acquisitions and tribal employment policy. In addition to his services as our officer and director, Mr. D’Arrigo has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and sole director of our subsidiary, NAEG Alaska Corporation (formerly Fowler Oil and Gas Corporation) since May 18, 2009. Concurrently, Mr. D’Arrigo serves as President and director of NAEG Founders Holding Corporation since its formation on April 21, 2005. Prior to co-founding the Company, he was an independent contractor working as a liaison between energy companies Rockwell Petroleum and ORE, Inc. and several Native American tribes in the U.S., where he gained extensive experience in energy development on tribal lands, including non-native lands. In addition, from 1996 to 2000, he was CEO and director of Hand Rolle Inc., a company in the casino gaming industry, during which he was introduced to several influential Native American leaders throughout the United States that led to his insight into Native American opportunities. Through such engagements, Mr. D’Arrigo gained significant contacts on tribal, state and federal levels. He is responsible for developing and implementing the Company’s business plan, tribal energy development agenda, tribal land leasing programs and tribal relation programs such as the Company’s “Tribal Empowerment Program” implemented in 2007. Mr. D’Arrigo’s experience, responsibilities and attributes qualify him to serve as a Director of the Company.
Mr. D’Arrigo has more than 20 years of banking and leadership experience. He assisted with the merger of Empire Savings Bank, Franklin Savings Bank and American Savings Bank and coordinated the integration of all three banking systems. As Assistant Vice President for American Savings Bank, he oversaw all back office operations. In addition, he managed the commercial division of Judicate Inc., a supplier of alternative dispute resolution services, which became Judicate’s most profitable endeavor. Mr. D’Arrigo has held the following securities licenses: Series 7 (General Securities Registered Representative) and Series 63.
Raj S. Nanvaan has served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Treasurer and Director since our formation on January 25, 2005. He resigned from his position as the Company’s Corporate Secretary on July 15, 2009 and was appointed Chief of Operations on that date. Concurrent with his services as our officer and director, Mr. Nanvaan has served as Secretary, Treasurer and director of NAEG Founders Holding Corporation since its formation on April 21, 2005. He resigned as Secretary of NAEG Founders Holding Corporation on September 23, 2010. Mr. Raj Nanvaan oversees the day to day financial operations, which include financial planning, accounting, budget and audit activities and oversight over internal controls, financial reporting and compliance with state and federal laws. He also oversees field operations, which include leasing, scheduling, permitting, geological, engineering and field services. As with Mr. D’Arrigo, prior to co-founding the Company, Raj Nanvaan was an independent contractor working as a liaison between the energy companies, Rockwell Petroleum and ORE, Inc. and several Native American tribes in the U.S. where he gained extensive experience in energy development on tribal lands, including non-native lands. Through such engagements, he also gained significant contacts on tribal, state and federal levels. Mr. Nanvaan is responsible for developing and implementing the Company’s business plan, capital structure, and the seeking and selection of potential technology & field service companies that are vital to the Company’s development plan. The establishment of the Company’s wind energy initiative and relationship with Windaus Energy is attributed to Mr. Nanvaan.
Mr. Nanvaan’s career began in 1997 as a Registered General Securities Representative and he later managed an office of Supervisory Jurisdiction of a NASD/SIPC registered broker-dealer. As a General Securities Principal, he supervised Investment Advisors in proper portfolio management. Mr. Nanvaan has worked for several NASD/NYSE brokerage firms, such as Josephthal Lyon & Ross & Prime Charter Ltd. Mr. Nanvaan has held the following securities licenses: Series 7 (General Securities Registered Representative), Series 24 (General Securities Principal) and Series 63.
Richard Ross has served as the Company's Chief Communications Officer in charge of Investor Relations and as Assistant Corporate Secretary since February 15, 2005. He was promoted to Corporate Secretary on July 15, 2009 when Raj Nanvaan resigned as Corporate Secretary, and has served on the Company's Board of Directors since December 21, 2009. In addition to his services as our officer and director, he has served as a member of the board of directors of NAEG Founders Holding Corporation since September 23, 2010. Prior to joining NAEG, Mr. Ross was a director of New Energy Co, LLC, a coal bed methane development company with 65,000 mineral acres in the Powder River Basin in Northern Wyoming. He was a core member of its capital management and communications operations. In addition to this experience in the energy industry, Mr. Ross has experience with development stage companies. From November 2001 to April 2002, Mr. Ross served as the President and Director of Ramoil Management, Ltd., an OTC Pink Sheets company, where he gained corporate management experience. From 1998 to 2000, Mr. Ross hosted a financial talk show in New York on WEVD radio called “Stock Talk,” where he assisted small to medium-sized public companies gain exposure to the investing public. Mr. Ross attended Northeastern University and Nassau College and has a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Mr. Ross’ experience and business resources will be beneficial to the Company as it seeks to expand market awareness and its shareholder base.
Doyle A. Johnson has provided consulting services to the Company since February 2005, and was appointed Chief Geologist & Petroleum Engineer on July 30, 2010. He is a third-generation oil and gas professional with over 35 years of oilfield exploration, production and engineering experience.
His experience in the oil and gas industry started at the age of ten while working for his father who owned and operated a successful logging and perforating company. Mr. Johnson began his career in 1968 working on the first polymer water flood project in the United States as an Associate Engineer for Cities Service in the El Dorado Kansas oilfield. He worked alongside Cities Service engineers and his duties included monitoring and servicing the water flood operations equipment, modification of water flood injection patterns and all phases of exploration. From 1980 to 1989, as head Geologist and Engineer for Occidental Petroleum’s Venezuela operations, Mr. Johnson managed the oil exploration, development and production for nine years. From 1990 to 1993, he managed a 50-well program for Mobil Oil in the Hennessey Oil field in Oklahoma.
From 1993 to 2000, Mr. Johnson was contracted by Quest to manage the drilling and completion of 105 coal bed methane gas wells in Northeastern Oklahoma and Southeastern Kansas. The project consisted of 30 vertical and 75 lateral wells. He received recognition for determining that production was being shut-off due to cave-ins caused by the softness of the coal. He solved the problem by implementing slotted casing and chemical surfactants in the drilling fluid, which eliminated the need for fracturing. The elimination of the fracture service resulting from almost total recovery of drilling fluids reduced the overall budget dramatically.
Mr. Johnson has worked on over 5000 oil & gas wells and has a good safety record. He has successfully managed operations in the most sensitive of natural areas and has established a good reputation in the industry. Mr. Johnson graduated from Kansas University in 1979 with Bachelor of Science degrees in Geology and Petroleum Engineering.
Linda C. Chontos was appointed as the company’s Administrative Operations Officer in June 2011. Prior to her appointment, she has provided consulting services to the Company since 2005. From March 2005 to June 2011, Ms. Chontos served as the President of United Consultants, Inc., where she advised development stage companies on business development and administrative operations. She has extensive experience and background in multi-skilled professional administrative functions.
Prior to 2005, previous employments included the Raytheon Corp. where she assisted the Facility Director with the key responsibilities of property portfolio and facilities management during a difficult time of downsizing; TopWebZones.com where she coordinated and supported management activities in building a new internet search engine including creative brainstorming and branding, hiring key employees and heavy legal documentation; The Reader’s Digest New Products Division with responsibilities including researching new products, purchasing, advertising, refurbishing, weekly reporting; The Tampa Bay Rowdies Professional Soccer Club Marketing Division with a heavy emphasis on public awareness, advertising, acting as liaison to Newspapers & Radio Stations and “good-will ambassador” to visiting Russian and Chinese Teams. Her experience includes 30 years as a public speaker and vocalist throughout the United States, Canada, Scandinavia, US Virgin Islands, Philippians and Taiwan and leading motivational & self-help seminars in prisons through Prison Fellowship International. Her resume includes considerable experience in administration, television, radio and print media.
Since 2005, Ms. Chontos has advised the Company’s executives on certain initiatives. She is credited for introducing the Company to certain key relationships within the state of Alaska and has continued to help the company cultivate and preserve these relationships related to its Coal Bed Methane development initiative.
Appointed as Administrative Operations Officer on June 1, 2011, Ms. Chontos will continue to be involved in the planning, organizing, and implementation of the programs and promotion of the interests of the Company.