development of geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is an environmentally friendly, renewable power source for the Generation of sustainable electrical power
Managemenrt
& Directors
Kenneth MacLeod
Kenneth MacLeod has been President and CEO and a member of the Board of Directors of Western GeoPower since his appointment in 2001. He has been Acting Chairman since September 2005.
With a goal of establishing Western GeoPower Corp as one of the top geothermal development, and exploration companies in North America; MacLeod has aligned the company with strong strategic investors and obtained prime projects such as the 2006 acquisitions in The Geysers Field in California.
MacLeod brings over 27 years of leadership and business experience in international resource exploration and development and has been instrumental in raising over C$100,000,000 in financing for his companies, including C$57,000,000 in financing for Western GeoPower. His experience in the areas of corporate management, corporate finance, project management and administration has been instrumental in directing the growth of Western GeoPower to its position of being one of approximately ten geothermal companies in the United States perfectly positioned to take full advantage of a projected five-fold increase in geothermal capacity over the next fifteen years.
MacLeod has built an experienced Management Team, an accomplished Board of Directors, combining with that expertise from leading geothermal industry experts and consultants.
Prior to joining Western GeoPower Corp. from 1980 to 2001, MacLeod acted as senior officer and director of several resource companies operating in North America, Asia and Africa. From 1984 to 2001, he was President of Kakanda Development Corp., one of the first foreign mining companies to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Prior to his involvement in resource development, from 1974 to 1980, Ken was an independent engineering consultant engaged in the design and construction of industrial facilities related to the resource sector.
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Don J.A. Smith, C.A., MBA
CFO & Corporate Secretary
Mr. Smith brings significant and relevant experience in the geothermal and mining sectors, including corporate finance, corporate governance and business planning. His business career includes serving as Chief Financial Officer of Nevada Geothermal Power Inc., Primary Metals Inc. and Oremex Resources Inc. Mr. Smith has invaluable financial experience and knowledge and was instrumental in planning and executing a $29 million refinancing realizing an annual savings of $700,000 for a publicly listed company. Mr. Smith has provided consulting services to a number of corporate boards on corporate governance structures and related matters.
He is past President of the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Alumni Association, a past Chair of the SFU Chancellor Nominating Committee and a past member of the SFU University Senate. Mr. Smith currently is a Director and Chairs the Audit Committee of Coast Wholesale Appliances Income Fund (TSX). Mr. Smith received an MBA from SFU and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia.
Director
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John P. Copeland
John Copeland was educated in Economics at the University of Manitoba. Through Mr. Copeland's efforts in the insurance industry, he has qualified for the "Top of the Million Dollar Round Table", a designation achieved by fewer than 250 individuals in the world. He has served on a number of corporate boards and has been involved in the raising of several hundred million dollars of corporate funding over the years.
Director
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Thomas S. Drolet
Mr. Thomas Drolet is a Canadian living in Granite Falls, North Carolina, USA. Mr. Drolet spent 26 years with Ontario Hydro in various engineering, research and operations functions. He formed Canada’s research and development program into Fusion engineering and technology (CFFTP) in 1982 and then moved into International commercial work with Ontario Hydro International, a spin-off unit of the world's fourth largest electrical utility, where he was named President and CEO in 1993. His duties included all aspects of marketing, project management, and operations with electrical utilities in over 40 countries worldwide. He then joined DTE Energy Technologies in May 2000. As Vice President, International Business, he was responsible for developing international markets, partners and sales for DTE Energy Technologies extensive distributed generation product portfolio. Prior to joining DTE Energy Technologies, Mr. Drolet was Managing Director of American Electric Power Canada, and President of Canadian Energy Opportunities, Inc. where he was involved in mergers, acquisitions and other consulting activities in the Canadian and US power sectors. Mr. Drolet has a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Royal Military College in Canada, a Masters of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a DIC from Imperial College, University of London, England. Tom also obtained a certificate from the University of Western Ontario (late 80's) in International Business. Tom said that he is thrilled to be joining the Board of Western GeoPower Corp in order to continue his work in helping well positioned Canadian Energy companies become significant International developers and operators of Renewable Energy projects. Tom plans to be very active in developing the necessary Electrical Utility relationships and to helping to extend the companies reach into other International arenas.
Director
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Domenic J. Falcone
Mr. Falcone has an extensive background in geothermal project finance, acquisitions and business development, and a broad knowledge of the independent power and energy industries. From 1971 to 1987, Mr. Falcone was a founder and senior vice-president - finance of Geothermal Resources International Inc. (GRI), a pioneering geothermal company which successfully developed several geothermal power plants in California and played a significant role in building a viable U.S. geothermal industry. As president and principal of Domenic J. Falcone Associates Inc. from 1987 to 1991 and the Creston Financial Group Inc. from 1991 to 1997, he participated in financings for resource and power development projects in excess of $200 million. More recently, he has been chief financial officer and vice-president of PG&E Energy Services Corp. of San Francisco during its start-up phase, chief operating officer and CFO of NuVant Systems, a California developer of fuel cell technology, and national industry director - energy, CBIZ Valuation Group, an international management firm specializing in valuations, mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Falcone is an independent financial advisor specializing in renewable energy with an emphasis on geothermal exploration and development projects. Mr. Falcone has been a long-standing member of the Geothermal Resources Council, one of the world's premier geothermal associations, from which he received the Joseph W. Aidlin Award in 1991 recognizing his outstanding contribution to the development of geothermal resources. Mr. Falcone is also a member of the board of directors of the Geothermal Energy Association, which is based in Washington DC and is involved in advancing legislation and governmental affairs at the federal and state levels on behalf of the geothermal industry.
Director
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Ásgeir Margeirsson
Ásgeir Margeirsson has been at the forefront of the Icelandic energy business for several years, both domestically and abroad. From 2000 to early 2007, Mr Margeirsson was Deputy CEO and Director of Production and Sales at Reykjavik Energy Company, where he was responsible for power plant and well field operation, new construction, development of new power projects, sales and foreign operations. Prior to 2000, Mr Margeirsson worked as Technical Director of Iceland Drilling, where he was responsible for corporate development and operation of drilling projects in Iceland. He also worked as Managing Director of Iceland Drilling UK, where he was responsible for drilling projects in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Azores (Portugal). He obtained a B.Sc in Civil Engineering from the University of Iceland, Reykjavik, and a PhD in Construction Management from the University of Lund, Sweden. Mr. Margeirsson serves as an executive Board member for several organizations involved in geothermal energy, including; President of the Icelandic Geothermal Association; Chairman of Enex-China; Chairman of Exorka International; Vice-Chairman of Hitaveita Sudurnesja hf; Vice-Chairman of Shaanxi Green (China); and as a Board member of Iceland Drilling; Iceland America Energy (USA); and Enex.