San Diego, Ca., USA - December 18, 2009, San Diego, Ca., USA - Unico, a precious metals mining company, announced changes to the board of directors, including the appointment of a new chairman and four new directors.
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Ray C. Brown resigned as a director and as Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the remaining directors elected director Edward E. Winders as Chairman. Stephen R. Brown was appointed as a director. The Board expanded the size of the board to six and elected President/CEO Mark A. Lopez, David A. Gillespie and Ernest H. Kuhn to the board.
A certified professional geologist with a Ph.D. from Columbia University, Dr. Brown is currently a principal scientist at New England Research (NER) and a visiting Scientist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at MIT. He has published numerous articles on the physical properties of fractured and otherwise heterogeneous rock and the application of geophysical methods to mining, energy and environmental problems.
Mr. Kuhn, a Certified Public Accountant, brings to the Board more than thirty years of professional experience having most recently worked as the Chief Financial Officer of the Tilley Exploration and Development Company, a mining engineering and exploration company located north of Salt Lake City. His expertise covers all aspects of financial management including a solid working knowledge of government reporting requirements, GAAP required internal controls, auditing; fully computerized recordkeeping, and preparation of the financial segments of capital projects.
David Gillespie is the former Vice President in charge of Business Development and Asset Management for Duke Energy Corporation. Prior to holding that position, he was Senior Director for Asset Management for Duke. In addition to such corporate experience, he was President and CEO of a new generation bio-fuel company that was formed to commercialize a proprietary technology for the manufacture of renewable fuel, thus bringing to Unico the specific leadership/administrative expertise required for a developmental enterprise.
Dr. Stephen R. Brown is a Principal Scientist at New England Research (NER) (1997-present) and a Visiting Scientist in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology). He was formerly a Senior Scientist at Applied Research Associates, a Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories, a Member of the Professional Staff at Schlumberger-Doll Research, and a post-doctoral fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
He is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah (1987-present). His former professional involvements include being a member of the NAS/NRC Committee on Fracture Characterization and Fluid Flow and a member of the board of directors of the American Rock Mechanics Association. Dr. Brown graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology. He was subsequently awarded a Master of Arts in Geology, a Master of Philosophy in Geology, and a Ph.D. in Geology from Columbia University.
Ernest H. Kuhn has served as chief financial officer Tilley Exploration and Development Co. of Bountiful. From 2006 to 2007, Mr. Kuhn was the controller for NAI Utah Commercial Real Estate Services. From 1981 to 2006, Mr. Kuhn served in a variety of positions at Property Reserve Inc.. Prior to 1981, Mr. Kuhn's positions included finance manager for the Southern California Gas Company and staff accountant for Arthur Andersen and Company. Mr. Kuhn is a graduate of Brigham Young University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.
David A. Gillespie has held the position of president and chief executive officer for DAG Associates, LLC, a specialty consulting firm. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. Gillespie served as president and chief executive officer of New Generation Biofuels Holdings. In this role, Mr. Gillespie was responsible for all aspects of this start-up enterprise including financing, marketing, and the development of the production facility.
Prior to joining NGBF, Mr. Gillespie held senior leadership positions at Duke Energy Corp. nd the United Illuminating Co. Mr. Gillespie received his MBA from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Hartford, Connecticut, and his BSME from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Mr. Lopez brings 17 years of extensive corporate management, banking and financial expertise to the position. He is vice president of investments for Ashton Capital Management Inc. Prior to Ashton, he served as general securities principal for American Pacific Securities Inc., a registered broker dealer and was a co-manager of KM Income Properties LLC, a real estate investment company. Mr. Lopez also attended California State University, Fullerton, where he majored in business administration with concentrations in finance.
Edward E. Winders is a professional with more than 35 years of high level executive management experience. Dr. Winders was President and CEO of Transnational Public Policy Advisors. In 1992, Dr. Winders became Chair of John J. Kassner & Company, Inc. and subsequently served as Chair Emeritus of Liro-Kassner until 2002, after the firms had been merged in 1997. ■