Management and Directors
Management
Garnet K. Amundson
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Mr. Amundson commenced his career in the oil and gas business over 30 years ago as a roughneck working on the drilling rigs in Grande Prairie. Mr. Amundson has been President, Chief Executive Offer and a Director of Essential Energy Services Ltd and its predecessor entities since 2004. These included Essential Energy Services Trust and Builders Energy Services Trust ("Builders"). Mr. Amundson was one of the founders of Builders in 2004. His diverse business experience over the past 30 years has included managerial and officer roles, at various levels of seniority, with a national accounting firm, multi-national oil and gas producers, and an international fertilizer company. His experience in the international arena included direct involvement with the Argentinean operations of Agrium Inc and the international operations of Talisman Energy Inc. Mr. Amundson received his Chartered Accountant designation in 1987.
Jeff B. Newman
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Newman has over 20 years of experience in oilfield services and related industries. Prior to the merger with Builders, Mr. Newman was the Controller of Builders since 2007. Before joining Builders, Mr. Newman built a successful consulting practice providing transaction-based advisory and contract CFO services to clients active in the oilfield service and other sectors across western Canada. Prior thereto, Mr. Newman was the Chief Financial Officer and Vice-President, Finance for a publicly traded oilfield services company. He previously held a variety of other positions with growth-orientated companies active in Canada and abroad. Mr. Newman holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary, received his Chartered Accountant designation in 1991 and his Chartered Business Valuator designation in 1995.
Don A. K. Webster
Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Webster has over 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Essential in 2007, he was the Vice-President, Operations at Dominion Exploration Canada Ltd. Mr. Webster has extensive experience with service and production companies, progressing in his career from a roughneck to a Vice-President of Operations.
Kevin W. Job
Vice-President, Operations
Mr. Job has over 20 years of experience in oil and gas and related industries. Prior to the merger of Essential and Builders, Mr. Job was the Vice-President, Operations with Builders. Before joining Builders in 2005, Mr. Job was the Planning and Forecasting Manager for Agrium Inc. Prior thereto, Mr. Job held several managerial and finance related positions with NOVA Chemicals, NOVA Gas Transmission, Sabre Petroleum and Ocelot Industries. Mr. Job holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Windsor and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (economics major) from York University. Mr. Job obtained his Certified Management Accountant designation in 1988.
Directors
James A. Banister
Chairman
Mr. Banister is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of BanCor Inc., an investment holding company and the successor to Travis Chemicals Inc., a private corporation. Mr. Banister has been an independent businessman since 1985 and has served as a director on the boards of a variety of public and private companies. His previous accomplishments include being the United Way's annual campaign chairman for Calgary and area, a recipient of a Pinnacle Award for business excellence and community involvement and a recipient of Junior Achievement's "Business in the Community" leadership award. Mr. Banister received his Diploma in Business Administration in 1966.
Robert T. German
Mr. German is the President and CEO of Horizon North Logistics Inc. Prior thereto, Mr. German was the Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Horizon North Logistics (2006 to 2010); the Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Producers Oilfield Services Inc.,(2006); and the Vice President Finance and Chief Accounting Officer of Precision Drilling Corporation. Mr. German is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience.
Roderick W. Graham
Mr. Graham is the President and CEO of ZCL Composites Inc., since October 2010. Mr. Graham was a co-founder and until September 2010, the managing director of Northern Plains Capital Ltd., a private equity firm. Prior thereto, Mr. Graham held various positions with ARC Financial Corporation and its predecessor, PowerWest Financial, from 1991 to 2004, in various roles, including Senior Vice President and Director of ARC Financial. Mr. Graham currently serves on the Board of Directors of ZCL Composites Inc. and Horizon North Logistics Inc. and sits on the boards of two other private oil and gas sector companies. Mr. Graham was a member of the Board of Directors of Technicoil Corporation from 2008 to 2011. Mr. Graham is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and holds a Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario.
Edward C. Grimes
Mr. Grimes is a retired senior executive with 40 years of oil and gas industry experience, most recently as Chairman of Ecomax Energy Services Ltd. (formerly CDK Services Ltd.), since 2008. Mr. Grimes has been a director of Ecomax since 1999 and was President of Chief Executive Officer from 1999 to 2004. Mr. Grimes was a member of the Board of Directors of Technicoil Corporation from 2005 to 2011. He was President (1988 to 1989) and a director (1986 to 1990) of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada. Mr. Grimes has an MBA from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary.
Nicholas G. Kirton
Mr. Kirton is a Chartered Accountant who has 38 years of service with KPMG LLP. Mr. Kirton currently serves on the Board of Directors of Canexus Income Fund, Gran Tierra Energy Inc. and Grande Cache Coal Corp. He also serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the University of Calgary, the Board of Directors of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and is a member of the Education and Qualification Committee of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. In 2006, Mr. Kirton received the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Andrew B. Zaleski
Mr. Zaleski is a retired senior executive with over 30 years of experience in management of transportation and manufacturing companies. Mr. Zaleski currently sits on the board of Trimac Transportation Services Inc. and serves as Chairman of its Governance and Compensation Committee and is a member of its Audit Committee. Mr. Zaleski was also the former Chairman of Orbus Pharma Inc., a generic drug manufacturer headquartered in Markham, Ontario. Mr. Zaleski was a member of the Board of Directors of Technicoil Corporation from 2005 to 2011.