Click on names below for more details
Mr. Thompson has 24 years of experience in resource exploration and project management including minerals, unconventional gas and geothermal power. In his position at SGP, Mr. Thompson has been the lead on the selection and acquisition of the geothermal prospects held by SGP to date. Prior to joining SGP, he held positions with EnCana Corporation, CBM Solutions and NovaGold Resources. In 2001, Mr. Thompson founded Cayley Geothermal Corp. which was acquired by SGP in 2006. Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Geology from the University of British Columbia, is a Director and Vice Chair of CanGEA and is an active member of (APEGBC) and (APEGGA).
Jeff Finkelstein is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of financial experience. Prior to joining SGP, Mr. Finkelstein worked for a number of public companies in the technology and mining sectors. In 1999, he was employed by SmarTire Systems Inc., an international technology company listed in the USA, where he was Controller until 2002 and served as CFO until 2008. Mr. Finkelstein also held the position of Controller for Silver Standard Resources Inc. and Golden Knight Resources Inc.. Prior to that, he worked in public practice accounting from 1985 to 1992. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba.
Joel Ronne has over 12 years of experience in the energy industry, including positions with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ballard Power Systems Inc., CANMET Energy Technology Centre and BC Hydro. Prior to joining SGP, he was an independent energy consultant providing technical and financial modeling services to independent power producers, including Cayley Geothermal Corp. and Sound Energy Inc. Mr. Ronne is a graduate of the University of Victoria, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and is an active member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC).
Roberto Ricci has over 7 years of investment banking experience with extensive knowledge of structured financings for energy, transportation and infrastructure assets in North America and Europe. Mr. Ricci is a former investment banker with NatWest Markets in the UK, Credit Suisse First Boston in New York and has advised on various corporate and structured finance transactions. Mr. Ricci holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Mr. Ricci is primarily responsible for developing and executing SGP’s project financing strategy, including identifying and negotiating joint venture partnerships, negotiating construction and term financings, and undertaking economic modeling of SGP’s projects.
Lesley Russell has over 12 years experience in a variety of international administrative and legal positions. She joined SGP in 2007 as the Executive Administrator and was appointed SGP’s Corporate Secretary in March 2008. Prior to joining SGP, she was the Administrative Manager for K+F Global Partners Ltd., an international recruitment agency, and served as an Administrative Manager for international language schools in New Zealand and Japan. Ms. Russell obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba, and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1996.
Gary R. Thompson, P.Geo President & Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Thompson has 24 years of experience in resource exploration and project management including minerals, unconventional gas and geothermal power. In his position at SGP, Mr. Thompson has been the lead on the selection and acquisition of the geothermal prospects held by SGP to date. Prior to joining SGP, he held positions with EnCana Corporation, CBM Solutions and NovaGold Resources. In 2001, Mr. Thompson founded Cayley Geothermal Corp. which was acquired by SGP in 2006. Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Geology from the University of British Columbia, is a Director and Vice Chair of CanGEA and is an active member of (APEGBC) and (APEGGA).
Jeff Finkelstein, CA Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Finkelstein is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of financial experience. Prior to joining SGP, Mr. Finkelstein worked for a number of public companies in the technology and mining sectors. In 1999, he was employed by SmarTire Systems Inc., an international technology company listed in the USA, where he was Controller until 2002 and served as CFO until 2008. Mr. Finkelstein also held the position of Controller for Silver Standard Resources Inc. and Golden Knight Resources Inc.. Prior to that, he worked in public practice accounting from 1985 to 1992. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba.
Joel A. Ronne, P. Eng Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Joel Ronne has over 12 years of experience in the energy industry, including positions with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ballard Power Systems Inc., CANMET Energy Technology Centre and BC Hydro. Prior to joining SGP, he was an independent energy consultant providing technical and financial modeling services to independent power producers, including Cayley Geothermal Corp. and Sound Energy Inc. Mr. Ronne is a graduate of the University of Victoria, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and is an active member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC).
Roberto Ricci, MBA Vice President, Corporate Development
Roberto Ricci has over 7 years of investment banking experience with extensive knowledge of structured financings for energy, transportation and infrastructure assets in North America and Europe. Mr. Ricci is a former investment banker with NatWest Markets in the UK, Credit Suisse First Boston in New York and has advised on various corporate and structured finance transactions. Mr. Ricci holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Mr. Ricci is primarily responsible for developing and executing SGP’s project financing strategy, including identifying and negotiating joint venture partnerships, negotiating construction and term financings, and undertaking economic modeling of SGP’s projects.
Lesley Russell, BA (Hons), LLB Corporate Secretary
Lesley Russell has over 12 years experience in a variety of international administrative and legal positions. She joined SGP in 2007 as the Executive Administrator and was appointed SGP’s Corporate Secretary in March 2008. Prior to joining SGP, she was the Administrative Manager for K+F Global Partners Ltd., an international recruitment agency, and served as an Administrative Manager for international language schools in New Zealand and Japan. Ms. Russell obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba, and was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1996.
Advisors / Consultants
GeothermEx Inc.
Independent Advisor
Founded in 1973, GeothermEx is the longest-established full-service geothermal consulting firm in the world. A specialist in all services related to the development of geothermal resources, GeothermEx has been involved in nearly 1,000 projects in 49 countries, working for developers, financiers, utilities, landowners and agencies of government. GeothermEx’s staff consists of experts in geosciences (geology, geochemistry, geophysics, hydrology), engineering (drilling, well testing, reservoir, production, power plant, chemical), computer science and economic analysis. All have advanced degrees and many years of geothermal experience. GeothermEx has conducted due diligence and verified resource adequacy for financial institutions in nearly all geothermal projects worldwide that have been financed by bank loans or bonds. This has enabled the development of more than 6,000 megawatts of geothermal power, with the total financing to date exceeding US $10 billion. More details can be found at www.geothermex.com.
Stoel Rives
U.S. Legal Advisor
Stoel Rives is a leading U.S. law firm with over 100 years of experience with more than 365 lawyers practicing across the full spectrum of corporate law and business litigation. Stoel Rives provides legal counsel to SGP on issues ranging from permitting, power purchase agreements and drilling contracts. More details can be found at www.stoel.com.
Environmental Management Associates, Inc.
Permitting Consultant
Founded in 1985, EMA is an environmental consulting firm which specializes in providing environmental support services to assist industry and government clients in evaluating environmental effects and maintaining compliance with changing environmental regulatory requirements. From its office located in Brea, California, EMA provides these services to clients with projects located throughout the western United States. EMA provides the knowledge, experience and insight needed to plan, develop, implement, and manage cost-effective environmental programs which meet the individual needs of its clients for environmental impact assessment documents, environmental permit and licensing services, environmental audits and site assessments, air quality assessment services, and environmental and institutional analysis services. EMA has extensive experience permitting geothermal facilities in Nevada and California. For more information, visit www.emacorp.com.
Power Engineers
Engineering Consultant
Headquartered in Hailey, Idaho, PE was established in 1976 and is a progressive consulting engineering firm offering project management, power generation, power delivery and environmental services. Since 1995, PE’s geothermal engineering team has provided detail design documentation and field engineering for more than 300 MW of new geothermal plant capacity in challenging construction sites throughout the world: Mindanao, Kenya, Costa Rica, California and Mexico. PE’s team includes veteran project managers and supervisory engineers as well as project-tested specialists in the civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, chemical and I&C disciplines. For many years, PE has been doing business providing feasibility assessments and estimates for a variety of geothermal and heat recovery prospects. For more information, visit www.powereng.com.
Jacob and Company Securities Inc.
Securities Underwriter
Jacob & Company Securities Inc. is an independent investment bank providing underwriting and financial advisory services to companies in the renewable power, infrastructure and energy sectors. The firm, which is headquartered in Toronto, primarily services small- to mid-cap issuers in North America and around the world. For more information, visit www.jacobsecurities.com.