Michael Cooney, Chairman
Michael Cooney was appointed Chairman of NEMI in March 2009 after successfully leading a contested proxy contest. He is a private investor who previously worked for 15 years as an independent market maker on the Pacific Options Exchange and the Chicago Board Options Exchange.
Mr. Cooney obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1984 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics from Kalamazoo College, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1983. He is a resident of Larkspur, California.
Anthony Hammond, Director
Tony Hammond rejoined the Board in March 2009 after having been a director of NEMI from 1997 until 2008. During the past 45 years, he has held various positions such as mining engineer, underground manager, project manager and mine manager. Since 1985, Mr. Hammond has been a consultant and adviser to, and director of, a number of mining companies.
From 1981 to 1984, Mr. Hammond was the Chief Consulting Mining engineer of Roberson Research International, responsible for mining engineering studies in the United Kingdom and overseas which covered mineral extraction by underground and open pit methods, mineral processing, design of process and transportation equipment and operation of mines. From 1963 to 1981 he worked for Anglo American Corporation, including the role of Manager of Planning at the Vaal Reefs Mine in South Africa in 1978. At the Vaal Reefs Mine, his duties included the development of a strategic mine plan for the complex including appropriate contingency plans. In 1979, he was seconded to Angola Mining and Technical Services to manage five diamond mines and six plants in Northern Angola. His work included the management of several mining, metallurgical and civil projects including the development of new mines, erection of plants, diversion of rivers and the construction of bridges and airfields.
ln 1994, Mr. Hammond founded the Ancient Mining Research Foundation and currently serves as its director. He has raised substantial funds for the foundation, and has conducted research programs with the Smithsonian lnstitute in Washington D.C., the British Museum, and numerous universities. He formed Great Orme Mines Limited in 1987 and is currently its Chairman and Managing Director. The company provides tours of the Great Orme Copper Mine near Llandudno, Wales. Great Orme, the world's largest prehistoric mine, is one of the most important archeological sites in the UK.
Mr. Hammond graduated from the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, UK, and the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and has a First Class Mine Manager's Certificate of Competency. He is a resident of Conwy, UK.
Lyle Stein, Director
Lyle Stein joined NEMI's Board in March 2009. He is President of the Toronto-based investment consulting firm Red Barn Capital Inc. which he founded in 2002. He has more than 27 years of experience in the investment business and prior to Red Barn was a Managing Director at Sceptre lnvestment Counsel Ltd. of Toronto, where he held various investment management positions and developed broad industry expertise in areas such as mining, chemicals, transportation, technology, utilities, communications and conglomerates.
He has managed top ranked mutual funds as well as being independently rated as Canada's top-ranked portfolio strategist. Earlier in his career, he was a consultant with the energy-economics firm Foster Associates lnc. Mr. Stein brings experience serving on public and private boards.
Mr. Stein earned the title of Certified Financial Analyst and is a resident of Toronto.
Todd Hooper, Director
Todd Hooper joined NEMI's board in March 2009. He is a partner in the Private Equity Services practice of management consulting firm Kurt Salmon Associates (KSA).
Mr. Hooper has 25 years of experience consulting to a range of consumer and industrial markets. He has assessed dozens of proposed mergers, developed business unit strategies, directed merger integrations, and helped design new growth platforms. Industries of experience include upstream oil and gas, consumer products, retail and financial services.
Prior to the launch of KSA's Private Equity Services practice, Mr. Hooper was the national practice leader for KSA's National Strategic Services. Mr. Hooper joined KSA in 2000 as part of its acquisition of Swander Pace & Company where he was a Managing Director and CFO.
Mr. Hooper has authored a number of articles for business and trade publications, as well as a chapter on competitive assessment for a textbook. He has appeared on MSNBC and has spoken on numerous industry topics at events in North America and Europe.
Mr. Hooper obtained a Master of Business Administration in Economics and Marketing from the University of Chicago School of Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Notre Dame. He is a resident of California.
Matt Kavanagh, Chief Financial Officer
Matt Kavanagh joined NEMI as Chief Financial Officer in 2008. He is a chartered accountant with more than 20 years of experience involving publicly traded and closely held companies. He lives in British Columbia.