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Mr. McNeely has over 30 years of experience in the mining industry. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering from the Mackay School of Mines at the University of Nevada-Reno, he is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers and he is a member of the Engineering Honour Society Tau Beta Phi. Early in Mr. McNeely's career he worked in the design construction and start-up of the Jerrit Canyon Operation for Freeport Gold Company. Mr. McNeely was able to complete the Jerrit Canyon Operation ahead of schedule and under budget. He then became Project Manager of U.S. Gold's Victor Operation in Cripple Creek, Colorado, whereby his efforts resulted in profits to the operation after eighteen consecutive months of loss. In 1984, Nerco Minerals ('Nerco') purchased the Victor Operation and Nerco asked that Mr. McNeely remain to help with a plant expansion and training of Nerco personnel in the peculiarities of the mine and vat leach system. In 1985, Mr. McNeely was employed as manager of the Tonkin Springs Project for U.S. Gold (Silver State Mining) and completed construction and began operations on schedule and on budget. He was subsequently promoted to Vice-President of Operations and opened the Exploration and Operations office in Reno, Nevada. Following this, Mr. McNeely become Mine Regional Manager for Western States Minerals and he succeeded in bringing the Northumberland Mine back onto schedule and oversaw the doubling of the plant size. He worked for Western States Minerals as a consultant before joining them full time to manage the Exploration and Feasibility Study of the Chartam Project. During this time, Mr. McNeely also completed two other feasibility studies for other clients, including hand designed mine plans. He then became the principal of McNeely Consulting and Management where he assumed the management of underground operations in Central Nevada and South East Arizona. From the years 1992 to 1998, Mr. McNeely was President and a Director of Cobre. Cobre's principle asset, the Continental Mine was purchased by Mr. Ward and Mr. McNeely for US$8.3 million in 1993. Over the next four years, costs were reduced by 50% while production increased by 300% and mining reserves grew by over 500%. Cobre was sold in 1998 at a premium of +100% to the market price. | 