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SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Extensive experience in managing all facets of a variety of businesses in senior management positions. Experienced in doing business in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Russia, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Philippine Islands, Solomon Islands, and West Africa. Special expertise in:
* Strategic & Tactical Processes
* Quality/Cost Control Programs
* Productivity Improvement
* Business Turnarounds
* Acquisitions/Divestitures/Joint Ventures
* Labor Strategies/Negotiations
* Global Operations/Markets
* Organizational Effectiveness
* Governmental Relations
* Public Company/JV Management
* Legal Affairs/Due Diligence
* Project/Business Development
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
IMAGIN NATURAL RESOURCES, Richmond, Virginia 2007 – 2008
Vice President of Business Development of a start-up natural resources company focusing on the acquisition of coal and coal related assets (mines, reserves, docks, terminals, preparation plants, loadouts, and transportation assets) and industrial minerals. Team leader for the financial and operational analysis, due diligence investigation, negotiating, and closing of the acquisition of a Big Sandy coal dock, two surface coal mines, three underground coal mines, and 150 million tons of coal reserves.
VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT/PROJECT DEVELOPMENT,
Denver, Colorado 2000 – 2007
Acquisition/Due Diligence analysis for institutional/private investors.
CEO designate of start-up coal company to produce thermal coal for sale to power generators and use in captive liquidification/gasification plants.
* Commenced negotiations for project financing by an IPO on the London Alternative Investment Market.
* Led project's due diligence team and discovered fatal flaw in mineral rights that averted a substantial loss of investment.
CEO designate of start-up company to produce pig iron from iron ore deposits in Nevada and Tennessee utilizing up to six production units at a capital cost of $150 million per unit.
* Negotiated the acquisition of necessary iron ore deposits, but change in management and investment objectives of project's institutional investor caused project termination.
CEO designate of start-up company to acquire and operate North Star Steel Company.
* Obtained project-funding commitment from institutional investor for $450 million.
* One of two finalists in bidding process ultimately won by a strategic buyer.
Scott Shellhaas – Page 2
CYPRUS AUSTRALIA COAL COMPANY/OAKBRIDGE PROPRIETARY LTD. Sydney, Australia 1998 - 2000
President, Cyprus Australia Coal Company, the Pacific Rim coal group of Cyprus Amax Minerals Company, and CEO and Chairman of the Board, Oakbridge Proprietary Ltd., a coal producing/marketing joint venture and consortium comprised of Cyprus Amax, Nippon Mitshubishi Oil, Nippon Steel, Sumitomo, Samsung, Tomen, and Kawasho. Business unit had annual revenues of $450 million and 1,400 employees, and was Australia's fifth largest producer and exporter of coal. Director, Board of Directors of Port Waratah Coal Services, the owner and operator of Australia's largest coal terminal. Member of the New South Wales Mineral Council.
* Implemented operational/organizational restructuring, streamlining, and cost reduction and productivity improvement programs.
* Reduced overall costs 27%, increased annual earnings by $50 million, and moved Company into the lowest cost quartile of Australian coal producers.
* Restructured asset base by closing and selling unprofitable/unproductive mines.
* Reformed work practices by negotiating new union Enterprise Agreements--eliminated demarcations, annualized wages, reduced bonuses, and enabled flexible work rosters.
* Instituted new performance related contracts and remuneration for staff.
* Streamlined corporate and technical services staff.
* Reduced distribution and selling costs by negotiating new freight and demurrage rates and strategically adjusting product sales mix.
* Commenced a new safety program, which included internal audits, accident investigation procedures, and a drug and alcohol policy.
* Implemented operational management system that drove continuous improvement, assigned accountabilities, and detailed operating plans and risk analysis through written communication and team-based problem solving.
* Minimized the impact of declining Asian coal prices on revenue and earnings by aggressively increasing the amount of production under long-term sales contracts, and renegotiating short/intermediate contracts to secure full mine production at a profit.
* Increased the Company's resource base by undertaking detailed economic and engineering reviews of two major new developments adjacent to on-going operations.
* Led the divestiture of Cyprus Amax's Pacific Rim coal assets obtaining a premium for the Company of $120 million.
AMAX GOLD, INC., Denver, CO 1996 - 1998
President and Chief Operating Officer, Amax Gold, Inc., a global public gold company with annual revenues of $300 million and 1,200 employees.
* Progressed Company from an intermediate to a top tier gold producer by implementing a strategy of aggressive growth and cost reduction.
* Completed the construction of the Fort Knox Mine in Alaska (capital cost of $373 million), the Kubaka Mine in Russia (capital cost of $242 million), and the Refugio Mine in Chile (capital cost of $200 million). Achieved commercial production at new mines ahead of time and under budget.
* Increased annual gold production 215% from 238,000 ounces to 750,000 ounces and reduced cash costs 38% from $313 per ounce to $194 per ounce.
* Increased mine margins from $93 per ounce to $170 per ounce resulting in an increase in annual operating income from $6.9 million to $55.4 million.
Scott Shellhaas – Page 3
AMAX GOLD, INC., Denver, CO (continued) 1996 - 1998
* Managed a gold hedging/trading program that resulted in a realized gold price of $412 per ounce, $24 per ounce above the average Comex price of $388 per ounce.
* Ensured reserve replacement and sustained growth by undertaking aggressive/innovative exploration program through a joint venture with Cyprus Amax's exploration group.
* Led the successful merger of the Company resulting in the fifth largest gold producer with a market capitalization of $1 billion; eliminated approximately $500 million of debt and liabilities from Cyprus Amax's balance sheet.
CYPRUS FOOTE MINERAL COMPANY, Charlotte, NC 1993 - 1996
President, Cyprus Foote Mineral Company, Cyprus Amax's Lithium Chemical and Manufacturing Division with annual revenues of $250 million and 1,000 employees, and the world's largest producer of lithium carbonate.
* Instituted and completed a major reengineering of the Company which resulted in record sales and the doubling of the Company's annual earnings through cost reductions, aggressive marketing efforts, and strategically positioning the Company in the manufacture and sale of down-stream value-added lithium products.
* Consolidated corporate headquarters and world wide operating units to reduce costs.
* Constructed a new lithium hydroxide plant (Nevada), a new lithium chloride plant (Chile), and a new organometallic pilot plant (North Carolina) to drive increased sales of downstream value-added lithium products.
* Implemented strategic business moves to lessen dependence on intermediate lithium chemical toll providers.
* Constructed a new R&D facility focussed on product development and customer service.
* Constructed a new dry room facility for producing lithium metal products.
* Implemented employee involvement teams and quality programs, including ISO 2000 certification for all operating units.
* Minimized legacy costs associated with closed operations.
CYPRUS NORTHSHORE MINING COMPANY, Silver Bay, MN 1991 - 1994
President, Cyprus Northshore Mining Company, Cyprus Amax's Iron Ore Division with annual revenues of $125 million and 750 employees. Director, Board of Directors, Iron Mining Association of Minnesota.
* Restructured the business; implemented organizational, operating and maintenance improvements, and developed new products and markets.
* Reduced costs positioning Company in the lowest cost tier of N. A. iron ore producers.
* Increased annual earnings by $34 million.
* Reformed maintenance practices and out-sourced work.
* Marketed and sold new products such as flux pellets, sinter feed, and concentrates.
* Strategically repositioned Company in market by negotiating a major contract permitting full production resulting in lower costs with increased revenues and earnings.
* Directed cost analysis and engineering of new production facility to expand product line.
* Implemented new employee involvement and team-based problem solving programs, and quality oriented operating procedures including the use of SPC charts, employee process mapping, and employee cost accountability.
Scott Shellhaas – Page 4
CYPRUS AUSTRALIA GOLD COMPANY, Sydney, Australia 1989 - 1991
President, Cyprus Australia Gold Company, Cyprus Amax's Pacific Rim gold and copper operations, and exploration and mine construction group with annual revenues of $150 million and 1,000 employees.
* Restructured the Company to improve financial and operating performance and to position the business for growth in operations, production, revenues, and earnings.
* Restructured a major joint venture arrangement with primary Australian partner; streamlined corporate and exploration functions and responsibilities.
CYPRUS AMAX MINERALS COMPANY, Denver, CO 1982 -1989
Managing Attorney, Cyprus Amax Minerals Company.
* Served in General Counsel capacity for Cyprus Amax's major operating divisions, including Copper, Gold, Lithium, Iron Ore, Industrial Minerals, and Exploration.
* Participated in the strategic growth of the Company as the lead attorney in the acquisition and divestiture of several operations, leading mineral companies, and business assets, including Vermont Talc, Val Chisone Talc, Pima Mining Co., Johnson Camp Mining Co., Sierrita Mining Co., Mineral Park Mining Co., Twin Buttes Mining Co., Inspiration Copper Co., Casa Grande Mining Co., Foote Mineral Co., Bismark Mining Co., Northshore Mining Co., and Silver Bay Power Co.
WOODBURN WEDGE, Reno, NV
Associate Attorney
* Specialized in commercial/business, mining, natural resource, and environmental law.
NEVADA SUPREME COURT, Carson City, NV
Legal Advisor advising the Supreme Court on Extraordinary Writs.
Senior Law Clerk advising the Chief Justice and managing the workload of all law clerks.
Law Clerk for Chief Justice E. M. Gunderson.
UNITED STATES NAVY, Line Officer
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Juris Doctor with Honors, University of Wyoming School of Law
Managing Editor, Land and Water Law Review
B.A. Economics, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Member, State Bar Associations of California, Colorado, Nevada, and Wyoming
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