TOPZ Management Team:
Edward J. Munden, CEO, is a professional geological engineer with an MBA and is a co-founder of a private boutique investment banking organization that has provided and/or arranged early and mid stage venture capital and hands-on managerial assistance to a portfolio of energy, mining and technology software companies. From 2001 to present, Mr. Munden has focused on development and financing of oil and gas leasing and drilling projects in the Barnett Shale play in north-central Texas with a strategy of accumulating a solid mineral lease position and building a strong operational capability. In 1994, Mr. Munden co-founded a Dallas based independent NASDAQ-traded public energy company engaged in the exploration, development and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties and held senior level positions including Director, Chairman, President and CEO until it was sold for over $150 million in December 2001. Mr. Munden has held positions in the energy, mining, manufacturing and technology industries for more than 30 years.
Robert P. Lindsay, COO, is a second-generation oil and gas professional with over 43 years experience in the petroleum industry. He has planned and executed drilling and rework programs in Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky and New Mexico. From 2001 to present, Mr. Lindsay has focused on locating, evaluating and securing mineral leases in the Barnett Shale play in north central Texas, wherein he has drilled or participated in over 250 oil & gas wells in the immediate region; has assembled, drilled and sold over 10,000 acres with dollar values approaching $100 million; and has built and sold 6 Barnett Shale drilling rigs. Prior to this, Mr. Lindsay was Chief Operating Officer of a NASDAQ energy company responsible for all administrative and operational aspects of the company's producing and development properties. From 1973 until 1995, Mr. Lindsay managed over 200 employees and 10 drilling rigs concentrating on drilling oil and gas wells throughout north Texas. Prior to 1973, Mr. Lindsay held senior positions with an international oil and natural gas drilling and exploration company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Rand Stinnett, VP and General Counsel, is a fourth-generation oil and gas professional, having focused full-time on Barnett projects since 2000. Through various entities, Mr. Stinnett has executed a successful, disciplined leasing strategy that has resulted in the acquisition and development of over 10,000 acres of quality mineral leases within the Barnett in and around Wise, Denton, Montague and Tarrant Counties, Texas. Mr. Stinnett is a commercial/business attorney and petroleum landman who has represented clients in all aspects of the oil and gas business, including financial institutions, mineral owners, working interest owners, operators, drillers and contractors. Since 1982, he has engaged in a general civil legal practice involving title examination, commercial litigation, transactional work and regulatory/corporate matters, both as a sole practitioner and in association with law firms, in Hurst and Austin, Texas. Mr. Stinnett is licensed to practice law in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds B.S. and J.D. degrees.
Bill Williamson, VP Operations and Land, is a certified petroleum landman with over 28 years experience in the oil and gas industry including eight years experience in operating and building oil and gas drilling rigs. In 2005, Mr. Williamson co-founded a company to build and operate land drilling rigs, completing construction of three drilling rigs. Prior to this from 2002, he worked for an independent drilling contractor located in Denton, Texas. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Williamson was VP, Land for a NASDAQ energy company responsible for all land, acquisition and divestiture transactional contracts and agreements. Prior to 1998, Mr. Williamson provided clients with oil and gas asset management, acquisition and divestiture services from a land and legal perspective.
Bruce I. Benn CFO and VP Finance, is a specialist in investment banking and international finance with over 25 years experience in identifying, structuring and negotiating acquisitions and investments, particularly in the energy, mining and technology sectors. He arranges and executes public and private offerings of debt and equity financing and oversees all aspects of public and investor relations and regulatory compliance. He was instrumental in structuring and arranging over $500 million in debt and equity financing for a NASDAQ energy company. He is a co-founder of a private boutique investment banking organization, where he focuses on structuring transactions and interfacing with a select core of institutional and private investors. Mr. Benn is an attorney and holds B.A., LLB and LLM degrees.
