When our management team came together to create an energy company with unparalleled strengths and determination, we understood that our experience would be one of our greatest assets. Our officers have a strong track record in the development of large capital projects with extensive experience as senior executives and managers in well-established energy corporations. Combined, the team boasts 150 years of experience in the development, financing, construction and operation of more than 50 energy infrastructure projects, managing aggregate costs of around $15 billion.

Gerald K. Lindner
Chairman of the Board and Director

Mr. Lindner currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of KGen LNG Northwest LLC and KGen Power LLC, independent power companies established in 2004. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Lindner was the Co-Head of the Power & Utilities Group for Alvarez & Marsal, one of the top restructuring firms in the energy and power industry. During that time he also worked as an advisor to MatlinPatterson on their restructuring and ownership of NRG Energy. From 1995 to 2002, Mr. Lindner was the founder and Chairman of Opus Power LLC, working with several major private equity firms and utilities to acquire power assets and companies. From 1991 to 1995, he was CEO of LCRW Power, created to acquire power plants. Previous to 1991, Mr. Lindner was President of Hadson/Ultrasystems Development for seven years, Group Manager for three years at GE Power Systems and Director of M&A/Development for Fluor Corporation for seven years. Mr. Lindner also served for five years as a board member and executive committee member on the national IPP industry association, NIEP. Mr. Lindner holds a bachelor's degree in math/economics from St. Mary's College and a master's of business administration from the University of California, Los Angeles.
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William Si Garrett
Chief Executive Officer and Director

Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Garrett was a founder of ESI Holdings, LP, a consulting firm, providing services in the development of energy infrastructure projects and strategy in the power generation, natural gas and LNG industries. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. Garrett served as Vice President, Americas Development for CMS Enterprises, Inc. where he was responsible for all energy infrastructure development and acquisition for North and South America including LNG Terminals and gas pipelines and distribution systems. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Garrett worked as Senior Vice President of Arco Integrated Power, Inc. and from 1994 to 1997 as President of the Americas for Tenneco and El Paso International overseeing strategic planning, development and operational activities for energy-related projects. Mr. Garrett holds a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Virginia and completed a U.S. Naval Nuclear Power School program in nuclear engineering (the equivalent of a master's degree). Mr. Garrett also served with the U.S. Navy in its submarine fleet from 1969 to 1980 and retired as a Captain from the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1997, following over 30 years of service.
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Paul F. Soanes
President and Director

Mr. Soanes was elected President of the Company effective February 1, 2006 and has been a director of the Company since its inception. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Soanes was a founder and principal with ESI Holdings, LP, a consulting firm which provided services to the domestic United States, as well as international, firms in the development of energy infrastructure projects and strategy in the power generation, natural gas and liquefied natural gas industries, including active involvement in the development of the Bradwood and Clearwater LNG Terminals. Mr. Soanes was also a founding member of Organic Fuels, LLC, a company that builds, owns and operates bio-diesel production facilities, whose first plat with a capacity of 30 million gallons per annum commenced operations in January 2006. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Soanes served as director, business development for CMS Energy where he was responsible for the business development activities in the natural gas pipeline, marketing and trading, electric generation and LNG industries. From 1991 to 2000, Mr. Soanes served in various positions with ARCO including Vice President - Commercial Development - Asia for ARCO Global Energy Ventures where he was responsible for strategic planning and development of ARCO Global Energy Venture's natural gas monetization activities in Asia and the Pacific Rim. Mr. Soanes graduated with a bachelor's degree in commerce from Murdoch University, Western Australia. He is an Australian Chartered Accountant.
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David L. Glessner
Senior Vice President, Engineering and Construction

Beginning in 2004, Mr. Glessner worked as lead engineer for the Clearwater and Bradwood LNG Terminal projects, in a private consultancy role. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Glessner served as Senior Director for Prisma Energy where he was responsible for technical, commercial and logistical support for the Eco Electrica LNG Terminal in Puerto Rico. From 1991 to 2002, Mr. Glessner held various senior positions with Enron, including Director, Development Engineering, where he was responsible for the development of the Dabhol, India and Grand Bahamas LNG Terminal projects and for various LNG projects in China, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, India, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Japan. Mr. Glessner holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree from Case Western University.
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Jonathan L. Phillips
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, Assistant Treasurer

Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Phillips was employed by Chadbourne & Parke LLP where he was a member of the Project Finance and Private Equity Practice Groups. His practice was focused on energy transactions related to the natural gas and LNG, power generation and renewable fuels industries. While at Chadbourne he worked with NSNG’s principals, actively representing NorthernStar, Bradwood and Clearwater Port. Mr. Phillips holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a juris doctor from South Texas College of Law.
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Bradford C. Witmer
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer, Assistant Secretary

Prior to joining the Company, he served in various accounting and financial roles with Suez Energy North America, including from 2001 to 2004 serving as Vice President and Controller of Suez LNG North America, owner and operator of an LNG receiving terminal in Everett, Massachusetts. From 1998 to 2001, he served as Vice President and Controller of Mountaineer Gas Company, a gas distribution utility with over 200,000 customers. From 1990 to 1996 he was Vice President and Controller of Allegheny & Western Energy Corporation, a publicly-traded oil and gas exploration, natural gas distribution and marketing firm. Prior to 1990, he was a Manager in the Accounting and Attest Services division of Arthur Andersen & Co. Mr. Witmer holds a bachelor's degree in business administration, with a concentration in accounting, from Ohio University.
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Gary R. Coppedge
Senior Vice President, Development

Before coming to NSNG, Mr. Coppedge served since 1994 as President of International Business Connection, Ltd. Co., a consulting service for companies expanding and competing in international markets. With a focus in Latin American markets, Mr. Coppedge was responsible for providing and performing permit consulting, site location analysis, LNG regulatory training for the FERC, joint venture negotiations, strategic planning and implementation and operation management of clients' international expansions. He also has extensive experience in infrastructure development for emerging markets and construction management. Mr. Coppedge holds a bachelor's degree in economics, with a concentration on feasibility studies and financial management, from New Mexico State University.
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Joseph F. Desmond
Senior Vice President, External Affairs

Mr. Desmond is responsible for the company’s government relations, public relations and investor relations. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Desmond served the Schwarzenegger Administration as Chairman of the California Energy Commission and Under Secretary for Energy Affairs in the California Resources Agency. In those positions, Mr. Desmond advised the Governor on energy matters and was responsible for overall energy policy in the areas of electricity, natural gas and transportation fuels across state and federal agencies. Prior to public service, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Infotility, Inc., an energy consulting and software development firm for four years. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Desmond was President and Chief Executive Officer of Electronic Lighting, Inc., a manufacturer of controllable lighting systems, and from 1991 to 1997 he was with Parke Industries, where he served as vice president. Mr. Desmond was marketing and demand planning administrator for Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant, a publicly owned utility, from 1987 to 1991. Mr. Desmond holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in marketing, finance and management, from Northeastern University.
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Billy Owens
Vice President, California Development

Mr. Owens was most recently Senior Vice President, Development with Poseidon Resources Corporation where he was responsible for directing the development of the Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Project, including all of the project structuring, permitting and commercial activities. From 1999 to 2002, he was a partner with Opus Energy, a firm providing development and acquisition consulting services for various private equity firms. From 1998 to 2002, Mr. Owens was also a principal with Jordan, LLC, a firm providing project management services, where he was responsible for project management services supporting the successful development of a 900 megawatt generation facility in Queensland, Australia. From 1990 to 1998, he served as Vice President, Development for LG&E Energy Inc. where he was responsible for the development of various international energy infrastructure projects, including in Australia, Indonesia and Thailand. Mr. Owens holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Florida.
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Frank Plimpton
Director

Mr. Plimpton has been a partner of MatlinPatterson since its inception in July 2002. Mr. Plimpton is also a director of KGen Power LLC and its affiliates and RailWorks Corporation. Prior to July 2002, Mr. Plimpton was a member of the Distressed Securities Group (the predecessor to MatlinPatterson) of Credit Suisse, an investment banking firm, which he joined in 1998. Mr. Plimpton holds a bachelor's degree, in applied mathematics and economics from Harvard College and a juris doctor and a master's in business administration from the University of Chicago.
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Ramon Betolaza
Director

Mr. Betolaza has been a partner of MatlinPatterson since its inception in July 2002. Mr. Betolaza is also a director of KGen Power LLC and Polymer Group, Inc. Prior to July 2002, Mr. Betolaza was a member of the Distressed Securities Group (the predecessor to MatlinPatterson) of Credit Suisse, an investment banking firm, which he joined in 1997. Mr. Betolaza holds a master's degree in economics, with a minor in financial management, from Universidad Comercial de Deusto and a master's in business administration from Instituto de Empresa (IE) in Madrid.
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Daniel Richards
Director

From 1997 to 2006 Mr. Richard was Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Governmental Relations at Pacific Gas & Electric Co., where he was responsible for overall external relations of this major energy holding company and its regulated utility. Mr. Richard supervised governmental relations, federal affairs, communications and regulatory relations. Prior to his tenure at Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Mr. Richard was co-founder and principal of an energy and financial services consulting firm, Morse, Richard, Weisenmiller & Associates, in Oakland, California. From 1992 to 2004 Mr. Richard was an elected director for the Bay Area Rapid Transit System, serving as President of the board in 1996 and 1999. During his tenure on the Bay Area Rapid Transit System Board, Mr. Richard led efforts for nearly $4 billion in capital expansion for the system. Mr. Richard holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Washington University and a juris doctor from the McGeorge School of Law.
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William O. Perkins, III
Director

William O. Perkins III is the President of Small Ventures USA, LLC, a venture capital and consulting company which he formed in 1997. Since March 2000, he has also been the managing partner of Zahr Securities, a securities firm with offices in New York and Houston. From February 1997 until February 2000, Mr. Perkins was the Director of Energy Trading of Statoil Energy Inc., a natural gas and electricity producer. From October 1995 until February 1997, he was the Manager of Options/Structured Products for El Paso Energy Corporation. Mr. Perkins joined Centaurus, a leading energy trading hedge fund, upon inception in 2002. As a consultant with Centaurus, Mr. Perkins trades NYMEX Futures, Gas Swaps, Exotic Options and other energy commodities. Mr. Perkins holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Iowa.
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