Officers and Senior Management
Tony van Winkoop - President and CEO
Mr. van Winkoop joined Arsenal in July, 2006 and was appointed President and CEO in July 2007. Mr. van Winkoop has a B.Sc in Geological Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan with 25 years of multidisciplinary oil and gas experience. After 8 years with a major international company, Mr. van Winkoop co-founded Venator Petroleum in 1988. As Vice President of Exploration Mr. van Winkoop helped build the company’s production rate to 1600 boe/d. Mr. van Winkoop joined Prime West, when the company purchased Venator, in 2000. As General Manager of Development Mr. van Winkoop built and oversaw Prime West’s development project inventory.
J. Paul Lawrence, CA – Vice-President, Finance and CFO
Mr. J. Paul Lawrence was appointed Vice President Finance and CFO of Arsenal in May 2008. Mr. Lawrence has gained a wealth of experience with over 30 years in the oil and gas industry in both private and public companies in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, investor relations, tax and financial reporting. Prior to joining Arsenal, Mr. Lawrence served as Vice President Finance and CFO for Clearwater Energy Inc., Silverwing Energy Inc., Lexxor Energy Inc. and Quadron Resources Ltd. Mr. Lawrence attended the University of Calgary Executive Development Program in 1998. Mr. Lawrence is a member of the Canadian, Alberta and Ontario Institutes of Chartered Accountants and the Financial Executives Institute. Mr. Lawrence served as a director of Lexxor from 1995 until February 2001, a director of Country Hills Golf Club from 1998 to 2004 and a director of the Financial Executives Institute-Calgary Chapter from 2005 to 2007. Mr. Lawrence currently serves as director of PetroGlobe Inc. and Petro-Reef Resources Ltd.
Gjoa Taylor – Vice-President Land
Ms. Taylor joined Arsenal in March of 2008. Ms Taylor has 20 years experience as a Professional Landman including positions with Imperial Oil, Crestar Energy, and most recently at PrimeWest Energy as Manager, Negotiations. Ms. Taylor has served as a Director on the Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen (CAPL) and remains actively involved in CAPL committees. Ms. Taylor received a BA in Law with a minor in Petroleum Land Management from the University of Calgary in 1995.
Ron Forth, P.Eng – Vice-President Engineering
Mr. Forth joined Arsenal in September 2008 as VP Engineering. Mr. Forth graduated from the University of Alberta in 1981 with a B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering and has over 25 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Arsenal, Mr. Forth held positions at Petro-Canada, AEC/EnCana, and Primewest Energy/Taqa North specializing in Reservoir Engineering. In his career, Mr. Forth has worked as a technical specialist and in management roles on a variety of development and A&D projects across Canada and in the US, ranging from shallow gas/CBM to deep tight gas resource plays, conventional and heavy oil. Mr. Forth is the author of two technical papers, serves on the SAIT Petroleum Technology Advisory Committee, and is a member of APEGGA.
Leo Nolte, RET – Vice-President Drilling and Completions
Mr. Nolte joined Arsenal in May 2010. Mr. Nolte graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in 1980 with a degree in Chemical Engineering Technology. He has 30 plus years of industry experience primarily in drilling and completions. Throughout his career Mr. Nolte has held both technical and management positions at various companies including Crocotta Energy, Primewest Energy Trust, Cypress Energy, CS Resources and Gulf Canada Resources.
Kent Sawatzky, P.Eng – Vice-President Production
Mr. Sawatzky joined Arsenal in January 2011. Mr. Sawatzky began working in the oil and gas industry after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary in 1985. Through his career Mr. Sawatzky has held a combination of technical and management positions with Amoco Canada, NOVA Gas Transmission, Alliance Pipeline, PrimeWest Energy/Taqa North, and Perpetual Energy. Mr. Sawatzky is a professional engineer and member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta (APEGGA).
Wade Hansen, B.Sc – Chief Geologist
Mr. Hansen joined Arsenal in July 2008. Mr. Hansen obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Regina and has over ten years of oil and Gas experience primarily with Cypress Energy Inc. and PrimeWest Energy/Taqa North.
Darren Kondrat, B.Sc – Chief Geophysicist and IT Manager
Mr. Kondrat joined Arsenal in January 2011. Mr. Kondrat obtained a Bachelor of Science in Geophysics attending the University of Calgary and earned an MBA from Athabasca University. Mr. Kondrat and has over 20 years of oil and gas experience primarily with Connacher Oil and Gas, Enerplus and PrimeWest Energy.