Available Globally

Conrad Houser,

Norwest Corporation
136 East South Temple, Suite 1200
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801)539-0044
Email: slc@norwestcorp.com
Web: www.norwestcorp.com

Internationally experienced lawyer, mining engineer and project manager with broad engineering, environmental, legal, marketing, planning, and financial experience as well as focussed skills in surface and underground mining of coal, oil shale and trona.

Experience
2004 – PRESENT BRUNNER MOND GROUP LTD, NORTHWICH, CHESHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM
DIRECTOR

1996 – PRESENT NORWEST CORPORATION, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
VICE PRESIDENT / DIRECTOR
Provides mining, financial services, and project management. Recent assignments include expert damage witness on billion dollar fuel cost dispute, due diligence on green fields power project, bankruptcy assessment of reorganization plans, expert on allocation of remediation damages, resource acquisition for major R&D project, prepared final EPC and contract mining documents for Indian coal project; due diligences studies and appraisals; project manager on Brazilian underground mining project.

1995 – 1996 ROCKY MOUNTAIN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, CASPER, WYOMING
PRESIDENT
Consulting and training for businesses and governmental entities. Acquisition analysis and due diligence. Asset maximization. Marketing realignment. Strategic planning.

1993 – 1995 WOLD TRONA COMPANY, INC., CASPER, WYOMING
VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Overall responsibility for integration of $200 million new mineral process technology development, design, financing, and permitting.

• MARKETING: Pre-sold 80% of initial 10 years production via letters of intent; established strategy, introduced new product to market, initiated revision of industry specifications, established customer relations all leading to project revenue base loading.
• ADMINISTRATION: Organized all office functions from ground zero to produce synergistic MIS, planning, accounting, budgeting, and associated functions.
• PERMITTING: Orchestrated all aspects of permit preparation, review, and approval at minimal cost and record speed to clear the way for project construction.
• ENGINEERING: Participated in process development, capital and operating cost reduction, process and mine design and engineering, construction of demonstration plant, preparation of bid packages, leading to successful posturing of Engineering Procurement - Construction contract.
• LEGAL: Developed in-house and through outside counsel partnership agreements (Limited Liability companies and Limited Partnerships) sales, contracts, Interior Board of Land Appeals defence, patent applications, engineering contracts, and the project financial prospectus.

1992 DRUMMOND, GILLETTE, WYOMING
ENGINEERING & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER
After purchase of Mobil operations by Drummond, responsibilities included development of plans and permits to transition the Caballo Rojo Mine from truck and shovel to dragline operations.

1977 – 1991 MOBIL CORPORATION
VICE PRESIDENT-ENGINEERING MANAGER, DENVER, COLORADO
(1988 - 1991)
Operations in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin and Indonesia. Complete engineering, environmental, strategic planning and financial responsibility. Key participant in Booz, Allen, Hamilton strategic posturing project in New York City to determine whether Mobil should remain in the coal business. Recommended Mobil discontinue its coal focus unless it was willing to become a major player. Played a major role in the solicitation of buyers and the sale of Mobil’s coal interests, netting $80 million in asset recovery. Quarterbacked lawsuit defending Mobil’s integrity against claims of tortuous contract interference by a competitor.

ENGINEERING AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER, GILLETTE, WYOMING
(1985 - 1987)
Created $3 million unanticipated profit enhancement by changing mining location to better optimize returns from the operation - required complete revision of both short and long term mining plans as well as major permit revisions in record time. Made major operating changes to match coal quality to customer needs - necessitated changing both vertical and horizontal mining orientations. Development drilling techniques were significantly enhanced. Developed special software for selection of coal to yield increased profits through proper shipment scheduling. Truck and shovel operations were optimized.

Negotiated a win-win agreement out of deadlocked conflict saving over $1.3 million. Actively participated in marketing of coal. Led an environmental team to the only perfect record (zero notices of violation) in U.S. fossil fuelled mining history (over 280 inspections). Revitalized and empowered a stagnant engineering and environmental staff.

1982 – 1985 MOBIL SYNFUELS, DENVER, COLORADO
VENTURE SERVICES ADVISOR
Led matrix organization including all reserve definition and underground mine planning supporting $6 billion project. Complete infrastructure alignment with mining and processing operations.

1980 – 1981 MOBIL CORPORATION, NDOLA, ZAMBIA
MANAGING DIRECTOR/GENERAL MANAGER
Originated program for converting wasted flare-gas into replacement fuel for transportation with national hard currency savings estimated at $4 million per year. Pioneered transfer of wholesale metered distribution system into developing country, saving over $180,000 in annual operating costs. Coordinated legal, financial, and engineering activities for EPC blending and packaging plant in Zambia with revenue contribution projected at $8 million per year.

1977 – 1980 AUSTRALIA MARKETING OPERATIONS; MANAGER, QUEENSLAND, BRISBANE
TERMINAL MANAGER
Dramatically improved customer and marketing support services and responsiveness. Resolved hot union conflicts and sustained peaceful and productive relationships, avoiding work stoppages and their attendant loss of revenue and market share. Reorganized production practices to dramatically reduce losses and costs.

1975 – 1977 SPAFFORD, NIXON & HOUSER; SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
LAW FIRM PARTNER

1971 – 1973 NELSON, HALEY, PATTERSON & QUIRK; GREELEY, COLORADO
ENGINEERING & CITY PLANNING COORDINATOR

1968 – 1971 CAPTAIN, US AIR FORCE; TOKYO, JAPAN, HEADQUARTERS FIFTH AIR FORCE
FINANCIAL PROGRAM MANAGER AND BASE ENGINEER

LITIGATION SUPPORT
As both an engineer and a lawyer, Mr. Houser has frequently been employed as an expert witness. More recent engagements have included the following:

• Provided expert report and availability for deposition and trial on valuation of a government taking of natural resources in southern Utah - $80 million at issue [1997-2000]
• Provided expert report and availability for deposition and trial on valuation of mining company for bankruptcy related litigation in Colorado and Montana - $200 million at issue [1998]
• Provided expert report and availability for deposition and trial on determination of contract mining costs and fair rental value of major equipment at a Montana mine - $200 million at issue [1998-present]
• Provided expert report, deposition, and trial availability dealing with conflicts on mining costs and prices charge a utility in Wyoming and Texas - $1 billion at issue [1999 – present]
• Provided expert report and availability for deposition and trial on contract terms and financial implications of a contract mining operation in Texas - $50 million at issue [1999-2001]
• Provided expert report and availability for deposition and trial on allocation of hazardous waste damages from refining operations at a Utah EPA Superfund Site - $50 million at issue [2000 – present]
• Provided assistance to primary expert witness on underground mine shield corrosion issues in Utah - $50 million at issue [2001]