Mr. Nowobilski, President and co-founder of Mid-America, has 34 years of professional experience in the mining and energy industries. His background includes 19 years of M&A experience, during which he completed acquisitions and divestitures valued at more than $1 billion, and more than 10 years as an executive with a $900 million revenue mining company.

Mr. Nowobilski has served as an officer and member of the Board of Directors of domestic and international companies. He has a B.S. degree and a Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.).

Mr. Nowobilski's M&A and financial advisory experience includes participation in successful transactions valued at more than $1 billion since 1990. His background includes directing M&A assignments, buyer-seller negotiations, definitive purchase agreement negotiations, business and mineral property appraisals, due diligence, negotiations with lending institutions, and procurement of private equity capital. Highlighted experience includes:

• Directed all merger, acquisition and divestiture activities of Zeigler Coal Holding Company, a publicly traded $900 million revenue mining company.
• Acquisition and financing of mining and natural resource companies, including the $700 million acquisition and financing of Shell Mining Company.
• As seller's representative, sold mining companies, mineral properties, oil production companies, and large ship terminals located on the East Coast. Transactions included the $65 million divestiture of Old Ben Coal Company's Indiana Division and the $35 million divestiture of the Pier IX and Shipyard River Terminals.

Mr. Nowobilski's senior and executive management positions at Zeigler also included responsibility for domestic and international business development, mineral property management, operations and engineering. Highlighted experience includes:

• P&L responsibility for a $70 million annual budget.
• Successfully launched two start-up subsidiaries.
• Directed international business development activities involving mining projects and independent power projects in India, Indonesia, China and Thailand.

Mr. Nowobilski has testified as an expert witness and has authored several published articles concerning the acquisition and valuation of businesses and mining properties, and mineral leases.