GENSOURCE - Key Persons


Alton Anderson - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Director
  • Executive
  • Finance
  • Member of the Management Team
Alton is a seasoned finance executive with over 30 years experience in the fertilizer industry including 22 years at PotashCorp (Nutrien). While at PotashCorp, Alton led teams responsible for global transformation initiatives. He successfully led teams that aligned and transformed 16 operating sites in Canada, US, and Trinidad on processes, people, data and technology; and changed the culture from decentralized to centre led. He has direct experience across the entire supply chain having led teams and projects in finance, supply chain management, procurement, operations, sales & marketing, and logistics. Alton and the teams he led have won numerous awards including BTOES Award for Best Achievement of Operational Excellence in Manufacturing and the Oracle Supply Chain Excellence Award. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

Amy O'Shea

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • President & CEO of Certis USA
Amy is currently President & CEO of Certis USA, a leading bio-pesticide manufacturer and distributor, and she is a board member of Intag Systems, a company focused on biological solutions to help reduce the environmental impacts of food production while increasing yields for farmers. She has a strong leadership history throughout her career and that experience, together with her proven senior executive management skills combine to provide Gensource with tremendous value in the agricultural industry. Amy became a director with Gensource April 1, 2020 continuing a stellar 27-year career in the agricultural industry, which started with an innovative, non-chemical, bio-pesticides company. Subsequent to that, she held successively more senior roles with FMC Corporation, ultimately holding the position of Vice President and Business Director, North America Agricultural Solutions. Her track record within FMC shows a leadership and management ability to create success in every circumstance she has faced. Amy's leadership and knowledge in a business context together with her deep understanding of the agricultural marketplace provides Gensource with exceptionally strong experience in the sector.

Brent Cherkas

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board
  • Member of the Management Team
  • Project Advisor
  • Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer
Education: B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1980 - University of Saskatchewan Brent is a registered professional mechanical engineer with over 40 years of experience in the oil and potash industries. With his broad career experience, Mr. Cherkas is a veteran engineer in the potash industry. Brent excelled in a number of roles ranging from design engineering through to operations, maintenance and large project execution. His career started at Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan ("PCS") where he worked for 31 years in design engineering, plant engineering, maintenance engineering, maintenance superintendent, project management and in the Chief Maintenance Engineer role at the PCS head office, Allan Division and Cory Division. Ultimately, Mr. Cherkas took on the role of Project Coordinator at PCS Cory where he was responsible for the completion of the $1.4B, 2.0 Mt/a Cory Expansion Project. Following his career with PCS, Brent took on several project advisor roles with both small and large companies, culminating with his work at the K+S Potash Canada GP Bethune mine where his technical and project advisory work was key to completing final items on that project to help it begin its ramp-up to full production. Brent is the first key addition to the project execution side and will be central in helping the Company succeed in executing and operating the project.

Deborah Morsky

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Management Team
  • Vice President, Corporate Services
  • VP, Corp. Services
Ms. Morsky has held key executive roles in professional accounting firms, private companies, and family businesses for over 40 years. She is skilled at reorganizing both private and public corporations. Deborah has a keen understanding of finance and insolvency. Her knowledge of developing policy, contract negotiations and cost control are an asset in structuring corporate financing and governance. As part of the executive team she provides strategic planning, operational support, research, and advice to senior management and the Board. She oversees corporate finance and operations to ensure they run efficiently and seamlessly

John McEwan

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board
  • Process Engineering Advisor
Education: B.S. Chemical Engineering 1973 - University of California, Davis Campus M.S. Chemical Engineering 1997 - University of Kentucky John is a registered professional chemical engineer with over 40 years of experience in the chemical process industries. Plant experience has included sulfuric acid and soda ash processing for the former Stauffer Chemical Company. He also served as the Technical Manager for American Soda's nahcolite solution mining project for a 1.2 MTPA greenfield soda ash and sodium bicarbonate plant located in western Colorado. John's involvement with the project included pilot plant operations, engineering and construction, and commercial production. He then joined Rio Tinto in 2004 and served as a Principal Process Engineer during the feasibility study for their Potasio Rio Colorado potash project located in Argentina. In 2009 he joined Potash One as Vice President of Plant Processing for the development of the company's Legacy potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Legacy project was later bought in 2010 by the German potash company K+S Aktiengesellschaft. John then served in a principal process engineering capacity for K+S for two and a half years on the project.

Max Ramey

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board
  • Professional Engineer
  • Solution Mining Advisor
Max is a professional engineer with over 29 years experience in the solution mining of potash, nahcolite, and sulphur. Max graduated from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology with a B.Sc. in both Mining and Geological Engineering. He began his career as a solution mining engineer for the Duval Corporation at the Culberson Frasch sulphur mine where in a period of 12 years, he progressed from an entry level engineer to the Manager of Operations. In 1997, Max accepted a new challenge and joined a team to develop the American Soda nahcolite solution mining operation in western Colorado. Following American Soda, Max worked with Rio Tinto to develop the Potasio Rio Colorado potash project in Argentina. In 2008, Max joined Potash One as Vice President, Solution Mining and assisted in the exploration and development of the Potash One Legacy Project in Southern Saskatchewan. In 2011, the Legacy Project was acquired by the K+S Group of Germany. Since the acquisition, Max has assisted K+S to progress the solution mining at the Legacy Project and most recently has agreed to assist Gensource Potash with their projects.

Michael Ferguson - CEO, President

Job Titles:
  • CEO
  • Director
  • Member of the Management Team
  • President
  • President and Chief Executive Officer, Rob Theoret
Mike is a professional engineer with over 25 years experience in potash and uranium mining projects in Saskatchewan. Mike graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. Following a few years spent with the Canadian Military, Mike settled back in Saskatoon and has spent his entire mining career in Saskatchewan participating in projects in potash, uranium, gold and base metals. His experience ranges from working at the mining face behind a Marietta Miner in a potash operations, to in-plant engineering (both surface plant and underground), engineering management, project management through to general management of engineering and EPCM companies. Most recently, Mike successfully led the Potash One project team responsible for the development of the Legacy Project in Southern Saskatchewan from initial exploration through scoping-, pre-feasibility- and feasibility studies and an approved EIS, to the point where it was acquired by the international potash producer K+S Group of Germany. Mike brings to Gensource not only his experience in the potash industry but also the unique experience of leading the development of a greenfield potash property in Saskatchewan - the first such project to be developed in over 40 years.

Michael Mueller

Job Titles:
  • Director
Mr. Mueller is the former Chairman of PSP Investments (Public Sector Pension Investment Board) where he served from 2006 to 2018. From 2003 to 2005, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of MDS Capital Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Mueller held a series of senior positions at TD Bank Financial Group, including Senior Vice President and Country Head of its USA Division, Executive Vice President of Global Credit and Vice Chairman and head of Global Investment Banking. Currently, Mr. Mueller is Chairman of the Board of Laurentian Banking Group (TSX:LBC), and Chair of the Audit Committee of Meduxus Pharmaceuticals (TSXV:MDP). He is also Chair of the Board of one of the world's largest private companies serving the seniors living segment, Revera Inc. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in public company governance and corporate finance, with a focus on start-up company strategy and finance - areas of expertise that will add tremendous value to Gensource.

Mr. Calvin Redlick

Job Titles:
  • Director
Mr. Calvin Redlick, B.A. LLB joins Gensource bringing over 30 years of experience as a global investment banker. Mr. Redlick obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Saskatchewan and completed his formal education at the University of Wales, graduating with his Bachelor of Laws (Honours). Mr. Redlick was admitted to the bar while working at Parlee McLaws LLP, Calgary, Alberta. Mr. Redlick moved to London, England in 1987 to pursue a career in investment banking, where he currently resides. Prior to forming his own company in 2013, Mr. Redlick served in various roles at Wyvern Partners (Partner, Corporate Finance - London), Mitsubishi UFJ Securities PLC (Senior Advisor, Corporate Finance - London), DTZ Corporate Finance (Senior Advisor, Corporate Finance - London), BNP Paribas (Managing Director, Head of Corporate Finance - Northern Europe), CIBC Wood Gundy Inc. (VP- Head of Structured Finance - London) and Sumitomo-Mitsui Bank (Manager, Debt Capital Markets, London). Cal is a Saskatoon native, and to this day, carries Saskatoon and Saskatchewan with him in all his business dealings.

PAUL MARTIN

Job Titles:
  • Director
Paul is Gensource's Project Manager, with overall responsibility for delivering the first small-scale project in Gensource's Vanguard Area. Mr. Neufeld has practical project experience as a project manager, project engineer, risk analyst, structural engineer, and construction coordinator; primarily focusing on heavy-industrial projects for the potash, uranium, and other mining sectors in Saskatchewan. Over the course of his career as a project manager, Paul has executed and led numerous multi-disciplined brownfield and greenfield mining projects, of varying size and scope. Prior to joining Gensource, Paul was a partner and Vice President at a private engineering consulting firm in Saskatoon, where he oversaw operations, engineering and design, marketing & business development, and the financial & accounting aspects of the company. Additionally, Paul has filled roles and managed teams in the areas of: project management, capital cost estimating & cost controls, project planning & scheduling, risk & decision analysis, and document controls & project administration. Paul also has specialty expertise in statistical modelling and quantitative analytics. Paul is actively involved in the local Project Management and Mining community, and serves as a sessional lecturer in the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. Paul is a registered Professional Engineer in Saskatchewan, obtaining a B.Sc. with Great Distinction in Civil Engineering. He also holds an MBA, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Paul Neufeld

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Management Team
  • Project Manager
  • PMP, Project Manager
Paul is Gensource's Project Manager, with overall responsibility for delivering the first small-scale project in Gensource's Vanguard Area. Mr. Neufeld has practical project experience as a project manager, project engineer, risk analyst, structural engineer, and construction coordinator; primarily focusing on heavy-industrial projects for the potash, uranium, and other mining sectors in Saskatchewan. Over the course of his career as a project manager, Paul has executed and led numerous multi-disciplined brownfield and greenfield mining projects, of varying size and scope. Prior to joining Gensource, Paul was a partner and Vice President at a private engineering consulting firm in Saskatoon, where he oversaw operations, engineering and design, marketing & business development, and the financial & accounting aspects of the company. Additionally, Paul has filled roles and managed teams in the areas of: project management, capital cost estimating & cost controls, project planning & scheduling, risk & decision analysis, and document controls & project administration. Paul also has specialty expertise in statistical modelling and quantitative analytics. Paul is actively involved in the local Project Management and Mining community, and serves as a sessional lecturer in the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. Paul is a registered Professional Engineer in Saskatchewan, obtaining a B.Sc. with Great Distinction in Civil Engineering. He also holds an MBA, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Rob Theoret

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Management Team
  • CIM
  • VP, Corporate Finance & Business Development
Rob Theoret is a co-founder, Director and CFO of the predecessor company to Gensource Potash Corporation (NEXXT Potash Inc.). Rob is dedicated to identifying new Saskatchewan resource opportunities, applying early-stage management and capital, and developing the resulting project to its point of sale or conversion to a public entity. Rob Theoret has worked in the financial industry since 1995 where he has gained extensive experience within the capital markets, investment management, and private Market like a HERO 416 526 9911 55 York St., Suite 402, Toronto, ON, M5J 1R7 client asset management. He has spent his professional career with firms such as Raymond James Ltd., RBC, and Richardson Greenshields providing individual investment advice to families in Saskatchewan and surrounding provinces. Rob has provided independent business valuation opinions to private capital pools on companies ranging in values from $1,000,000 to over $35,000,000. He has worked with the oil & gas research division at Raymond James Ltd. and he has used his entrepreneurial skills to co-found several resource companies in Saskatchewan. Rob values education and research; earning a B.Comm from the University of Saskatchewan, a Canadian Investment Manager designation (Canadian Securities Institute) and is earning the full Chartered Business Valuator designation (Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators). Rob is active in both business and community endeavours. Currently, he is a director for four private corporations, and serves on the Advisory Board to the W. Brett Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Some of his previous involvements include: Past President - University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association and District Council Board Member - Investment Dealers Association. He is very proud of his volunteer work with Junior Achievement and a local non-government organization which helps settle refugee families in Saskatoon.

Sandy Debusschere

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Advisory Board
  • Drilling Advisor
For over the last 25 years, as President of Artisan Consulting Services Ltd., Sandy has been involved in a number of oil and gas and major potash projects in Western Canada Market specializing in supplying supervision services for the drilling of vertical, directional and horizontal wells. Sandy's potash experience started in 1988 with disposal, backfill and grout wells at a Saskatchewan mine as a consultant drilling supervisor. Since then he has been involved with the majority of Saskatchewan's potash exploration programs throughout the province. Debusschere has also been involved with shaft pilot wells, freeze wells, solution mining cavern and injections wells. Overall, Sandy has had involvement of some type in over 400 wells in the potash industry.

Stephen Dyer

Job Titles:
  • Director
  • Director - Board Chair
Mr. Dyer, former CFO and Senior Vice President of Agrium, brings an exceedingly rare wealth of knowledge and experience to Gensource from his 30 years of experience in the Agricultural sector. Mr. Dyer is a seasoned senior executive with significant experience with public company boards and direct board-management interaction in addition to experience with direct investor and capital markets interactions. His career with Agrium and its predecessor companies spanned over 25 years where he held a broad range of positions in the areas of Manufacturing, Retail, Logistics, Business Development, and Finance. In his role as CFO at Agrium, Mr. Dyer was active in corporate finance activities, completing a complex $1.8B acquisition of Viterra's Canadian retail assets and providing Agrium with attractive long-term debt through his direct interaction with the bond market over two transactions totalling $1.5B. In his role of President Agrium Retail, Mr. Dyer had full P&L responsibility for the largest global Ag retail network spanning 7 countries, 12,000 employees and generating $1.1B in EBITDA from revenue of $12B.

Wayne Brownlee

Job Titles:
  • Director
Mr. Brownlee, former Executive Vice President and CFO of both PotashCorp. and Nutrien is a highly respected and accomplished potash industry veteran. Mr. Brownlee joined the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan ("PCS") in 1989. He coordinated the Company's privatization which transformed it from a provincial Crown corporation to a publicly traded company. Over the next three decades, Mr. Brownlee was a catalyst for the expansion and development of PCS through acquisition activity. He was instrumental in the acquisition of the company's nitrogen and phosphate assets. Until 2018 Mr. Brownlee remained a CFO when PCS and Agrium merged to become Nutrien, the world's largest provider of crop inputs, with its head office located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. During his term as CFO at Nutrien, Wayne oversaw all finance functions, plus the $6.0 billion divestment of equity interest in the PCS Chilean affiliate, SQM, Arab Potash Company, and Israel Chemicals Ltd.