Directors
Greg Hakonson, Executive Chairman
As founder and Executive Chairman of PneuVation Medical Inc., Greg Hakonson is the innovator and visionary behind the technology. This unique technology was created by ORO Enterprises Ltd, Greg’s product innovation company.
As President and owner of Eldorado Placer Ltd. (1974-2005) and Noble Metal Resource (1987-present), both alluvial gold mining companies. Greg has over thirty years experience in management, budgeting, strategic planning, and human resources. Greg’s considerable technical expertise includes mechanical, metal and wood working, as well as design and drafting and used these skills to designed and built many pioneering and successful products, principally for use in the mining industry.
Greg is also an experienced fundraiser in private sector/venture capital funding, as well as “not for profit” organizations and is the founder and President of the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture and it’s spin off KIAC School of Visual Arts.
Scott Phillips, Vice President
Scott Phillips is Vice President of PneuVation Medical Inc. and has been highly instrumental in the commercialization of the Trekke™ Lumbar Lift™. As founder and president of Starfish Medical, Scott has been providing product development, commercialization and manufacturing services for nine years and has been granted 10 patents. Projects have included, spectroscopy instrumentation, an electroscalpel, a blood pressure monitoring device, high frequency ultrasound eye imaging equipment, and spinal traction for companies worldwide. Scott graduated as an Engineering Physicist from the University of British Columbia. His career has included work in lithium battery manufacturing development for Moli energy, as well as a stint with the Alberta Research Council. Scott Phillips is an executive board member of the BC Medical Devices Industry Association. He also serves as VP, Engineering for Portable Opthalmic Devices of Bettendorf, Iowa.
John Wierda, Treasurer
John Wierda began his career in the banking industry nearly 45 years ago. The first 13 years were spent managing bank and credit union branches at which point he switched gears to work with the Canadian Parks Services in Dawson managing both the finance and administration departments and site security. John then moved on to spent ten years assisting new entrepreneurs with business planning and start-up as the Regional Manager for Economic Development for the Yukon Government. Working closely with the local First Nation’s Development Corp. as a director, John was involved in the development of a hotel, a construction company, a property management company, and RAB Energy Inc and a vinyl window manufacturer. John now considers himself “sort of” retired.
Willard Phelps
Willard Phelps has been the Chair of both the Yukon Development Corp and the Yukon Energy Corp for the last five years. In 1974 to 1975 as well as from 1985 to 1996, he was a Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly. During his latter time in the legislative assembly, Willard was Premier for several months in 1985, the Leader of the Official Opposition until 1991 and subsequently held several Ministerial portfolios, including Department of Justice, Health & Social Services, and Education. Willard also spent six years as Chief Land Claims Negotiator for the Government of Yukon in the late 70′s and early 80′s. Willard holds a bachelors of arts in combined honours philosophy and economics and a law degree, both from UBC; he was called to the bar in BC and the Yukon in 1969 and 1970, respectively.
Dr. Alan Cornford
Dr. Alan Cornford has been President and CEO of GPT Management Ltd. for the last fourteen years where he has worked with a variety of clients over a broad spectrum of industries, including technology start-ups, government, and fortune 500 corporations. Alan began his career over 35 years ago with the Government of Canada, working with various departments, including Environment Canada, Marine Sciences, and Institute of Ocean Sciences. In the mid-1980′s, he worked for the Government of British Columbia as the Assistant Deputy Minister Science and Technology. In 1987, he began six years at Simon Fraser University as President and CEO of their SFUniventures Corporation where he was responsible for translating the university’s research into viable start-up companies. Four of those years also saw Alan as Adjunct Professor for the university’s Masters of Resource Management (MRM) program. Alan holds a PhD in physical chemistry from University of BC and a BSc with honours in chemistry and physics from McMaster University.
Stuart Schmidt
President and Manager, Schmidt Mining 1980-present. Past president of the Klondike Placer Miners Association (KPMA). Represented the KPMA as President of the Yukon Mineral Advisory Board and was on the board of the Yukon Mining Action Committee that negotiated Mining Land Use for Yukon. Also represented KPMA in the design of the Yukon Fisheries Protection Authorization, 91 to 95.
Bill Hakonson
Bill has a wealth of entrepreneurial experience in building successful businesses from the grass roots up that include; Eureka Creek Mining (1954-59), Dawson Meat Market (1962-64), Dawson Wholesale (1965-69), Eldorado Hotel (1971-81), Sixtymile Placers Ltd (1977-present) and Top Of the World Golf Course (1993-present).