Management Team

Michael McLaren MSc. MBA, brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the energy industry, including significant contributions to military and energy projects, field services, and mergers and acquisitions. He is the founder and CEO of Olenox Ltd., where he has led innovative energy solutions and is the developer and patent holder of Olenox technology. Mr. McLaren earned a Master’s Degree in Science and a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of British Columbia. Mr. McLaren wrote, together with Dr. Olev Trass, several publications on Selective Oil Agglomeration for Ecological Benefits, Coal Water Oil Fuel (CWF), and the preparation of various fuels for clean coal energy. He currently serves as CEO & Founding Shareholder of Olenox Ltd. He also has extensive experience in operating E&P companies, Field service and negotiating M&A opportunities.

Erik Blum currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Fynntechnical Innovations Inc. (FYNN), where he has led the turnaround of a publicly traded company from non-reporting pink sheet status to a fully audited and fully reporting issuer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as of November 2023. Mr. Blum has more than 30 years of experience in corporate finance, debt markets, and public company management, including extensive experience in equity and structured finance. He has served as chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and director of multiple public companies and has been instrumental in guiding corporate restructurings and operational turnarounds.

Mr. Pendergast brings over 25 years of leadership in corporate operations, having served as CEO, CFO, and COO across public and private companies in the energy, construction, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors. He has expertise in mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and equity and debt financing. His previous roles include COO at MGO Systems Ltd., where he oversaw more than 50 construction projects during his time there, and CEO/CFO at Paramount Structures Inc., leading its acquisition and financial restructuring. As CEO of FP Genetics Inc., he refocused the company on profitable growth. Earlier, at Agrium Inc., he managed large-scale business development projects and represented the company to investors. He has also served on the boards of several companies, providing leadership in corporate governance, strategic planning, and financial management. He holds an MBA in International Business and Finance from McMaster University and a BA (Honors) in Political Studies and Economics from Queen’s University.

Kimberly Hawley brings more than 30 years of executive financial leadership experience across public and private companies in the energy, oil and gas, logistics, environmental services, waste-to-energy, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Ms. Hawley also currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Vivakor, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed energy infrastructure company. Throughout her career, Ms. Hawley has led complex financial organizations through transformational growth, mergers and acquisitions, SEC reporting, capital markets transactions, corporate governance initiatives, strategic financings, and post-acquisition integrations. She has successfully executed public and private debt and equity financings, including securing more than $120 million in long-term financing for major infrastructure projects and leading strategic capital raises to support corporate growth. She has worked extensively with boards of directors, auditors, legal counsel, lenders, and institutional investors while overseeing the financial operations of multi-entity organizations during periods of significant expansion and operational transformation. She has extensive experience leading SEC reporting, financial reporting, audit processes, corporate governance, treasury, investor relations, and strategic finance functions for Nasdaq-listed companies, helping organizations execute complex growth strategies and successfully integrate acquisitions. Ms. Hawley earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago, a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).