Mr. Johnson has 40 years of experience in the mining and energy industries. He is Chief Operating Officer for Americas Energy Company and is a member of the Board. Mr. Johnson has served as Vice-President, Planning and Development and Executive Vice-President for various units of publicly held Transco Energy Company and was Director of Planning and Development for General Energy Corporation, also publicly held. He served as a Senior Advisor to Madison Capital Management of NYC with assignments in business development and acquisitions. He also had functional duties as Principal of United American Resources, LLC (coal) and United American Energy, LLC (oil & gas). His extensive mining experience includes work as an underground miner, foreman, engineer, safety regulator, consultant, expert witness, developer and operator. He earned a Masters in Business Administration from Xavier University and a BS in Civil Engineering, Mining Option from the University of Kentucky. He is a registered professional mining engineer in Kentucky. He has been a member of the Society of Mining Engineers since 1971, during which time he has held leadership positions culminating as Chairman of the Central Appalachian Section & CAS Representative on SME Board. His long standing service, since 1983, to the University of Kentucky Mining Engineering Foundation includes various officer and committee assignments culminating in Chairman of the Board; and today as a Director, and Chairman of the Nominating Committee.