BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul Vining
Chairman
Mr. Vining is currently CEO of Minerals Refining Company (MRC) a privately held development company with proprietary and patented mineral processing technology capable of recovering micron-sized products from preparation waste streams.
Prior to MRC Mr. vining was EVP of Global Investment and Development for Xcoal Energy and Resources (2019-2020) a major International coal trader and exporter; CEO of the Cline Group (2015-2019) leading the construction and development of two large greenfield coal projects in Canada as well as serving on the Board of Directors of Foresight Energy LP (NYSE: FELP). During his distinguished career in the coal and minerals industry Mr. Vining has held senior positions with both private and public coal companies including President of Alpha Natural Resources (2011-2015), President and COO of Patriot Coal (2008-2010), CEO of Magnum Coal (2005-2008), Chief Commercial Officer for Arch Coal (2005) and Peabody Energy (1994-2003), and prior to Peabody commercial and marketing positions with Massey Energy, Occidental Petroleum and ENI (Italy). Mr. Vining holds MS and BS degrees in Mining and Minerals Engineering from Columbia University and BS in Chemistry from The College of William and Mary. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors for Westmoreland Mining.
Martin Purvis
Chief Executive Officer
Martin is a Mining Engineer by trade with close to 40 years in the industry. Martin started his career with Anglo American Corporation in the deep-level gold mines in South Africa, after completing a BSc Honours Degree on a Scholarship at Leeds University in the UK.
Since that early gold experience, Martin has occupied a number of senior leadership roles in a broad range of operational and corporate positions, across a diversified portfolio of commodities, with international coal trade and developments being a key component of that journey.
Working around the globe, in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and most recently in North America after joining Westmoreland Mining Holdings LLC, Martin has served in a number of listed and private sector resource companies, as both Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer roles. He has also been the lead manager for an international Private Equity Group, fronted one of the largest mining IPOs on the Singapore Stock Exchange for Straits Asia Resources, and raised substantial funding for growth and development projects from international capital markets.
Martin is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of company directors (GAICD) holds a postgraduate diploma in business management and was previously nominated by an independent panel for CNBC Asia’s Business Leaders Awards.
Michael Watchorn
Michael C. Watchorn serves as a Director of Windstream Holdings, Inc., and has held this position since August 2022. From 2007 through 2015, Mr. Watchorn served as a Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager in both the Global Corporate Credit and Distressed Credit groups of Pacific Investment Management Company. Prior to that, from 1994 through 2005, he served as a Managing Director and High Yield Bond Portfolio Manager at Oaktree Capital Management (and its predecessor unit at Trust Company of the West). Mr. Watchorn has also previously held positions with Citicorp from 1989 through 1994 and with International Business Machines from 1984 until 1989. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has served as a Visiting Lecturer of Economics at Claremont McKenna College.
Mr. Watchorn earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, earned an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and earned an M.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Chicago.
Emily Medine
Ms. Medine has been with Energy Ventures Analysis since 1987 and is a Principal in its coal practice. Ms. Medine advises numerous U.S. and foreign coal consumers on developing and implementing fuel procurement strategies and frequently serves as an advisor for sales and acquisitions of coal-related assets. Her experience also includes bankruptcy support, guidance on contract negotiations, procurement audits, investment analyses, and in-depth strategic studies for a wide variety of clients. She frequently provides expert testimony on utility fuel procurement practices and contract disputes. Ms. Medine also develops forecasts of U.S. and global solid fuel demand and prices for alternative coal types, coke, and market segments, which are included in EVA’s industry-leading suite of coal publications. Prior to joining EVA, Ms. Medine held various positions at CONSOL, including Assistant District Sales Manager and Strategic Studies Coordinator for the Chicago office. Ms. Medine was also an appointed member of the National Coal Council. Ms. Medine received a B.A. from Clark University, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and an M.P.A. from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
Doug Williams
Mr. Williams currently serves on the Board of Directors of Warrior Met Coal (“Warrior”) and has done so since its inception in 2016, notably as the Chairman of the Board of Directors between March 2016 and December 2022. His contributions to the Warrior Board are an extension of his prior work in the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer of Coal Acquisition LLC, the predecessor company of Warrior, from November 2015 through March 2016.
In parallel, Mr. Williams actively provides industry advisement and services through Stephen D. Williams Consulting, a role he has held since July 2015. He has worked for over 35 years, across a variety of roles in the mining industry and gained extensive experience as an executive within the coal business. From January 2013 to February 2015, he led Mechel Blueston, Inc. as Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that, he performed as the Chief Operating Officer of NRI, LLC, where he focused on transactions and target acquisitions, (from October 2010 to December 2012), and as Chief Operating Officer of INR Energy, LLC, a coal and industrial minerals mining company, (from October 2009 to August 2010). From August 2007 to September 2009, Mr. Williams held the role of Senior Vice President of North American Coal at Cliffs Natural Resources.
Mr. Williams graduated from West Virginia University’s College of Mineral and Energy Resources with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering and received his Juris Doctor degree from West Virginia University’s College of Law.
