About Pinnacle Potash
Management
PPI brings together a management team with extensive experience in geology and mineralogy, engineering, natural-resource management, drilling and mining operations, and energy finance. In addition, PPI draws on the expertise of a network of development partners and strategic suppliers.
Mr. Black oversees PPI’s marketing and business development. Prior to joining PPI, Mr. Black enjoyed a 32-year career with IBM, serving in senior management positions in programming and engineering, technical, executive and consulting assignments. He has been a leader and innovator in processor and system design, development and customer implementation. Mr. Black led a design team to develop a service processor to identify system faults and invoke service to prevent or repair faulty components. His clients have included International Minerals and Chemicals, Allstate Insurance, Sears, Kraft Corporation and IBM itself in internal consulting assignments.
Mr. Black received his BS degree in Management and Economics from Indiana University.
Mr. Webster is one of the Principal Investors in Pinnacle Potash International and has served as Vice President since 2008, where he is Involved in corporate strategy and various strategic planning activities of the Company. Mr. Webster has held various positions with companies in the commercial banking, private equity and energy service industries, including Pinnergy, Energy Spectrum, Growth Capital Partners and Wells Fargo Bank. He has been involved in many facets of business, including operations, sales, and finance with experience in growth initiatives ranging from acquisitions to new ventures.
Mr. Webster received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the McCombs School of Business in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin.
Mr. Taylor is one of the Principal Investors of Pinnacle Potash International and has served as Vice President since 2008, where he is involved in various corporate-related activities of the Company. Mr. Taylor has held various positions in private equity, consulting in energy, financial services and telecommunications businesses, real estate-related endeavors, and energy service industries, including Pinnacle Potash International, Pinnergy, Goldman Sachs, Protiviti and several others. He has been involved in growth strategies, evaluating new business opportunities through acquisitions or organic expansion, and special projects. He has also been extensively involved in the growth footprint of commercial saltwater disposal well facilities.
Mr. Taylor received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the McCombs School of Business with a concentration in Finance and Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin.
Mr. Taylor is one of the Principal Investors of Pinnacle Potash International and has served as Vice President since 2008 where he is involved in various corporate-related activities of the Company. Mr. Taylor has held various positions in private equity and consulting with financial, industrial and energy-focused businesses including Pinnacle Potash International, Pinnergy, Energy Spectrum Capital, Protiviti, Inc. and several others. He has been involved in evaluation and execution of potential investments, transaction negotiation, cash management and oversight of growth initiatives.
Mr. Taylor received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the McCombs School of Business with a concentration in Finance and Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin.
Russ Givens joined PPI in 2022 to work on developing the Crescent Junction project into a fully operational facility. Russ brings 26 years of experience in building and operating underground salt facilities first with Cargill, Inc and more recently with his own business, Fossio Limited. Russ began work in the mines as a summer intern at the age of 19. Over a 20-year period, He worked his way up through the operations leadership team, eventually leading the operations function for the three mine, 700-employee business. During that period, the business achieved industry leading safety and financial results that rivaled many non-mining businesses. Russ has extensive experience in underground mining, operations, supply chain and logistics involving rail, barges, and lake boats in the US.
Russ has a BS in Mining Engineering from Virginia Tech, is a certified Engineer Intern in the State of Ohio, a licensed Mine Foreman in the State of Ohio, a licensed Blaster and a Responsible Person with the ATF, and a Six Sigma Green Belt. Russ has served on various non-profit and for-profit boards in Ohio and New York. He resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife and two children.