Skanderbeg Capital Partners is a globally focused company with the ability to review and evaluate projects on their technical merits, in markets around the world. Skanderbeg’s core competencies include not only an ability to assess projects geologically but also an ability to assess jurisdictional qualities of various emerging markets. Skanderbeg seeks opportunities throughout the world and is willing to act as first movers in markets that are currently overlooked in the mining community. We seek out projects that we can add and unlock value within, from early stage conceptual exploration all the way through to development and production.

Skanderbeg concentrates on projects within major metals categories including copper, zinc, gold and silver but will also opportunistically look at sectors outside of this when compelling investment situations arise.

The operational team at Skanderbeg Capital Partners Inc. integrates leaders with expertise in identifying, structuring and operating companies around the world with professionals in the fields of:

The Honourable Sheila Copps, Special Advisor
The Honourable Sheila Copps is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. In addition to her role as Deputy Prime Minister, Ms. Copps was a long serving Canadian cabinet Minister, serving in the roles of Minister of Environment, Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship and Minister of Canadian Heritage. Sheila Copps is a pioneer. She was the first woman ever named to the post of Deputy Prime Minister in Canada and, as Environment Minister, brought forward what was the strongest federal environmental assessment legislation in the world. Sheila established Young Canada Works to provide annual summer employment for youth; brought in copyright protection for Canadian recording artists; and led ministers of culture from over 50 nations in the development of the first ever International Network on Cultural Diversity. She is the author of two books and has worked as a journalist, broadcaster and political commentator in both French and English.

Bryan Slusarchuk
Mr. Slusarchuk has significant experience identifying, structuring and operating companies across a variety of industries, with a particular expertise in mineral exploration and development. Mr. Slusarchuk has a proven track record of success as both a private and public company CEO and has established a substantial European and North American financial network within which he financed and structured multiple North American and European ventures. During his career, Mr. Slusarchuk has negotiated and completed debt and equity transactions with multiple top tier banks, institutional investors and brokerage houses. Mr. Slusarchuk is a founder and partner of Skanderbeg Capital Partners Inc.

Bradley Scharfe
Mr. Scharfe has been focused on venture capital situations throughout his career and has successfully worked with multiple companies in the areas of capital requirements, public market concerns and personnel. Mr. Scharfe was previously a venture capital stock broker with Canaccord Capital Corporation for 12 years, earning Chairman’s Club status during this time and holds a BA from the University of Toronto, with a major in Commerce and Economics. Mr. Scharfe is a founder and partner of Skanderbeg Capital Partners Inc.

Carson Seabolt
Mr. Seabolt has extensive experience in structuring, financing, and managing international resource ventures. He acts as a director and advisor for numerous publicly listed resource issuers operating in the mining and oil & gas sectors. Mr. Seabolt was previously employed by a leading Toronto-based merchant bank focused on the global resource sectors and is currently a partner at Skanderbeg Capital Partners.

Fred Tejada
Mr. Tejada is a professional geologist, registered in British Columbia. With over 30 years of international mineral industry experience, Mr. Tejada has a proven track record of success working with both major and junior mining and exploration focused organizations. Mr. Tejada was Country Manager for Phelps Dodge Exploration Corporation in the Philippines with responsibility over corporate and technical matters, development of exploration strategy and acquisitions. Mr. Tejada was also Vice President for Exploration of Panoro Minerals Ltd. where he directed the resource definition drilling of its two major copper projects in Peru.

John LaGourgue
Mr. LaGourgue is an experienced businessman in the natural resource industry with experience both internationally and in North America. Mr. LaGourgue’s past experience includes leadership roles in the oil and gas industry and as the Chief Executive Officer of a Canadian based gold and silver exploration company. Mr. LaGourgue has Board experience on public companies in both the United States and Canada. In addition to his work in the gold, silver, and oil and gas sectors, his Fortune 100 experience includes a previous national management position at EMC Corporation. Mr. LaGourgue is an American citizen and graduated from the University of Hawaii, with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, with Honors.

Robert Geisthardt
Mr. Geisthardt is a Chartered Accountant who is an incorporated partner of Quantum Advisory Partners LLP, a professional services firm that provides accounting, tax, internal audit and consulting services to private and public companies in Canada and the United States. Prior to his involvement with Quantum Advisory Partners LLP, he was employed by Ernst & Young LLP.

Debbie Trustham
Ms. Trustham has extensive experience in the capital markets having acted in a licensed capacity at Canaccord Capital and for the past 4 years directly with a variety of public companies involved in mineral exploration and development in North America and Europe. Ms. Trustham has completed both the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and the Conduct & Practices Handbook through the Investment Dealers Association of Canada.

Bobbi Block
Ms. Block is an experienced marketing professional with specific expertise in public markets. She has completed the Investment Dealers Association (IDA) Canadian Securities Course and Conduct and Practices Course with Honours and prior to joining Skanderbeg, was employed by RBC Dominion Securities in a licensed role.

A major catalyst in the formation of Skanderbeg Capital was our flagship company, Tirex Resources Ltd.  
In 2007, Tirex became the first mover in a new era of mineral exploration and development in Albania. Now, after having invested more than $25 million into the exploration and development of the Mirdita Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide District, in northern Albania, the  company is fast tracking towards copper-gold production. 

Tirex’s unique transition into production comes via a Mining Partnership that involves no share dilution to Tirex shareholders.  Tirex has recently received approvals for six separate 25 year mining licenses in Mirdita and is targeting commercial production by the Q3 2013.

Tirex’s focus in Albania and subsequent success illustrates Skanderbeg’s capacity to identify countries and sectors that are rapidly emerging but have not yet been fully recognized by the mainstream investment community.   Albania’s economy is rapidly emerging with a stable democratic government.  The country has harmonized many of its laws to those of the European Union (EU) and EU membership is targeted for 2014.  Albania also officially joined NATO in 2009, has a flat corporate tax rate of 10% and its government is eager to attract and retain foreign investment.

Within the heart of Albania’s capital city, Tirana, lies Skanderbeg Square.  This city landmark pays homage to one of Albania’s most celebrated historical figures, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg, known as “Skanderbeg”.  The story of this heroic figure, the grand presence of Skanderbeg’s statue displayed in the center of the square, and the country’s welcoming acceptance of Tirex Resources immediately resonated with the founders of the company.

As Tirex evolved, key principals of Tirex continued to explore and act upon compelling opportunities, engaging in the identification, structuring and operating of multiple companies with highly prospective business opportunities around the world, and as such, Skanderbeg Capital Partners was born.