Techlink

John Xidos – President and Chief Executive Officer; Director and Officer
John Xidos is the founder of Techlink Entertainment International Ltd. (Techlink). A consummate entrepreneur and student of gaming, Mr. Xidos ventured into the gaming industry in the early 1980’s in a managerial role with a small-scale enterprise that he founded. Mr. Xidos quickly progressed into the video lottery market in the employ of a company that supplied video lottery products throughout Nova Scotia. Soon thereafter Mr. Xidos founded yet another company, Delta Games Inc. to capitalize on the rapid growth in the popularity of VLTs, during the early 1990s. Under his direction, Delta Games became the largest video lottery distributor in Nova Scotia, Canada in essentially an un-regulated marketplace. As Canadian provincial governments grew more comfortable with the notion of provincially regulated gaming Mr. Xidos began to explore opportunities within this market. With video lottery still in a growth stage and Internet gaming showing its potential, he applied his considerable talent and industry know-how to next generation gaming opportunities. In 1994, Mr. Xidos established Techlink. In just over a decade he has advanced Techlink from a relatively non-descript upstart to one of the fastest growing and most technologically innovative gaming products and service providers in the industry. And he has done so, despite the particular challenges of penetrating a regulated marketplace and navigating a complex and acutely demanding landscape.
 

John J. Chalmers – LLB, Chairman
Mr. Chalmers is a senior partner of Chalmers and Associates, a Canadian Gaming consulting firm.  He is a lawyer specializing in Gaming Law, and has spent over 30 years with the Ontario Public Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Ministry of the of the Attorney General Solicitor General in Ontario.

In 1987, the Ontario Government asked him to develop a regulatory framework for gaming in the Province of Ontario. He became Director-Entertainment Standards Branch with the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations where he supervised the $2 billion gaming industry. He was subsequently appointed Director of Policy and Aboriginal Gaming for Ontario’s casino projects. In this capacity, he was responsible for the development of the government policy on gaming; drafting legislation, including the Gaming Services Act and the Casino Control Act. Additional responsibilities included the role of Chief Government Negotiator for First Nations gaming in Canada.

He is a former Member of the Board of Directors of the North American Gaming Regulators Association; a Founding Member of the Canadian Gaming Regulators Association; a Member of the International Association of Gaming Attorneys; and works closely with representatives of major casino operations in both Canada and the United States. John will direct the qualification of jurisdictions, with particular emphasis on legal issues relevant to the analyses provided by Urban Systems for Techlink Entertainment.

David Read – Director
Mr. Read brings a broad base of business knowledge and expertise to the company with a highly successful track record in business.  Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he is has been the owner of Read Management Limited since 1970, a privately held company that owns and manages various companies and businesses.  It’s most significant activities are commercial real estate and venture capital.

Louis J. Maroun - Director
Mr. Maroun began his Real Estate career in 1982. He was instrumental in building Summit Real Estate Mutual Funds, the predecessor vehicle to Summit Reit. Summit R E Mutual Funds became a Real Estate Investment Trust in January of 1996 and grew dramatically since that time to become one of the largest REIT’s in Canada which was acquired by ING Real Estate in October 2006. In his capacity as ING Real Estate’s Executive Chairman, he oversees aspects of the Company’s operations including its strategic direction, key relationships, nationally and internationally and has primary responsibility for strategic transactions. Through his coaching and mentoring of a highly skilled and dedicated management team and staff, ING Real Estate will continue to grow through acquisition and development, firmly securing its leading position in the Canadian real estate market.  Mr. Maroun is a member of ING Real Estate Canada’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Maroun also holds board positions with two other public companies. He is a Board member and Lead Director of Acadian Timber Income Fund and Chair of its Governance and Nominating Committee and Chairman of InStorage Real Estate Investment Trust.

Mr. Maroun has long been a believer in the responsibility of the business community to contribute meaningfully to charitable and community endeavors. Over the years he has participated on a number of charitable boards, contributing financially; but more importantly contributing his time. He currently sits as National Chair of the MS Society of Canada and is a board member of the MS Research Foundation and a cabinet member of the new MS Research Capital Campaign. He is a board member and co-founder, with his wife Kathryn, of Casting for Recovery Canada, an organization that works directly with women who have or have had Breast Cancer. He is a Board Member of the ASF, an International Conservation Organization and is the Canadian Chair of its Development Committee. Over the past years he has participated in various charitable boards in the broad areas of medical health, conservation and the arts."
 

Peter MacNeil – Director
As Investment Manager of NSBI Venture Capital since inception in 2001, Peter brings more than 28 years of expertise in financing business and, more specifically, 10 years of venture capital experience. He is also a member of Canada’s Venture Capital & Private Equity Association and serves as a board member and observer on a number of investor companies.

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Peter holds a Commerce degree from Saint Mary’s University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) and is a graduate of Venture Capital Institute of the National Venture Capital Association in the U.S. He also holds certificates in various industry training courses including the Institute of Corporate Directors Board Effectiveness Program. In his spare time, Peter can be found on the green enjoying a round of golf and or at the rink coaching competitive curling.