Executive Team

Peter Knollenberg
Robert D. Baca
John Barr
Donald Conrad
Kevin J. Conner
Martin Thorp

Peter Knollenberg, Chairman
Peter Knollenberg is President of Sea Hunt, Inc. and one of the founders and Chairman of Sovereign Exploration Associates International, Inc. He has been a participant in the energy sector for the past 25 years. He was head of the international department of a fuel oil supply and terminaling company in Houston, Texas that primarily serviced the offshore oil and gas industry. He then formed a natural gas exploration and production company that converted over two hundred abandoned oil wells into environmentally friendly coal seam gas wells. After selling his conventional oil and gas assets he form a clean burning coal technology company and in partnership with a major NY hedge fund is producing alternative fuel briquettes to improve the environment and help America be less dependent on foreign oil. America has the largest coal deposits with more BTU value than all of the world’s oil combined.

Mr. Knollenberg is Chairman of the Palm Beach Maritime Museum and Academy which is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt foundation. The Academy is a profitable A rated charter school. The Museum offers many extra curriculum activities to the academic community through its boats, including its America’s Cup defender sailing program, and two waterfront museum facilities. As the Texas Chairman Mr. Knollenberg helped launch Operation Raleigh, an international round the world non profit organization that fielded 3000 youngsters on expeditions from the ages of 17 to 24 with the support of 600 scientists, educators and staff. Prince Charles was Patron of Operation Raleigh and Walter Annenberg Honorary President. The expedition’s research vessel logged 43,000 miles visiting 23 countries. Mr. Knollenberg has been a member of the Explorer’s Club since 1984. Mr. Knollenberg attended boarding schools in Switzerland and France. He is an New York University graduate and has a certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard.

Robert D. Baca, President & CEO
Robert D. (Bob) Baca is Chief Executive Officer and one of the founders of Sovereign Exploration Associates International, Inc, and its wholly owned subsidiary Artifact, Recovery & Conservation, Inc. Prior to founding SVXA , Mr. Baca , has spent the last two years as the CFO, and more recently, as CEO of a privately held marine exploration company. Mr. Baca has 25 years of experience in accounting, healthcare consulting, business development, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures.

Mr. Baca holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Delaware, a Master’s degree in Taxation from Villanova University, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently enrolled as a PhD candidate in Organizational Leadership at Eastern University. He is also Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the State of Pennsylvania.

John Barr, ESQ
John J. Barr is the managing and founding partner of Palmer & Barr, P.C., a regional law firm located in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Palmer & Barr, P.C. is an A.V. rated law firm (highest rated) specializing in civil litigation. Mr. Barr has extensive litigation experience and has been trying cases for over twenty (20) years. He was recently recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as a “Super Lawyer” awarded to less than five percent (5%) of practicing attorneys in the five (5) county Philadelphia region.

Mr. Barr received his undergraduate degree in Accounting from LaSalle University and his Law Degree from Widener University.

Donald Conrad
Donald Conrad spent 13 years with Exxon Mobile Corporation, mostly as chief financial officer for Esso Europe in London. He also spent 18 years with Aetna Inc., the Hartford, CT.-based insurance firm, as chief investment officer and a member of the board. In 1988, he left Aetna to become CEO and half-owner of the National Hockey League’s Hartford Whalers. From 1995 to 2002 he was senior advisor to the president of the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Conrad is currently a board member of the Chevy Chase Bank in Washington, D.C.

Kevin J. Conner, MST, CPA
Kevin Conner is a founding director of Conner & Associates, PC, 110 South State Street, Suite 200, Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940. Prior to his tenure with the firm; he held senior level positions with an international bank and CPA firms in their respective audit, tax and litigation support departments. He has twenty years professional and business experience and is responsible for all work product produced by Conner & Associates, PC.

Mr. Conner holds a M.S. Taxation with Highest Honours degree (Philadelphia University), a B.S. Accounting (West Chester University of Pennsylvania), Certified Public Accountant (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania),and is a Senior Managing Director of TRC Litigation Consulting Group, LLC. Mr. Conner sits on several boards of directors of various businesses wherein he has been instrumental in the growth of several businesses along with significant participation in M&A transactions. He is a general partner of Westrock Partners, a New York based private equity firm.

Martin Thorp
Martin Thorp brings to Sovereign his extensive experience in strategic corporate finance mergers and acquisitions, both in the United States and England. He received his honors degree in Business Finance from Canterbury and is a Chartered Accountant (FCA) conversant in UK, US and International GAAP. He is a member of the UK Securities Institute (MSI) and is fully abreast of the securities regulations and reporting needs in the USA and Europe. He is an advisor to the Management Board of Grant Thornton.

Mr. Thorp has exceptional skills in accounting, finance and managing corporate growth. Thorp created Andersen Corporate Finance and built it over ten years to become a $1billion dollar run rate corporate finance strategy and restructuring business with over 1000 people. He was Global Managing Partner of Corporate Finance based in London and New York and was a member of the Management Board.