High Plains Gas Inc., Gillette, Wyo., (OTCBB: HPG) reports that three new independent members, Al Smith, Gary Davis and Cordell Fonnesbeck, will join its board, effective immediately. With these appointments, the size of the board is increasing from two to five members, three of whom are independent.

Al Smith is an oil industry veteran, having worked in the sector for more than four decades. He is currently serving as a geological consultant to two Japanese companies and a Houston based oil company. From 1998 to 2003, he was the vice president, international business development for EEX Corp., where he was responsible for evaluating oil exploration and production projects in Asia and Australia. Prior to his time with EEX, he worked for Pennzoil Exploration in a similar capacity where he oversaw the evaluation of exploration and development projects throughout the region and was responsible for developing and managing relationships with national oil companies and financial institutions. Smith has also held positions with Inexco Oil Co., Lear Petroleum Co., Davis Oil Co., Mountain Fuel Supply Co., as well as Amoco Production Co.

Gary Davis, the president and founder of Kahuna Ventures LLC, 1999, a natural gas processing, treating and project-consulting firm, has more than 32 years in the natural gas space. Kahuna Ventures currently has 40 employees, including 20 engineers and seven field construction managers or inspectors. Previous to founding Kahuna, Gary worked at Western Gas Resources Inc. for more than 14 years. His tenure included holding such positions as corporate controller; senior vice president of engineering and production, environmental and safety; VP, southern region; and VP, engineering and environmental. During his time with Western Gas, he assisted in growing a 50-employee company into a major independent mid-stream corporation with more than 950 employees and a gross income in excess of $1 billion. He has extensive experience in all project functions including due diligence, site and right of way acquisition, legal, environmental and permitting, safety and operations. He is also a respected expert witness and public speaker, and is the holder of two industry-related patents.

Cordell Fonnesbeck is the owner and founder of his own public accounting firm, Cordell Fonnesbeck, since 1991. It is located in Casper Wyoming, and caters to small and medium sized clients in the Casper and central Wyoming area with an emphasis in tax compliance, tax planning and accounting services. He has practiced accounting for more than 39 years. From 2005 to 2009, he was the accountant for High Plains Gas LLC, which was the predecessor to High Plains Gas.