Retired Vice Chairman, Cal Dive International
S. James Nelson, Jr. joined our Board of Directors in August 2004. Prior to joining the ION Board, Mr. Nelson was a founding shareholder, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Chairman and a Director of Cal Dive International, Inc., a marine contractor and operator of offshore oil and gas properties and production facilities. From 1985 to 1988, Mr. Nelson was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Diversified Energies, Inc., a NYSE-traded company with $1 billion in annual revenues and the former parent company of Cal Dive. From 1980 to 1985, Mr. Nelson served as Chief Financial Officer of Apache Corporation, an oil and gas exploration and production company. From 1966 to 1980, Mr. Nelson was employed with Arthur Andersen & Co. where, from 1976 to 1980, he was a partner serving on the firm's worldwide oil and gas industry team. Mr. Nelson also currently serves on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of Oil States International, Inc. (a NYSE-listed diversified oilfield services company), Quintana Maritime Limited (a NASDAQ-listed company owning and operating international dry-bulk vessels) and W&T Offshore, Inc. (a NYSE-listed oil and natural gas exploration and production company). Mr. Nelson, who is also a Certified Public Accountant, is Chairman of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.
Mr. Nelson received a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Accounting from Holy Cross College and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard University.
