The Edmonton Arena District is being led by a Katz Group project team and supported by external consultants, including Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG). The project team is working closely with all levels of government, potential development partners, suppliers and the full range of community groups as the project moves forward.

Project Leadership

Robert (Bob) Black | Project Lead

Bob joined the Katz Group as Executive Vice President, Sports and Entertainment in November 2009 to manage the continued development of the company's sports and entertainment business, including the proposed development of an entertainment and sports district. Prior to joining Katz Group, Bob spent 25 years with Brownlee LLP, a highly regarded Alberta law firm based in Edmonton, where he led Brownlee's litigation department and sat for many years on the firm's management committee. A partner at the firm for the last 20 years, Bob was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2005 and is a former sessional instructor at the University of Alberta Law School. He is a member of the Alberta Bar Association and the NWT Bar Association.

James Low | Planning and Development

James has 37 years of planning and land development experience in Alberta and British Columbia. Over his career, he has worked with municipal government as a planning consultant and in the private development industry. James also brings deep management experience and participation in a broad range of planning and development projects, including inner city revitalization, downtown improvement programs, suburban planning and commercial, industrial and residential policy planning, subdivision, zoning and development work. James holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Alberta. He lives in Edmonton with his family.

Blaine Mytruk | Finance

Blaine is a chartered accountant and brings nearly 30 years of business and accounting experience to the team. He has been with the Katz Group for 12 years and has participated in the successful growth of many aspects of the organization, including pharmacy and real estate development.

Blaine has worked in a number of industries, including public accounting, mining and telecommunications. He has also been involved with a variety of disciplines in his roles, including accounting, finance, administration, information technology and enterprise systems, operations, business development, legal and human resources.

Born in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, Blaine has lived in Edmonton for 45 years. Married with three children, he plays competitive hockey and coaches two of his children. Blaine is the past president of Financial Executives International (Edmonton Chapter) and past president of a non-denominational seniors drop-in centre.

Steve Hogle I Communications

Steve is a life long Edmontonian and has a great passion for the city. His 30 years in communications have included positions as the Director of News and Public Affairs at CTV Edmonton and as Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures.

Steve has a long record of community service, including sitting on the Board of Ronald McDonald House and the City of Edmonton's Salute to Excellence committee, as well as serving as a mentor at NorQuest College. He has also volunteered further afield, documenting Youth for Christ's work in Burundi, Africa. Steve studied English at the University of Illinois and Radio and Television Communications at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Mischa Kowall | Associate Counsel

Prior to joining the Katz Group, Mischa spent time in London, UK, as an associate in the finance department of the law firm Latham & Watkins. Mischa has a broad range of legal experience, with specific expertise in structured and leveraged finance transactions. Before joining Latham, he worked in Toronto as an associate in the securities group of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP.

Mischa holds a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Queen's University and a Master of Economics from the University of Calgary. He has been called to the Bar in Alberta, Ontario and England. Born in Vancouver and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Mischa spent summers in Pine Lake, Alberta.

Katz Group

Daryl Katz | Chairman

Daryl Katz is the Chairman of the Katz Group and owner of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers, the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League and the Edmonton Capitals of the Golden Baseball League. Born and raised in Edmonton, he founded the Katz Group in 1990, which today is one of Canada's largest privately owned companies and among the largest chain drugstore companies in North America.

In October 2007, Daryl was named a member of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation's (AIMCo) inaugural board of directors. AIMCo is one of the largest and most sophisticated investment managers in the country, with more than $70 billion in assets held in a number of funds invested globally across diverse asset classes.

With a wide range of charitable activities, Daryl is recognized as a leading philanthropist in Edmonton and beyond. In 2003, he was appointed to the Premier's Council of Alberta's Promise, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of Alberta's children and youth. He is also a member of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and was Co-Chair of the University of Alberta's "Campaign 2008" - the largest fundraising campaign in the university's history.

John Karvellas | Executive Vice President and General Counsel

John has significant experience in corporate law, corporate finance, major corporate acquisitions, real estate acquisition and development, general corporate and commercial matters. Born and raised in Edmonton, he built several private legal practices prior to joining the Katz Group in 2001.

John holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Alberta. He is a member of the Alberta and Canadian Bar Associations and was appointed Queen's Counsel of Alberta in 2000.

Paul Marcaccio | Chief Financial Officer

Paul oversees all operations and finance functions, including the sourcing and deployment of capital, corporate finance and corporate development activities, as well as the overall strategy and direction of investee companies and of the Katz Group as a whole.

Previously, Paul was a Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Managing Director of PricewaterhouseCoopers Securities Inc, the firm's corporate finance arm. He has over 28 years experience advising, building and leading businesses through strategic growth and development. Paul was also National Leader of the Consumer/Retail & Healthcare industry groups and developed a leading business unit advising large national and international companies in these sectors.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts, Economics and a Masters of Business Administration. He is also a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and Alberta.