Based in Calgary, Alberta, North American Helium currently controls over 3.1 million acres of helium mineral rights in North America. The helium exploration and production company was founded in 2013 by its CEO, Nicholas Snyder, on the belief that grassroots helium exploration is essential in North America.

North American Helium, a Calgary-based private helium exploration and production company, announced today that Marlon McDougall, a 30-year veteran of oil and gas industry operations, has been appointed President & Chief Operating Officer of the Company.

There’s a major helium shortage affecting a host of industries — and it’s not clear how anyone is going to solve it.

Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe. Here on Earth, supplies are shrinking and prices skyrocketing.