Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.29

                            NORTH COAST ENERGY, INC.
                         2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK BONUS PLAN

       North Coast Energy, Inc. hereby adopts a Stock Bonus Plan for the benefit
of certain persons and subject to the terms and provisions set forth below.

       1. DEFINITIONS. The following terms shall have the same meanings set
forth below whenever used in this instrument:

       (a) The word "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

       (b) The word "Committee" shall mean the Stock Option and Compensation
Committee appointed by the Board.

       (c) The words "Common Stock" shall mean shares of the Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Company.

       (d) The word "Company" shall mean North Coast Energy, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and any successor thereto that shall maintain this Plan.

       (e) The words "Key Employee" shall mean any person who is a high level
executive officer or other valuable managerial, marketing or technical employee
of either the Company or any Subsidiary and who does not own beneficially 5% or
more of the Common Stock.

       (f) The word "Plan" shall mean this instrument, the North Coast Energy,
Inc. 2000 Employee Stock Bonus Plan, as it is originally adopted and as it may
be amended hereafter.

       (g) The word "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation, partnership or
other business entity at least 50% of whose voting equity securities are owned
directly or indirectly by the Company.

       2. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN. The purpose of the Plan is to provide Key
Employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries with greater incentive to serve
and promote the interests of the Company and its shareholders. The premise of
the Plan is that, if Key Employees acquire a proprietary interest in the
business of the Company or increase such proprietary interest as they may
already hold, then the incentive of such Key Employee to work toward the
Company's continued success will be commensurately increased. Accordingly, the
Company will, from time to time during the effective period of the Plan, issue
to such Key Employees as may be selected to participate in the Plan shares of
Common Stock in consideration of their prior service to the Company or its
Subsidiaries on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Plan.

       3. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall become effective on
February 1, 2001.

       4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee. The Committee shall consist of no fewer than two (2) persons, who
shall be designated by the Board and shall be non-employee directors. A majority
of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of a majority of the
members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or acts

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approved in writing by all of the members, shall be acts of the Committee.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full
and final authority in its absolute discretion:

       (a) To select the Key Employees who will receive bonuses of Common
Stock;

       (b) To determine the number of shares of Common Stock issued as a bonus
to any Key Employee;

       (c) To determine the time when bonuses of Common Stock will be paid;

       (d) To adopt, amend and rescind such rules and regulations as, in the
Committee's opinion, may be evidenced in the administration of the Plan; and

       (e) To construe and interpret the Plan, the rules and regulations and the
instruments evidencing bonuses granted under the Plan and to make all of the
determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

       Any decision made or action taken by the Committee in connection with the
administration, interpretation and implementation of the Plan and of its rules
and regulations, shall, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive and
binding upon all participants under the Plan and upon any person claiming under
or through such a participant. Neither the Committee nor any of its members
shall be liable for any act taken by the Committee pursuant to the Plan. No
member of the Committee shall be liable for the act of any other member.

       5. PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR BONUSES. Subject to the restrictions herein
contained, bonuses may be granted from time to time in the discretion of the
Committee only to such Key Employees, as designated by the Committee, whose
initiative and efforts contribute or any be expected to contribute to the
continued growth and future success of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a Key Employee who renounces in writing
any right he may have to receive bonuses under the Plan shall not be eligible to
receive any bonus under the Plan. No bonus shall be granted to any Key Employee
during any period of time when he or she is on leave of absence.

       6. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of the next
succeeding paragraph of this Section 6, the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock which may be issued as bonuses under the Plan shall be 400,000 shares of
Common Stock. Either treasury or authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock,
or both, in such amounts, within the maximum limits of the Plan, as the
Committee shall from time to time determine, may be so issued.

       In the event that subsequent to the date of adoption of the Plan by the
Board the authorized number of shares of Common Stock should, as a result of a
stock split, stock dividend, combination or exchange of shares, exchange for
other securities, reclassification, reorganization, redesignation, merger,
consolidation, recapitalization or other such change, be increased or decreased
or changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of stock
or other securities of the Company or of another corporation, then there shall
automatically be substituted for each share of Common Stock available for
additional bonuses under the Plan the number and kind of shares of stock or
other securities into which each

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outstanding share of Common Stock shall be changed or for which each such share
of Common Stock shall be exchanged.

       7. AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN. The Committee is authorized to interpret the
Plan and from time to time adopt any rules and regulations for carrying out the
Plan that it may deem advisable. Subject to the approval of its Board, the
Committee may at any time amend, modify, suspend or terminate the Plan.

       8. INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION, APPROVALS AND LISTING. The Committee may
condition the issuance of a bonus hereunder upon receipt of an investment
representation from the participant which shall be substantially similar to the
following:

"The participant agrees that any shares of Common Stock of North Coast Energy,
Inc. which he or she may acquire by virtue of this bonus shall be acquired for
investment purposes only and not with a view to distribution or resale;
provided, however, that this restriction shall become inoperative in the event
these shares of Common Stock of North Coast Energy, Inc. which are subject to
this bonus shall be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
in the event that North Coast Energy, Inc. is otherwise satisfied that the offer
or sale of the shares of Common Stock which are subject to this bonus may
lawfully be made without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended."

       The Company shall not be required to issue any certificates for shares of
Common Stock awarded under the Plan prior to (i) obtaining any approvals from
any governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its sole discretion,
determine to be necessary or advisable, (ii) the admission of such shares to
listing on any national securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock
may be listed, (iii) completion of any registration or other qualification of
the shares of Common Stock under any state or federal law or ruling or
regulations of any governmental body which the Committee shall, in its sole
discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable, or the determination by the
Committee, in its sole discretion, that any registration or other qualification
of the shares of Common Stock is not necessary or advisable, and (iv) obtaining
an investment representation from the participant in the form set forth above or
in such other form as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine to
be adequate.

        9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

       (a) NO RIGHT TO BE EMPLOYED, ETC. Nothing in the Plan or the award of any
bonus under the Plan shall confer upon any participant any right to continue in
the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary, or to serve as a member of the Board,
or to be entitled to receive any remuneration or benefits not set forth in the
Plan or to interfere with or limit either the right of the Company or a
Subsidiary to terminate his employment at any time or the right of the
shareholders of the Company to remove him as a member of the Board with or
without cause.

       (b) SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST. The Plan shall be binding upon the successors
and assigns of the Company.

       (c) NO LIABILITY UPON DISTRIBUTION OF SHARES. The liability of the
Company under the Plan and any distribution of shares of Common Stock made
hereunder is limited to the obligations set forth herein with respect to such
distribution and no term or provision of the Plan shall be construed to impose
any liability on

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the Company or the Committee in favor of any person with respect to any loss,
cost or expense which the person may incur in connection with or arising out of
any transaction in connection with the Plan.

       (d) EXPENSES. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by
the Company.

       (e) CAPTIONS. The captions and section numbers appearing in the Plan are
inserted only as a matter of convenience. They do not define, limit, construe or
describe the scope or intent of the provisions of the Plan.

       (f) NUMBER. The use of a singular or plural herein shall not be
restrictive as to number and shall be interpreted in all cases as the context
may require.

       (g) GENDER. The use of the feminine, masculine or neuter pronoun shall
not be restrictive as to gender and shall be interpreted in all cases as the
context may require.

       10. TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall terminate on February 1,
2011, and thereafter no bonuses may be issued under the Plan.

       11. GOVERNING LAW. The Plan shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and any applicable federal
law.

       IN WITNESS WHERE, North Coast Energy, Inc., by its appropriate officer
duly authorized, has executed this instrument this FIRST day of August, 2000.

                                        NORTH COAST ENERGY, INC.

                                        By:/s/ Omer Yonel
                                           ----------------------------------
                                           Omer Yonel,
                                           Chief Executive Officer<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.5.4

                               ADVISORY AGREEMENT

         THIS ADVISORY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into effective as
of May 1, 2001, by and between Aperian, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Robert Gibbs ("Advisor" or "Mr. Gibbs");

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, the Company wishes to continue to benefit from the advice,
experience and knowledge of Mr. Gibbs; and

         WHEREAS, Advisor is willing to advise the Company, upon the terms and
conditions contained herein;

         NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the compensation to be paid
Mr. Gibbs under this Agreement and the mutual promises, covenants, and
undertakings contained herein, the Company and Advisor agree as follows:

         1. Independent Contractor: There shall be created pursuant to this
Agreement an independent contractor relationship between the Company and Advisor
whereby Mr. Gibbs shall supply advisory services to the Company in accordance
with and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

         2. Term: The term of this Agreement shall be for a six-month period
ending October 31, 2001, At the option of the Company, the term of this
Agreement may be extended on a month to month basis.

         3. Services: During the term of this Agreement, and subject to his
reasonable availability, Mr. Gibbs shall provide such advisory services as the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") or the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company (the "CEO") may reasonably request or that Mr. Gibbs believes
might be valuable to the Company, including assisting the Board and the CEO in
such strategic and financial matters, acquisition strategy or other projects as
the Board or the CEO deems appropriate. The method of performance, hours
utilized and other details of Advisor's services hereunder shall be within Mr.
Gibbs's sole control.

         4.       Compensation and Expense Reimbursement:

                  A. General Services Fee: As compensation for his services
during the term of this Agreement, Mr. Gibbs shall receive a monthly fee,
payable on the 15th of each month, beginning May 15, 2001, in the amount of
$25,000.

                  B. Expenses: The Company shall promptly reimburse Advisor for
all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in performance of his
services hereunder, provided that such expenses are submitted to the Company
(with proper supporting documentation) in accordance with the Company's policy
then in effect for employee expense reports.
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         5. Confidential Information: Advisor and the Company acknowledge that
the Company's business is highly competitive and that the Company may, from time
to time, provide Advisor with access to confidential information. Advisor agrees
that he will not make any unauthorized disclosure of confidential business
information obtained from the Company ("Confidential Information"), or make any
unauthorized use thereof. However, Advisor shall be permitted to disclose
Confidential Information as is required by law, including deposition or trial
testimony pursuant to subpoena, provided that if he is requested or required (by
oral question, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena,
civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any Confidential
Information, if reasonably possible under the circumstances as determined in
good faith, he will promptly notify the other party of such request or
requirement so that the other party may seek an appropriate protective order or
waive compliance with the provisions of this Agreement.

         In the absence of a protective order or the receipt of a waiver
hereunder, or in the good faith determination of Advisor that time is of the
essence, Advisor shall obtain legal counsel, and if Advisor and/or his counsel
in good faith believe that Advisor is compelled to disclose the Confidential
Information or be exposed to liability for contempt or suffer other censure or
penalty, Advisor may disclose only such Confidential Information to the party
compelling disclosure as is required by law, as determined by Advisor on advice
of counsel. Advisor further agrees that he will cooperate with the Company in
its efforts to obtain a protective order or other reliable assurance that
confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information. All
reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses incurred by Mr. Gibbs in obtaining
legal representation pursuant to his obligations under this paragraph shall be
paid by the Company.

         The obligations of the parties set forth in this paragraph 5 shall
apply during the term of this Agreement and shall survive for one year following
the termination of this Agreement.

         6. Capacity and Benefits: At all times while serving under this
Agreement, Advisor shall be an independent contractor and not a common-law
employee. Therefore, except to the extent provided in any other agreement
between Advisor and the Company, Advisor shall not, during the term of this
Agreement, be entitled to participate in the Company's benefit plans and
programs for its employees. Further, Advisor will in no way be considered to be
an agent, employee, or servant of the Company. Advisor shall have no authority
to bind the Company without receiving specific written authority to do so. It is
not the purpose or intention of this Agreement or the parties to create, and the
same shall not be construed as creating, any partnership, partnership relation,
joint venture, agency, or employment relationship.

         7.       Termination:

                  A. Disability: If Advisor becomes unable to provide advisory
services hereunder during the term of this Agreement by reason of illness or
incapacity, then this Agreement shall terminate, and Advisor shall be entitled
to receive an amount equal to $150,000 minus the fees previously paid under
paragraph 4A hereof.

                  B. Death: If Advisor dies during the term of this Agreement,
then this Agreement shall terminate, and Advisor shall be entitled to receive an
amount equal to $150,000 minus the fees previously paid under paragraph 4A
hereof.

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                  C. Expiration of the Term: This Agreement shall terminate
automatically and without notice upon the expiration of the term provided in
paragraph 2 hereof.

                  D. Effect of Termination: Upon termination of this Agreement,
all of the parties' obligations, other than the confidentiality obligations
under paragraph 5 hereof and the Company's obligation to pay any unpaid fees or
unreimbursed expenses under this Agreement, shall terminate. The confidentiality
obligations under paragraph 5 hereof, shall survive termination of this
Agreement as set forth in such paragraph and Exhibit.

         8. Notices: For purposes of this Agreement, notice, demands and all
other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by United States
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows:

         If to Advisor:
                                            Mr. Robert Gibbs
                                            46 Downs Lake Circle
                                            Dallas, Texas 75230

         If to the Company:
                                            Mr. Peter Lorenzen
                                            General Counsel
                                            Aperian, Inc.
                                            1800 Valley View Lane
                                            Suite 400
                                            Dallas, Texas  75234

or to such other address as either party may furnish to the other in writing in
accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective
only upon receipt.

         9. Successor Obligations and Assignment: The rights and obligations of
the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon its successors and assigns. Advisor may assign any rights accruing to him
under this Agreement to any affiliated entity with the consent of the Company,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         10. Amendment: This Agreement may not be modified except by an
agreement in writing executed by both the Company and Advisor.

         11. Governing Laws: This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by
the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to principles of conflicts
of law.

         12. Validity: In the event that any portion or provision of this
Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the other portions or
provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.

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         13. Counterparts: This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         14. Effect of Agreement: The terms of this Agreement shall supersede
any obligations and rights of the Company and Advisor respecting advisory
services. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as permitting either
party hereto to directly or indirectly benefit from any confidential business
information obtained from the other party during the period that Mr. Gibbs was
an employee, officer or director of the Company.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the 4th
day of May, 2001, to be effective as of May 1, 2001.

                                             APERIAN, INC.

                                             By:  /s/ Peter E. Lorenzen
                                                  Peter E. Lorenzen
                                                  Vice President and Secretary

                                                  /s/ Robert Gibbs
                                                  Robert Gibbs

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