Can you introduce yourself and explain your role in the company?
I studied Mining Engineering at Colorado School of Mines, located in Golden, Colorado. I grew up in Denver and have always been interested in science and engineering, which led me to that university, very well known in those fields. After graduating, I started working at Sandvik, a well-known company in the mining sector, especially in drilling and some mobile crushing. It was a very formative stage: I traveled a lot, practically lived on the road, and moved to the Atlanta area.
Later, I worked at a mine as a mining engineer until I joined ME Elecmetal. I was hired by someone I had worked with before who was then part of the team. I returned to the supplier role, something I really enjoy.
Outside of work, I love visiting places. I am a fan of national parks: in the US there are more than 400 and I have visited about 350. I enjoy hiking, and my favorite park is Death Valley in California. It’s huge, larger than some states in the country, and has an incredible variety of landscapes: deserts, mountains, volcanic craters, very high and very low areas. I live alone and have a cat who is about to turn 12 years old.
What attracted you to ME Elecmetal?
When I was contacted, I had been working for several years as an engineer at a single mine. I liked the work, but I needed a change: always being in the same place was starting to be exhausting.
I joined ME Elecmetal as a field technician, focused on scanning, which got me back on the road and in contact with different sites. Over time, the role evolved according to needs, adding tasks such as ferromagnetic scanning. Today the position has grown and transformed into a Field Engineering role, with the goal of adding more services directly at our clients’ facilities.
I travel a lot throughout the United States and Canada. I am based in Tucson, Arizona, which allows me to be close to the Tempe foundry.
How would you describe the culture at ME Elecmetal?
In my experience, working at a mine can involve quite tough management styles, with marked hierarchies and little listening. It can be very exhausting.
ME Elecmetal is the complete opposite: there is open dialogue among everyone, regardless of role. Everyone can raise their hand, share ideas, and propose improvements. There is no rigid structure perceived, but a team where everyone contributes. There is also a very social environment: events, celebrations, meals… and people really participate. It is common to see both employees with many years in the company and new people, and everyone seems happy. There is a sense of belonging, where you feel heard, valued, and part of the team.
What benefits do you value most about working here?
One of the factors I value most is the flexibility to organize my trips. I can make decisions thinking about myself and the team, which greatly facilitates logistics. I also highlight the health insurance; it is affordable and easy to use.
Additionally, there are other details that add up: safety programs, tools, materials… and a high commitment from everyone on these issues. That is not found in just any company.
“I see there is increasing willingness to innovate and add services, beyond just perfecting what we already do. That motivates everyone. Many times, simply by observing or listening at a mine, we identify something that can be improved or adapted to make the client's life easier. And that makes the difference”
Personal anecdotes about teamwork, achievements, or company events:
I work very closely with the managers, who identify opportunities in the field. I do the analysis and apply reverse engineering to develop solutions. That’s how we start the process that can lead to creating a new product.
We have achieved very interesting things: from blow bars to apron feeder flights and other products we didn’t manufacture before. We can see how something we scanned turns into a concrete solution that serves the client. Thinking that this didn’t exist before and now it does is very rewarding.
Also, I see there is increasing willingness to innovate and add services beyond perfecting what we already do. That motivates everyone. Many times, simply by observing or listening at a mine, we identify something that can be improved or adapted to make the client’s life easier. And that makes the difference.
How does your team contribute to solving challenges in the mining industry?
The key is listening: to operators, to field personnel. It’s not just about arriving with a predefined idea, but about talking, observing, and understanding. That openness allows discovering real needs.
Thus, we find areas where we can intervene, solve problems, optimize processes, or improve what already exists. It all starts with that attitude: being attentive, available, and willing to collaborate.
What excites you most about the future of ME Elecmetal?
What excites me most is the drive to expand and grow. That opens many opportunities to research, analyze, and propose new solutions.
It’s stimulating to be in a company that is not satisfied, that wants to do things better, grow, and go further. That generates positive energy, an environment where you can see there is a vision for the future, new challenges… and you want to be part of that. That is my job, and I love it.
