Mining’s old guard needs strong medicine
A new report details subpar investor returns in the mining industry over the last decade, particularly big cap diversified companies which have not adapted to new realities.
Passport Potash Inc. (TSX VENTURE:PPI)(OTCQX:PPRTF) is pleased to announce that it has engaged Upstream Consulting, Inc. (http://www.upstreamdc.com) to assist with key governmental relations and coordination between Passport Potash, Federal, State, and Local policy makers effective June 13, 2011. Upstream Consulting, Inc. is led by Matthew J. Salmon and has an experienced team of seasoned Washington government relations professionals who bring widely diverse backgrounds, relationships with decision makers in the government, and the communications skills needed to support the ongoing development of Passport Potash’s Holbrook basin project. Upstream Consulting focuses on the development of intelligent, strategic and highly effective messaging channels to assure that key decision makers in the Congress and the Administration understand the needs of their clients. In addition, the broad international experience of the Upstream Consulting team provides unique access for clients to the substantial expertise needed in navigating the global policy arena.
Congressman Salmon has over twenty years experience in both the public and private sector. He has emphasized managing relations at all levels of government and in the process has garnered significant media relations experience. Salmon began his career in public service as an Arizona State Senator, a position in which he served from 1991 to 1995. While in the Senate, he served as the Assistant Majority Leader and chaired the Rules Committee. From 1995 to 2001, Salmon was the U.S. Congressman for Arizona, serving on the International Relations, Education, Small Business, and Science Committees. He also served for six years on the Helsinki Commission and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) where he developed myriad and key relationships with parliamentary members from OSCE. He was an active and influential member of both those organizations. While in Congress, he led several U.S. Congressional delegations to China to improve trade relations and bilateral relationships. He was the only Member of the U.S. Congress in America’s history who speaks Mandarin Chinese. This expertise served him well as one of the leading advocates of a positive U.S. and China relationship.
Also on Upstream’s Team and working on Passport’s Project is Brian Tassinari. Mr. Tassinari has 15 years experience in the public and private sectors. Before joining Upstream Consulting, he worked as a lobbyist and communications consultant with the firm Williams & Associates. Previously, he served as Director of Communications for the President of the Arizona State Senate. Mr. Tassinari’s career in the political arena began in 1995 when he joined the staff of U.S. Senator William V. Roth, Jr., in Washington, D.C., where he served as Deputy Press Secretary for two years and Press Secretary for another two years. In addition to being the Senator’s spokesman in the local and national media, Mr. Tassinari wrote speeches and position papers for Senator Roth. He also worked on legislation relating to transportation and telecommunications issues and gained expertise on complex subjects such as tax law, Social Security, and Medicare/Medicaid.
Some of their clients include:
General Motors, Cisco, Prudential Financial, El Paso Pipeline Group, Gas Technology Institute, Arizona State University, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Arizona Healthcare Association, Arizona Professional Firefighters Association.
Passport President Joshua Bleak commented: “We are very pleased to have Congressman Salmon and Upstream Consulting onboard the Passport team. Their expertise and experience on the state, federal, and international level will be instrumental in advancing Passports endeavors and creating mutually beneficial relationships with State and Federal policy makers.”
Read the full news release here.
