It is late. I have worked hard all day–maybe solving a problem or two–and certainly strirring the intellectual pot. So let others speak. I repeat below an email I received today with which I agree–for I am involved in project that is suceeding because of the most brilliant exploration geologist I have been privileged to work for.
Dear Jack, with hundreds of junior exploration companies battling for market share and for significant discoveries, how can a company differentiate themselves as a company that can truly go the distance? “The ability to attract and hire top tier geology talent can make the difference between a company that soars from one that flops,” says Peter Schulhof, president, Westridge Resources, www.westridgeresources.com, a Canadian-based gold exploration company mining for gold in Western Mexico , who brought aboard John Dreier, PhD., PGeo, as Chief Geologist who has four decades of international experience including the discovery of the Piedras Verdes copper project in Mexico and exploration and discovery of the Little Bald Mountain and Green Springs open pit gold deposits in Nevada and the Mogollon epithermal gold/silver vein deposit in New Mexico.
Another Canadian CEO, Richard Whittall, Newstrike Capital, www.newstrikecapital.com, whose company is mining for gold and silver in Mexico’s Guerrero Gold Belt (GGB) snared Gillian Kearvell, as their Vice President of Exploration. Kearvell is now onto her third gold discovery in the GGB. “Her first gold discovery has now become the largest gold mine in Mexico; Goldcorp’s Los Filos Project,” says Whittall. Today, Newstrike holds the largest strategic mineral claims in the GGB district and with its new Ana Paula discovery, gold exploration in the district has heightened to a dramatically higher level.
American Vanadium, www.americanvanadium.com, which is developing North America’s only vanadium mine, recently brought aboard Ron Espell as VP, Environmental, who left Barrick Gold to join the company. “Given Ron’s tremendous depth of experience, we are excited to have him lead the permitting of our Gibellini Mine in Nevada,” said Bill Radvak, President and CEO of American Vanadium. “Together with Mike Doyle, our Executive Vice President, Operations, we are building a top class operating team. As our mine and corporate strategy is built on green energy, sustainability, and environmental leadership, it is critical that we continue to attract the key people to achieve our goals.” Previously Mr. Espell held roles within Barrick as Environmental Manager at Barrick’s Goldstrike Mine and Environmental Director for the Barrick Australia Pacific and African Regions. Mike Doyle has more than 30 years of domestic and international mining experience in surface and underground operations, most recently as Executive Vice President of Allied Nevada Gold Corp. Doyle held positions of Senior Vice President of Operations for Kinross Gold Corporation, Vice president and General Manager of Round Mountain Gold Corp, (Kinross-Barrick joint venture), General Manager of Gold Bar operations for Atlas Gold Corp.
We invite I THINK MINING to consider an article which explores how junior exploration companies compete with blue chip companies to snare “rock star” talent with access to these company’s top geology and environmental talent including American Vanadium’s Ron Espell and Mike Doyle, Newstrike Capital’s Gillian Kearvell and Westridge Resources’ John Dreier. What inspired them to align with these companies and what do they believe the future holds for them?
Regards, Nancy Tamosaitis Vorticom, Inc. 212.532.2208
