March 21, 2024 - The 2023-2024 SME Board met on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 with K. Marc Le Vier presiding in sunny Phoenix, AZ. All present were welcomed and a safety share was provided. Minutes from the Dec. 13, 2023 quarterly meeting were approved, actions taken by mail ballot were ratified, and all committee reports were approved. The Mega Issue centered on the future of the SME Awards Program. The board formed an ad hoc committee to evaluate and re-invigorate the program.

The SME Strategic Committees made their reports to the board. Association Growth Strategic Committee Chair Hassan Amini detailed key initiatives that the committee is working on including enhancing social media outreach efforts, increasing virtual section engagement, reaching new audiences, and growing corporate partners.

Industry Innovation Strategic Committee Chair Jordon Oxborrow reported on the progress of the pre-print proposal, and the plans to create an innovation exchange - a shark-tank style event designed to help companies collaboratively solve problems.

Industry Workforce Strategic Committee Chair David Bieber stated that the committee meets monthly and is focused on three initiatives with a goal to complete one each year. This year the committee developed a white paper directed at state departments of education on the importance of mining, formed a committee to collaborate with the Emily Dickenson Technical College CAREERS program, and established an initiative to create a social media campaign to attract people to and promote the industry.

Responsible Mining & Underground Construction Strategic Committee Chair Kwame Awuah-Offei noted the progress of the work toward creating a symposium on reducing carbon emissions, identifying permitting-related public documents that need to be updated, publishing technical resources for engaging indigenous groups during permitting in the U.S., and engaging the Sustainable Development Committee to collaborate on a sustainable development best practices.

SME Chief Financial Officer Michelle Kroeger reported on the outcomes of Fiscal Year 2023, and the first three months of Fiscal Year 2024. In summary, SME is in good financial health. The SME Board approved the 2023 Audit as recommended by the SME Audit Committee and presented by chair Resa Furey, and the SME Reserves Policy as presented by Finance Committee Chair Sam Shoemaker.

The membership update was given by SME Chief Operating Officer Melanie Penoyar-Perez. SME increased membership by 7.3 percent over the previous year with 2,822 new members. SME had a member retention of 85 percent, international membership represents 25 percent of total membership, and student membership is at an all-time high of 2,178.

The SME Board heard a report on SME partnerships, MOUs, and membership organizations from David Kanagy, SME Executive Director and CEO. The Board assigned the Association Growth Strategic Committee to review, evaluate, and recommend guidelines for future relationships.

Other items included brief reports on the SME representation at the National Academy Program and its program on industry workforce issues, the Fox News interview with Marc Le Vier regarding rare earth minerals, a new show planned with PBS and visits with the National Mining Association to discuss the potential return of the United States Bureau of Mines.

Le Vier acknowledged and thanked outgoing Past President Ronald Parratt, Directors Cat Joyner and Jerry Gauntt, and Board Intern Rich Wagner. Penoyar-Perez presented Kanagy with a plaque thanking him for his 20 years of service to SME. Incoming President Marc Herpfer was presented with the 2024 President’s Pin and the final meeting of the 2023/2024 SME Board of Directors was adjourned.

The 2024-2025 SME Board of Directors held their first meeting on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 with Marc Herpfer presiding. President Elect Bill Hancock, new directors Justin Anderson and Courtney Young and new board intern Nick Gow were welcomed to the table. Herpfer led a Mega Issue discussion on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) noting that everyone’s future will be impacted by a monumental paradigm shift in how everyone works and lives. SME staff will develop a report on our current security measures while the Industry Innovation Strategic Committee will continue their work on an AI symposium. More thought will be given to how SME can implement AI as a beneficial tool while controlling security concerns.

AIME President-Elect Steve Gardner provided an update regarding AIME activities. AIME contracted with Inventures, an association management company to take over management of the institute; this was completed in June 2023. Meetings Director Cori Knasinski reported on the preliminary results of the 2024 annual conference noting a final headcount of 6,992 registrants.

SME Foundation President Thomas Rauch reported on SMEF fundraising and programming activities including the new Teacher Workshop Program that provided 19 local teachers the opportunity to attend the MINEXECHANGE 2024 SME Annual Conference & Expo lectures, visit the exhibit hall, and collect handouts to take back to their classrooms. SMEF Fiscal Year goals include raising $1.4 million; $587,226 was raised in the first quarter. The SME Board approved a motion to accept the slate of 2024 SME Foundation Officers and Trustees. This adjourned the first meeting of the 2024-2025 SME Board of Directors.