Conference Program

U.S. Critical Minerals: Resources, Mining and Supply Chains

REGISTRATION (7:30am - 10:30am)

CONFERENCE PROGRAM (8:30am - 4:30pm)

8:30 - 9:00

SME, Green Energy and Challenges

Ron Parratt, SME President
9:00 - 9:30

Critical Minerals in the USA:What, Where, Minnesota

Dean Peterson, Chief Geologist, Big Rock Exploration
9:30 - 10:00

Poilcy vs Reality

Ryan Sistad, Executive Director, Better in Our Back Yard
10:00 - 10:30 BREAK / NETWORKING
10:30 - 11:00

Recovery of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals from Unconventional Domestic Resources

Mary Anne Alvin, Rare Earth Element Technology Manager, National Energy Technology Laboratory
11:00 - 11:30

Recycling, Capture, and Re-distribution of Critical Minerals

Rob Bergman, President & CEO, Exsolve Recycling Technologies
11:30 - 12:00

Projects by Designing with Natural Processes

Carolyn Dry, President, Designs by Natural Processes
12:00 - 1:00 LUNCH / NETWORKING
1:00 - 1:30

The Next Chapter: The Story of Iron Mining and its Role in Alternate Energy

Kristen Vake, Executive Director, Iron Mining Association of Minnesota
1:30 - 2:00

Mining Minnesota: The Future Starts Here

Julie Lucas, Executive Director, Mining Minnesota
2:00 - 2:30

Aggregate Sourcing for Critical Infrastructure Projects

Chris Braaten, Senior Petrographer/Geologist, American Engineering Testing
2:30 - 3:00 BREAK / NETWORKING
3:00 - 3:30

Why in Minnesota?

Don Elsenheimer, Senior Geologist, Minnesota DNR
3:30 - 4:00

Critical Mineral Resources of Minnesota - Hints from the Drill Core Library

Matt Carter, Mineral Potential Supervisor, Minnesota DNR
4:00 - 4:30

Metallic Mining in the Midwest – Look Eastward Minnesotans!

Andrea Martin, Lead Environmental Engineer, Foth

VENDOR RECEPTION (4:30pm - 6:00pm)

  • Join us after the conference for reception in appreciation of our exhibitors and sponsors, celebrating a return to in-person events