A rising global star, The Doe Run Company often sets the stage for the lead industry. The company secured several starring roles in 2008, earning top billing in two national educational television programs, as well as taking a bow in several safety competitions.
Classroom visits, community presentations, facility tours, education partnerships, professional development programs for educators – these are just some of the outreach initiatives offered by The Doe Run Company’s Minerals Education Program.
The reason: “Industry leaders must care enough to share their knowledge, skills and expertise to prepare today’s students to meet tomorrow’s needs,” said Rhonda Reed, executive secretary at the Buick Resource Recycling Division and an active Minerals Education contributor.
Although the metals market has ebbed and flowed, Doe Run’s employee base remains strong. Like the branches of a tree, entire families have spent careers with Doe Run, sharing the knowledge rooted within them for generations. For some, it’s tradition.
Tommy Dunlap, a driller at Doe Run’s Southeast Missouri Mining and Milling Division (SEMO), has mined with the company and its predecessors since 1968. A third-generation employee, Dunlap follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, whose mining roots can be traced back in decades. Dunlap readily shares his wisdom with newcomers and beginning miners. “When Doe Run hires new crewmen, I’m one of the first to tour them around, show them the ropes, and share all the dos and don’ts. I’ve watched a lot of people grow into great miners, and I’m proud to pass along what I’ve learned from previous generations.”
By Angie Nations
Some of the most advanced technologies on the planet, including computers and cell phones, get their start in Doe Run’s mines. We’re proud of what we do, and it’s rewarding to share our knowledge.
Here’s a look at just a few examples:
Our widely popular Minerals Education Program provides K-12 students with interactive opportunities to learn about the minerals we use in our everyday lives. In one program, for example, students learn about mining and minerals through “chocolate chip cookie mining.” In another, participants use minerals to create toothpaste.
Two hundred years ago, Herculaneum’s founding fathers likely had several conversations under shade trees overlooking the Mississippi River. Few could have predicted that the sleepy pioneer town of Herculaneum would become a thriving Missouri community, rich with heritage.
In 1808, the town boasted some 35 homes, a school house, post office, jail, inn and ferry stop. Situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Joachim Creek, and near lead smelting operations that produced ammunition, the town prospered as a shipping port. Lead sales ceased during the War of 1812, when the British blockaded sea routes. Overnight, the city and its businesses withered. Overlooking a ghost town, the trees stood, silhouetted against desolate streets.
Employees at BRRD gave back to their neighboring communities in 2007.
After transforming their work reality into daily snapshots, three women at Doe Run’s Southeast Missouri Mining and Milling Division (SEMO) are now published writers.
In 2007, author Joni Cole selected three female Doe Run employees for a 24-hour glimpse into the mining profession. Sharing their unique perspectives were Carrie Heiling, mine geologist; Vanessa Eckhoff, metallurgical engineer; and Lori Young, technical service engineer III.
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