Jayson Ripke joins SME Board of Directors
On March 1, 2023, Jayson Ripke joined the SME Board of Directors (BOD) for the start of a three-year term.
Ripke joined SME as a student member and has been involved with the Society for more than 26 years and has attended SME Annual Meetings consecutively since 1997.
Among his past SME involvement Ripke has served as MPD Pyrometallurgy Unit Committee Chair 1998; as member of the Young Leaders Committee from 2004-2006; SME’s MPD Executive Committee starting 2005 through and including 2012 MPD Chair; SME’s Structure & Governance and Education & Professional Development Strategic Committees and as a Member-at-large for SME local St. Louis Section. He has often chaired and presented papers at MPD and other technical sessions at annual and local section meetings.
Ripke recently spoke with SME about his path to the BOD.
SME: What are your goals as a member of the SME Board?
Ripke: My goals as an SME Board member are to support SME in its strategic goals for industry innovation, as the liaison for that strategic committee and to support the committee chair. SME is the venue of first choice for disseminating research leading to innovation and encouraging its applications in mining and underground construction. In addition, I am particularly interested in working to improve the perception of mining. SME has recently made strides with its Jobs of the Future initiative, and I recommend that you watch the videos on-line.
SME: What advice do you have for someone just joining SME or the mining industry?
Ripke: Get involved by networking with other SME members. Think “with the end in mind.” Ask yourself, where do you want to be in your career and with SME in 20 years? And work with mentors to plan your path to get there; because 20 years will sneak up on you sooner than you realize. Take advantage of the SME Mentor program as a protégé and eventually as a mentor yourself, and make sure you have a variety of additional mentors.
SME: What are your thoughts about the near-term future of SME?
Ripke: MINEXCHANGE 2023 SME Annual Conference & Expo was very upbeat with excellent attendance and engagement. SME is doing very well with membership participation and is financially sound due to great leadership for at least the past 20-years. SME plays a key-role in serving the mining and minerals industry.
SME: What are your thoughts on state of the mining industry?
Ripke: The state of the mining industry is healthy and getting stronger. Societal trends such as the green- and hydrogen-economy are strengthening the mining industry’s future by increasing the demand for mining and minerals. And I believe that the public perception of mining is starting to improve.
