As most SME members are aware from my column in the April 2024 issue of Mining Engineering, Dave Kanagy has announced his intention to retire as SME Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer in March 2026. We all know that it will be a difficult task to fill his position, and we thank him for his years of service to the Society. Currently, SME leadership has developed a robust plan to begin this important transition and maintain SME as the greatest professional Society on this planet.

Dave$rsquo:s early notification has allowed for almost two years to ensure a successful search for the next SME executive director. The SME leadership has initiated the formation of a search committee consisting of various members with diverse backgrounds to represent the Society and to understand the requirements needed in a new leader for our search.

More importantly, each committee member understands the extensive personal commitment of time and resources that will be required during this search.

In July, the search committee first met in person to outline the details of the search process with timelines and deliverables. The roles and responsibilities of the committee, the SME executive director job description, the advertising schedule and the interview process were outlined and agreed upon by the committee.

Committee chair Mary Korpi wrote, “I am honored to serve as committee chairperson and appreciate the commitment of the SME members who have agreed to serve with me. They include Bill Hancock, Marc Herpfer, Catherine “Cat” Joyner, Marc LeVier, Aaron Noble, Tom Rauch, Eric Sherada, Debra Struhsacker and Paul Schmall. We are also fortunate to have the assistance of Karin Harrington, SME director of human resources, throughout the process. In September, the executive director job advertisement will be placed in several appropriate publications and will run through at least the end of October. My commitment going forward is to provide brief updates to the SME membership as the recruitment search proceeds throughout this year and into 2025.”

There comes a time when profound change touches us all … yet, we must still continue to move forward into the future.

So, our next leader must first and foremost ensure the continuing strength, prominence and vitality of SME, and its role in our society at large, by displaying the highest levels of merit, excellence and intelligence.

The search committee$rsquo:s plan and efforts will enable us to both seek and hire a new SME executive director who will ultimately lead us into the future.