SME President’s Page

UCA adds to SME’s multidisciplinary mission;
connecting SME to tunneling and underground construction

As I have traveled this year attending local, regional, national and international mining meetings and conferences, I have realized something both humbling and energizing — even after decades of involvement in SME, there is still much I do not know about the full breadth of our Society. Most of my working career has been rooted in metallurgical services, process operations, external relations and communication — all within the hard rock sector. When I joined SME years ago, my engagement naturally began with the Mineral & Metallurgical Processing Division and expanded as I joined committees and took on new responsibilities.

But one division I had very limited exposure to was the Underground Construction Association (UCA). This year changed that. I had the opportunity to attend three UCA conferences, and those experiences opened my eyes to a part of SME that is both deeply connected to our mission and surprisingly unfamiliar to many members.

These meetings provided a broad understanding of UCA’s work, its mission, its structure and the remarkable professionals who make up its community. They also prompted a question: How many other SME members, like me, do not fully appreciate the breadth of SME and the diversity of expertise within our Society?

The story of UCA is one of evolution, leadership and expanding vision.

The organization began as the American Underground Association (AUA), founded in the 1970s to serve as the U.S. representative to the International Tunnelling Association (ITA) and to promote the responsible development and use of underground space. Early leadership included George Yoggy, a 50-year veteran of the concrete and shotcrete industry, who served as AUA president from 1986 to 1999. Yoggy was also a prominent figure in tunneling, shotcreting and ground support equipment manufacturing.

Under Yoggy’s leadership, AUA focused on advancing technical knowledge, fostering professional development and increasing the visibility of the underground construction industry. The association worked closely with ITA on international policies related to tunneling and underground facility planning, design, procurement and construction.
In 2006 the AUA merged into SME to become the Underground Construction Association (UCA), a Division of SME reflecting a broader scope and a more integrated identity. This aligned the tunneling and underground construction community with SME’s multidisciplinary mission and strengthened SME’s connection to the broader world of underground engineering and construction.

Today, UCA continues to thrive. It provides technical resources, professional development and networking opportunities for engineers and related professionals. Its members are shaping the future of underground infrastructure in the United States and abroad.
My experience with UCA this year reinforced the importance of what I have discussed previously: Grow, Lead, Belong.

Grow — when we explore areas outside our familiar circles, we expand our knowledge and strengthen our adaptability.
Lead — leadership includes seeking out new perspectives and understanding the full scope of the Society we serve.
Belong — belonging deepens when we connect with members whose work differs from our own, and when we appreciate the diversity of expertise across SME.