VOL. 08 | ISSUE 1 | Spring 2025
Our
Voices
What is your
personal passion
or hobby, and
what lessons
from it do you
apply to your job?
RIO ALVARADO
Health and Safety Lead-Sierrita
“One of the things I am passionate about is martial arts. I would say it relates to my job by remembering to be in the moment. Your mind can’t be on anything else. You need to be aware of what is coming at you, reacting and also thinking a couple moves ahead. Really, it’s consequence thinking. When you’re doing a job, you should always be thinking about what the hazards are and how I can keep myself safe.”
JADA BOSTIC
Environmental Engineer I-Tyrone
“My personal passion for cooking is quite relevant to my work as an environmental engineer. Creating and documenting new recipes is similar to developing detailed standard operating procedures for my team, ensuring every step is accounted for. Additionally, sharing innovative ideas in meetings is like brainstorming new recipes, encouraging
creativity and teamwork.”
GENE EISENBACH
Production Operator I-Fort Madison
“Golf has been a challenging but rewarding hobby. The importance of consistency and a willingness to continually improve have helped me become a better player. Applying these lessons to my job has allowed me to accomplish goals efficiently while keeping safety a priority.”
DALTON STEWART
Environmental Scientist II-Safford
“My hobbies are woodworking and working on cars. In those pastimes, I have learned to pay attention to what I am doing and take my time. If you don’t do either, you can make mistakes.”
RYAN LAKE
Production Supervisor-Fort Madison
“Beekeeping has taught me many lessons like observation, problem-solving, responsibility and a focus on sustainability.”
HECTOR CRUZ
Security Supervisor–Sierrita
“I love taking my children off-roading. We go upwards of 80 miles an hour sometimes, but I am always making sure we are doing the right things and staying safe. The company can be a fast-paced environment as well. You should never be in too much of a rush. You might be in adrenaline mode and going fast, but you still need to take the time to think things through.”
DAVID FENDRICH
Senior Supervisor–Health and Safety in Bagdad
“My hobby is competitive pistol shooting. There are several crossover lessons that also apply to our workplace. In a sport where scoring is based on both time and accuracy, we say, ‘You can’t miss fast enough.’ When you try to go faster than your skill, you end up missing. This is the same at work when we apply production pressures and rush through a job or task; mistakes happen, and people get hurt. We also apply layers of safety, not relying on just one rule or guideline to keep us safe.”
BRIANNA MESA
Business Management Coordinator–Morenci
“I am extremely passionate about personal growth and my family. I am always seeking opportunities to develop myself further. Currently, I am taking classes to advance my education and enhance my leadership skills within the company. My goal is to make a positive impact on those around me and serve as a role model.”
GRAHAM SIEGEL
Industrial Hygiene Technician II–Climax
“I bring to work the same mindset I have when painting or writing, which is to scrutinize the details and consider if everything makes sense and looks right how it is. By being critical of what I have in front of me, I feel that I am better able to recognize if something is wrong or needs to be changed.”
TRISH ULERY
Administrative Assistant II–Safford
“My passion has always been rooted in helping others and making a meaningful impact with my actions, which is why I dedicated over a decade to public service. During my time in public service, I learned invaluable lessons in empathy, effective communication and collaboration. These experiences shaped my approach to problem-solving and teamwork, principles I continue to apply in my current role.”
RICHARD VARELA
Electrical Supervisor–Shared Services in Morenci
“My passion is firefighting. The biggest lesson I have learned from firefighting is service and compassion, and I apply those skills at work. As a firefighter, I serve my community and show compassion to the public because when people call us, it’s normally on their worst day. In my role as a supervisor, I try to serve my employees. When an employee has an issue, I try to show compassion by making it my issue and doing everything in my power to help them resolve it.”
GALEN WILKINSON
Mill Operator Trainee–Henderson
“Outside of work, I am a pyrotechnician who sets up fireworks shows. Handling so many explosives and fireworks reminds me how dangerous such work can be and improves my attitude toward safety in all environments.”