[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f9f9f9″ max_height=”55px” custom_margin=”-20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||40px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|||15px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
VOL. 07\u00a0 |\u00a0 ISSUE 3\u00a0 |\u00a0 September 2024<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Hero” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Ankh-award-video-still-1.jpg” title_text=”Ankh-award-video-still-(1)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Lead” module_class=”story-lead” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Encouraging the professional growth of employees and embracing new technologies and innovation are vital for Freeport to thrive in the future, Kathleen Quirk said during her first town hall with employees since becoming Chief Executive Officer in June. <\/p>\n
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Quirk, Freeport President and CEO, described her own rise in the company \u2013 which she joined in 1989 as an accountant. She also shared her optimism about the future of copper as the industry is being shaped by new technologies and the demands of electrification. She repeatedly returned to the theme that Freeport is a \u201cspecial\u201d place to work, where people succeed in their careers through hard work, ingenuity and a willingness to \u201ctake the initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just the type of company and the way we\u2019re structured that if someone really wants to go after something and learn and just be part of a team and contribute, the sky is the limit,\u201d Quirk said when asked about her own career trajectory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never had any plan to be CEO of the company,\u201d Quirk added. Instead, she focused on learning the business, asking questions and looking for opportunities where she could contribute to the company\u2019s success.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was always thinking about what the company needs were and where I could be useful and how I could work as part of a team to help solve problems to help move us forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quirk spent more than an hour answering questions at the virtual town hall. Some came from Erich Bower, General Manager-Strategic Workforce Development, who moderated the event. Others came from employees who viewed the event online from company locations in North America, South America and Europe.<\/p>\n
Quirk was named President of the company in 2021 and became CEO June 11, succeeding Richard Adkerson, who remains Chairman of the Board of Directors. Adkerson \u2013 whose mentorship through the years Quirk praised \u2013 did not offer specific advice for how she should lead the company, she said, though she added his oft-repeated saying of \u201cDo the right thing, and don\u2019t screw up\u201d did come to mind.<\/p>\n
Quirk\u2019s priorities for the company are embodied in the Freeport Five, a set of principles displayed behind her during the question-and-answer session.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#c0423a” custom_margin=”25px||25px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sidebar RED BACKGROUND WHITE TYPE” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_3_font=”Roboto||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_3_font_size=”32px” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_padding=”25px|25px|25px|25px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Youth Activities:<\/strong> Sports, student government, entrepreneurship (lemonade stand)<\/p>\n College:<\/strong> Louisiana State University, Bachelor of Science in Accounting<\/p>\n First Professional Job:<\/strong> Accounting position at Mobile Oil in Dallas<\/p>\n Personal Interests:<\/strong> Spending time with friends and family, playing pickleball, watching sports, tennis, anything at LSU, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns<\/p>\n Motto:<\/strong> \u201cPrepare to prosper\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”text” module_class=”question_answer” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Those are: Keep our people safe; execute reliably and responsibly; develop our people; embrace innovation and technology; and develop our assets for profitable, long-term growth.<\/p>\n Safety is foremost, Quirk said. The most rewarding part of her job is the personal interactions she has with people across the business, she said. Nothing is more important to her personally or for the business than workers going home safe at the end of their shifts.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we can\u2019t do that, we don\u2019t have a business.\u201d<\/p>\n There is plenty of room for career growth at Freeport, with jobs in a wide variety of operational and technical fields, Quirk said. She encouraged people building their careers to take advantage of training opportunities, ask questions and be willing to take on challenges to add value to the company.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s just so much opportunity in this company,\u201d she said. \u201cYou will never be bored at this company if you really want to work hard and you really want to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n Leaders and more experienced hands also need to be willing to take chances on newer workers eager to advance, help them learn leadership skills and give them opportunities to achieve success.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of us as leaders, as co-workers, as team members, all need to take part in helping develop people,\u201d Quirk said.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/quirk-300dpi.jpg” title_text=”quirk-300dpi” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” show_bottom_space=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Cutline” module_class=”cutline ” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n In 2003, Kathleen Quirk became Freeport\u2019s first female Chief Financial Officer at the age of 40.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” module_class=”question_answer” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Leaders and more experienced hands also need to be willing to take chances on newer workers eager to advance, help them learn leadership skills and give them opportunities to achieve success.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of us as leaders, as co-workers, as team members, all need to take part in helping develop people,\u201d Quirk said.<\/p>\n On other issues, she said technology and innovation will help allow the company to unlock new copper from existing assets. New leaching techniques already are producing hundreds of millions of pounds of copper once thought unrecoverable in old stockpiles. The company already is cost-efficient, so new technology and techniques offer significant opportunities to get full value out of existing assets, Quirk said.<\/p>\n \u201cInnovation and technology are going to be our edge, and we are already way, way out front with some of the things that we are doing,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to do it more and more. This business is not getting easier, so technology and innovation are a big part of our focus. We are going to have to make more investments in it. It\u2019s going to make us all better.\u201d<\/p>\n The most popular question of the day \u2013 the one that nearly stumped her \u2013 came from an employee and quickly drew the most likes online. Quirk was asked to name her go-to karaoke song. Initially she insisted it is not Sweet Caroline, the 1969 Neil Diamond hit. But after some thought she relented and said, \u201cI guess it will be Sweet Caroline.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ededee” custom_margin=”25px||25px||false|false” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/1981-KQ-Varsity-Volleball-Team-alt.jpg” title_text=”1981-KQ-Varsity-Volleball-Team-alt” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Cutline” module_class=”cutline ” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Competing in sports as a youth helped shape Kathleen Quirk\u2019s (No. 41 in photo) leadership style and work ethic.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sidebar GRAY BACKGROUND BLACK TYPE” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ header_3_font=”Roboto||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#000000″ header_3_font_size=”32px” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Kathleen Quirk spoke about numerous topics during her first town hall since assuming Chief Executive Officer responsibilities. Some highlights from her conversation with employees:<\/p>\n Keys to career success<\/strong> Mentoring others<\/strong> Staying positive<\/strong> People first<\/strong> Encouraging the next generation of Freeport employees<\/strong> Advice for women in the mining industry<\/strong> Advice to younger self<\/strong> Looking ahead<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Photo” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/KQ-PTFI-Remote-Control-Ops-1.jpg” title_text=”KQ-PTFI-Remote-Control-Ops-(1)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Cutline” module_class=”cutline ” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Kathleen Quirk, pictured during a visit to PT Freeport Indonesia, looks forward to further connecting with employees during future site visits.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#006487″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false” global_module=”1861″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”on” prev_text=”Prev Page” next_text=”Next Page” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[16],"class_list":["post-2146","issue-article","type-issue-article","status-publish","hentry","category-september-2024"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article\/2146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/issue-article"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Supporting growth<\/h3>\n
Supporting growth<\/h3>\n
Speaking of \u2026 Kathleen Quirk Talks About Her Career, Supporting Others and Staying Positive<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u201cI want to learn, and I want to understand what\u2019s going on, so I ask a lot of questions and try to analyze situations. In terms of leadership and being successful, I think it really comes down to working with people. You can\u2019t be a lone ranger and be a successful leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re a leader within our organization, look around you at the people and take a chance because they\u2019re going to help you long term. And if you\u2019re coming up in the organization, don\u2019t be afraid to say to your supervisor, to friends or others, \u2018I might be interested in a job like that. I want to learn a little more about this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI try not to let things get to me \u2013 particularly little things. You think about negative energy when you let little things get to you. It\u2019s all the negative energy you spend on that little silly thing. So, I try to not let things bother me. I try to let things roll off my back.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m empathetic about people. I\u2019m passionate about people and their families. At the end of the day, nothing is more important than people coming home safe every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI told someone the other day, \u2018This is our time.\u2019 There is a greater appreciation for metals. They recognize the need for metals, and we\u2019ve got to do it responsibly. When I talk to people now about what we do, you can see it registering more than it used to. We\u2019ve got to get out and start with people\u2019s kids. There\u2019s something for everyone in this company.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never really thought about being a woman, and most of the people around are men. It just never really was a factor. I was always treated as just another person around the table. I felt that way about myself, and I felt that way about others. I would just try to encourage women to be themselves. You don\u2019t have to be something else; be yourself. I think you\u2019ll find people in our company are very open to anybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would tell people to get involved in things. Growing up, I happened to get involved in sports, but that\u2019s not for everyone. But for me, I did get involved in sports, and you learn so much in team sports and individual sports. You learn to push yourself enough to do well and to fail and step back up. You learn how to motivate other people on the team. Get involved in something growing up. I really did have the lemonade stand; I really did have the vending machines.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFreeport is so well positioned. You\u2019ve got companies out there that want to have our assets; they want to have our exposure to copper. It\u2019s impossible to replicate what we have in this company. I\u2019m so excited about what we have in the pipeline.\u201d<\/p>\n