[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 admin_label=”DATE LINE” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed||||||||” text_text_color=”#2e3545″ custom_margin=”|||15px|false|false” global_module=”3868″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
VOL. 08\u00a0 |\u00a0 ISSUE 4\u00a0 |\u00a0 Winter 2025\/2026<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Taviraj MAIN HEADLINE” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Taviraj|300|||||||” header_text_color=”#b2a36f” header_font_size=”90px” header_letter_spacing=”-1px” header_line_height=”1.1em” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||35px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”90px” header_font_size_phone=”50px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text content_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”Fira Sans Condensed Regular SUBHEAD” module_class=”lighter-fira” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_font=”Fira Sans Condensed||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#3d485e” header_2_font_size=”44px” header_2_letter_spacing=”-1px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-60px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”-10px||5px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” header_2_font_size_tablet=”44px” header_2_font_size_phone=”30px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In December, Cory Stevens officially took the reins of Freeport\u2019s Americas organization, leading an operation comprised of nearly 20,000 employees in North America and South America.<\/p>\n
With nearly three decades at Freeport, the company\u2019s new President and Chief Operating Officer-Americas, knows the challenges ahead, but he also is confident about the future for both the company and its employees.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited about creating opportunities for people to develop and take on new responsibilities within the organization,\u201d Stevens said. \u201cWhen I think about my own career and the most gratifying moments I have had, I don\u2019t think about a production record or a plant we built. I think about the people who worked on those projects and how those projects shaped their careers. That\u2019s what really makes me tick at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
As he prepared to assume his new responsibilities, Stevens sat down with The Miner to discuss his vision for the organization, the future of the industry, his leadership style and lessons learned throughout his career.<\/p>\n
As you assess your new responsibilities, what is your vision for the Americas organization over the next three to five years?<\/strong><\/p>\n First, we must deliver results in the near term and set ourselves up for growth. We just came out of an unprecedented period of inflation and turnover. We\u2019ve stabilized, and our Best at the Basics mantra served us well.<\/p>\n The problem is that isn\u2019t enough. Ore grades and cost inputs won\u2019t let us be successful with less than best results, so we need to have excellence in all we do. That means we set the benchmark on the equipment we operate. We design and build the most efficient plants and facilities to produce copper. We collaborate as a team and create opportunities for our people to develop and take on more responsibility. And we do this all safely and sustainably.<\/p>\n What are some of the key initiatives you see defining Freeport over that period?<\/strong><\/p>\n There are several initiatives we\u2019ve talked about over the past few years such as Leach to the Last Drop, which is really starting to hit its stride. We\u2019re working hard on the Bagdad 2X expansion. On top of that, our Reinvent Mining effort includes multiple sub-projects, from the Integrated Remote Operating Center to applying artificial intelligence in our mine planning systems. We\u2019re bringing in new, bigger mining equipment and building automation that goes with it. All of this is the fuel that drives our vision forward.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/corey-stevens-talks.jpg” title_text=”corey-stevens-talks” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Your reference to Reinvent Mining was a good segue into the next question. There has been a tremendous amount of focus on that effort over the last year. How do you see that work impacting the company\u2019s future?<\/strong><\/p>\n Reinvent Mining is really about creating a mindset of innovation, a spirit of making every plan better. It means looking at what we do day-in and day-out and asking whether it\u2019s delivering the value we expect. It\u2019s also about asking whether we can apply technology to make something even better, or can we automate portions of it? I see this as ongoing. While the effort is centered around Morenci right now, it will gain traction more broadly, particularly in North America.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” background_color_phone=”#FFFFFF” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n With all this critical work happening, how do you plan to measure success in the year ahead?<\/strong><\/p>\n During the first year, the focus is on hard outputs. Are we meeting our mined tons? Are we meeting our milled tons? Are we producing the pounds of copper we committed to produce? Are we controlling costs? Are we managing the business instead of just explaining it? Those are the hard outcomes. But the real measure of success for me is whether we are putting people in the right roles and creating an environment, a culture, a spirit where people are empowered to take action and work as a team in a way that enables the company to deliver those outcomes.<\/p>\n Change at the top often comes with shifts throughout an organization. What types of change should employees in the Americas operation expect to see?<\/strong><\/p>\n The complexities in our business keep growing. Technology can help, but it still ultimately comes down to people. To manage this rising complexity, we\u2019re applying more technology, and that means we need more centralization now than in the past. The sites can\u2019t manage every dimension of what we\u2019re asking them to take on. So, we need technologies that are repeatable across multiple sites, and we need to leverage expertise in a way that exists centrally but can be scaled across multiple sites. Change can be disruptive, but we need to evolve to shape our future.<\/p>\n For those who haven\u2019t had an opportunity to work with you, how would you describe your leadership style?<\/strong><\/p>\n This is an interesting one. So, I\u2019ve been with the company almost 29 years, and I\u2019ve seen a lot of ups and downs. Our product is in higher demand now than ever before. I\u2019m deeply committed to advancing our efforts to create long-term value from the resources we manage and provide for lasting job security for our employees and their families for the next generation. I\u2019m a driver. I\u2019m willing to embrace change, and I care about our people. I want a business model that is sustainable and not dependent on one person or a small group.<\/p>\n What are some of the values that are most important to you in building a strong team culture?<\/strong><\/p>\n The top value I hold is trust, the willingness to depend on others and to be responsible for those who depend on you. That applies to everyone, whether you\u2019re at a site or in a corporate role. I believe in dedication, resiliency and optimism, balanced with a realistic view of what we face.<\/p>\n As the company continues to evolve, what are some of the guiding principles you value as you evaluate new ideas and initiatives?<\/strong><\/p>\n We want to be very targeted in how we solve our major business problems and challenges, not take a broad brush approach. Even so, there will be a lot of innovation coming at us, and we will need to sort through it. Then comes the value proposition behind each idea. How do we manage the risk, whether it\u2019s a technology risk, an execution risk or a capital risk? Not everything will work out as planned, so we need to develop contingencies. Any first-time implementation comes with a learning curve. We also have to understand the change management that goes with it because we\u2019re going to be impacting people\u2019s jobs. Employees may need new skills, training or clarity on how decisions will impact their daily work. The goal is to minimize disruption as we move forward.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”Row” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f6f5f2″ custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”50px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”15px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false” background_color_phone=”#f6f5f2″ background_last_edited=”on|tablet” background_enable_color_phone=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Body Text” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#4d4d4f” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4d4d4f” header_3_font_size=”18px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As you get to know the employees across the Americas organization and they get to know you, how would you like to engage with them?<\/strong><\/p>\n This is something I\u2019ve been thinking about. A lot of time, communication turns into a one-way channel. We send information out and people just absorb it, whether it\u2019s written, video or something else. I want to engage in a way that lets me gather more input so it becomes a real dialogue, not a one-way channel.<\/p>\n You referenced your 29 years at Freeport earlier in the conversation. Over those years, what did you view as the unsung success at the company?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think our greatest strength is our ability to accomplish anything when we focus on it. If we believe in the goal and add some structure and discipline, we can get it done. It\u2019s pretty amazing what can happen when we do that.<\/p>\n What is a lesson you have learned in your career you believe can help others getting started at Freeport?<\/strong><\/p>\n I would say most people underestimate the impact they can have in the role they already have. Or they feel limited because there might be something that seems out of reach because it\u2019s outside their area of expertise. I think when people are willing to jump in and learn and just start getting involved, they can create a learning curve for themselves. More often than not, they\u2019ll surprise themselves on what capabilities they have to become proficient, lead and contribute in a meaningful way in those areas.<\/p>\n What is something you believe Freeport does better than anybody else and how can the company build on that?<\/strong><\/p>\n Over the decades of my career, we have often referred to collaboration as our secret sauce, the thing that keeps us competitive on a global scale. I still believe it will serve us well going forward. We can collaborate even more, and technology adds urgency to that. It gives us more channels to communicate through, whether it\u2019s data, numbers or different software platforms. Our ability to communicate is greater now than it\u2019s ever been.<\/p>\n One last question: What is the main message you would like people to take from this Q&A?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think that was the hardest question. If I had to sum it up, I\u2019d say the future is bright, and the opportunities for our employees are tremendous.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_color_phone=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_color_phone=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”order: 2;||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”SIDEBAR” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Fira Sans Condensed||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font_size=”24px” header_2_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|500|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”28px” header_3_font=”Fira Sans Condensed||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#a36f58″ header_3_font_size=”30px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||” header_4_text_color=”#4d4d4f” background_color=”#2e3645″ custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”30px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”15px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”50px|50px|50px|50px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|125px|||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_width_left=”16px” border_color_left=”#a36f58″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Roles at Freeport<\/strong>Getting to know
\nCory Stevens<\/h3>\n
\nPresident and Chief Operating Officer-Americas
\nSenior Vice President and President, FM Technical Services
\nPresident, Freeport-McMoRan Mining Services
\nVice President, Operational Improvement
\nPresident and General Manager-El Abra
\nGeneral Manager, Operations-El Abra
\nProcessing General Manager-Morenci
\nHydromet Manager-Morenci
\nManager, New Copper Products
\nHydromet Manager-Chino
\nSmelter Manager-Chino
\nSmelter Operations Superintendent -Chino
\nProcess Engineer \u2013 Chino
\n
\n
\nEducation<\/strong>
\nWestern New Mexico University \u2013 Master of Science, Business Administration
\nNew Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology \u2013 Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/steves-and-quirk.jpg” title_text=”steves-and-quirk” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#3d485e” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|50px|0px|50px|false|false” global_module=”1861″ saved_tabs=”all” 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=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Fira Sans Condensed|700||on|||||” 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":[21],"class_list":["post-3708","issue-article","type-issue-article","status-publish","hentry","category-winter-2025"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue-article\/3708","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=3708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}