SUSAN PATTON
Principal consultant vi, mining & energy
Susan is a seasoned mining engineer with more than 40 years of experience across many areas.
Susan is a seasoned mining engineer with more than 40 years of experience across many areas. She focuses on underground mining of bedded deposits using mechanical and solution methods. She excels in feasibility studies, cost estimation, ventilation analysis, and reserve reporting for various minerals. Susan’s leadership is evident in evaluating solution-mining options and managing trona and potash extraction projects.
Susan’s expertise extends to mine ventilation, encompassing surveys, troubleshooting, emissions reduction, and system analysis using advanced software. Her role as a reserve reporter stands out, contributing to technical reports for major mining companies’ listings. She is authorized for mineral resource/reserve assessment under specific reporting standards.
Susan’s impact is also felt in academia, where she taught mining engineering and expanded curriculum offerings. Her administrative roles covered accreditation and academic program representation. Susan has combined her mining engineering strengths and her passion for teaching to set herself apart as one of the most talented and caring mentors for those who work with her.
Throughout Susan’s career, she has performed at outstanding levels despite challenges faced by industry norms. She exemplifies the ability to move a team toward a goal cohesively. If you find yourself working alongside Susan, you’ll quickly observe her exceptional talent for attentively addressing everyone’s concerns. She willingly dedicates her time to helping team members grasp the technical nuances of the task, showcasing her generosity.
When Susan isn’t immersed in crafting innovative solutions to client challenges, she retreats to her cherished haven, Peachfork (www.peachfork.com), a captivating farm and vineyard she tends alongside her husband, Phil. Nestled high on the breathtaking Colorado Plateau, Peachfork resides amid a landscape sculpted by the artistic forces of wind and water, resulting in mesmerizing canyons, gulches, and arroyos etched into sandstone, shale, and limestone formations. With a flourishing expanse of over 20,000 grape vines, Peachfork has splendidly established itself as a cornerstone supplier for Carlson Winery. Beyond the vineyard’s oenological significance, it is renowned for a delectable array of peach varieties, including the tantalizing red globe, cresthaven, and roza cultivars.
Q & A: Describe the best moment for you in mining.
There are 40 years of the best moments in mining. How do you pick just one? I have incredible respect for the hard-working miners. When I can improve the miners’ job conditions by providing better ventilation, it’s one of the best moments. At the beginning of my career, there were misguided hiring quotas in the U.S. that required women in underrepresented fields to be put into jobs because they were female rather than based on their qualifications (Never a good idea). Everything I accomplished at work or school was always highlighted by the fact that I was a woman. It was the occasion that they forgot I was a woman and referred to me as an “engineer’s engineer” that was memorable.
Q & A: What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t tried yet?
I have always wanted to hike the Camino de Santiago in Portugal and Spain. I have walked parts but not the entirety. Can I have a month off work?
Q & A: If you could live inside a movie or book, which would you choose and why?
Homer Hickman’s Sky of Stone, the sequel to October Sky, based on his memoirs of growing up and working in Coalwood, West Virginia. The female mining engineer “Engineerette” is the star of a race of two teams to build a track in the mine and meet in the middle.
Q & A: What is a piece of advice that has stuck with you, either because it was so terrible you wouldn’t do it or so great you kept it?
From a mentor, if I complete my designs like I was going to court, I will never end up there.
From my mother, no one can take your birthday or education away from you.
respec interns
In 2023, RESPEC welcomed its largest intern class with 30 young, aspiring professionals in every area of the company. RESPEC believes that our people are our greatest asset, and this intern program is critical to our long-term success. Developing future professionals today that will drive our success tomorrow is what the intern program is all about.
In July, RESPEC celebrated National Intern Day in hopes that all our interns felt celebrated and appreciated at RESPEC. This year’s intern class have been phenomenal. Across the company, we are witnessing their dedication, passion, and willingness to learn. From Day 1, these interns have integrated into our environment and shown excellent professionalism and enthusiasm toward our work and culture.
Allie Gregor
RESPEC Office // Rapid City, SD School: South Dakota School of Mines Major: BS in Mining Engineering, MS in Mining Engineering & Industrial Application (current)
Meet Allie Gregor! With a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering and currently pursuing a master’s in mining engineering and industrial application, she’s passionate about the outdoors and the mining industry. At RESPEC, she’s gaining valuable experience, working with top engineers, and enjoying the mentorship and community here. Outside of work, Allie loves hiking, quilting, and cooking.
"At RESPEC, I have been given the opportunities to apply my knowledge to real-life situations and further develop myself as an engineer within the mineral industry field by working side-by-side with some of the best engineers within the industry. My favorite part of working at RESPEC has been the mentorship, volunteering opportunities, and community fostered within the company."
David Tilley
RESPEC Office // Rapid City, SD
School: South Dakota School of Mines
Major: BS in Geological Engineering, MS in Geological Engineering (current)
Meet David Tilley, a geological engineering master’s student eager to gain hands-on experience at RESPEC. With an educational background in geological engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines, David brings a strong foundation to his internship. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and rock-hounding, showcasing his commitment to exploring the natural world. David looks forward to the valuable insights and direction his RESPEC internship will provide for his future career.
"During my time here at RESPEC, I hope to gain some insight/direction on where to take my career. There's only so much you can learn in class. I hope the hands-on experience will help!"
DR. AKASH ADHIKARI
engineer v, mining & energy
RESPEC SUCCESS STORY
RESPEC loves to see past interns come back to join our team post-graduation as full-time employees—intern success stories, as we call them.
Dr. Akash Adhikari started with RESPEC as an Engineering Intern in 2019 in our Lexington, Kentucky, office and made a positive impression on his colleagues and leadership during his internship. He then returned to the South Dakota School of Mines to finish his Ph.D. in Mining Engineering and continued working as a Research and Teaching Assistant for the Rock Mechanics Laboratory undergraduate course.
Fortunately for us, Akash applied to our full-time position in the Cavern Geomechanics team in early 2023. He immediately stood out as a strong candidate for growing our team in the Rapid City, South Dakota, office. Akash has a solid educational foundation and practical work experience in the industry that serve him well in contributing to the goals of the Cavern Geomechanics team. In his short time with our team, he has demonstrated his strong work ethic and willingness to tackle very challenging projects that require high technical aptitude, willingness to learn, and perseverance to be successful.
In addition to his strong technical skillset, Akash has embraced the RESPEC PACT and has quickly become a valued member of the RESPEC team. We are grateful for his unique perspective, passion for furthering our capabilities, and continued efforts to help make RESPEC a great place to grow a career.
“I am excited to share that I have transitioned from an intern to a full-time employee at RESPEC. I interned with RESPEC in the summer of 2019 in the Lexington office and was immediately impressed by the people, culture, and projects.
"I have a PhD in Mining Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and about 4 years of experience in the mining industry. Bringing a wealth of practical knowledge to my role, I am eager to apply my skills to make meaningful contributions at RESPEC. I am fortunate to be surrounded by a group of highly talented and dedicated individuals at RESPEC, from whom I am constantly learning and growing in this supportive environment. My team has entrusted me with increased responsibilities and the opportunity to work on projects that align with my interests.
"I am thrilled to be a valuable part of the Cavern Geomechanics team and to see what the future holds for me at RESPEC.”