Shawn Conaway
*********@*****.***
www.linkedin.com/in/shawnmconaway cell: 804-***-****
Moseley VA 23120
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY: Extensive experience as production manager with accountability for operations management, safety performance, budgeting and cost performance, staffing and contractor management.
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Management of Plant and Mining Operations
Budgeting and Cost Performance
Safety Performance
Environmental protection
Staffing
Contractor management
Training plan implementation
Process improvement
TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT
Continuous Improvement
Permitting
Infrastructure Development
Metallurgical Testing
Laboratory scheduling
Budget Development
Product Scheduling
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Production Manager ILUKA RESOURCES INC. Stony Creek VA 2014 – 2016
Senior management team member responsible for managing 3 sites which included 2 mines and associated concentrators as well as mineral separation plant, final product shipping and laboratory functions of the Virginia Operations. Areas of accountability included: budgeting, cost performance, safety and environmental controls, site infrastructure development, product quality, product and export shipment scheduling, plant maintenance and management of personnel and contractors. Operations employed approximately 78 full time equivalent employees and 80 to 90 full time contractors. Financial responsibilities include operating budgets of $60M per annum
Developed detailed cost budget and production schedules for mine sites and mineral separation plant to meet production budgets of 180,000 tons of final product.
Managed successful 6 month and $6M restart and operation of 1 of 3 Virginia production sites after announced cessation of Virginia operation, including the hiring of 20 positions and construction of 4 on-path tailings impoundments.
Successfully extended earthmoving contract for final year of mining after announcement of cessation of production at Virginia operation. Oversaw earthworks construction on both a unit rate and hour rate to construct 800,000 cubic yards of tailings impoundments per annum.
Implemented interview and assessment procedure to reduce operational staff by two thirds due to cessation of mining and processing at the end of 2015. Personally meet with all 78 production personnel to interview for remaining positions then convey outcomes of process.
Processing Manager Stony Creek VA 2013 – 2014
Management team member responsible for mineral separation plant operations, final product shipping and laboratory functions of the Virginia Operations.
Directed two capital project valued at $900k to develop on-site product storage and improve access and security of plant site at a cost saving of $5.30/ton of stored product for 60,000 tons.
Operations Manager ILUKA RESOURCES LTD. Hamilton Victoria Australia 2010 – 2013
Managed mineral separation operations with key accountabilities including: budgeting cost control, employee training, production scheduling, safety and environmental controls, permitting, laboratory services, community relations and management of personnel and contractors. Operations employed approximately 70 employees and 30 - 40 contractors. Financial responsibilities included operating budget of $35M per year and capital budgets from $2M to $7M.
Led multi-disciplinary team to commission capital upgrades to increase plant capacity from 55 tonnes/hour to 90 tonnes/hour increasing revenues by 61% annual
Drove commissioning of reverse osmosis plant and subsequent rental of additional capacity at $150,000 per year when plant was determined to be under design.
Plant Superintendent Hamilton Victoria Australia 2009 – 2010
Managed mineral separation plant with key accountabilities including: budgeting, cost control, employee training, production scheduling, safety and environmental controls, and management of personnel and contractors. Plant employed approximately 40 employees and 10 contractors. Financial responsibilities included operating budget of $26M per year and capital budget of $10M.
Implemented systems for improving communication and performance feedback between production personnel and technical staff leading to a 5% increase in premium product produced
Technical Manager Stony Creek VA 2004 – 2009
Senior management team member responsible for operation of mineral separation plant, final product shipping and laboratory functions of the Virginia Operations. Plant employed approximately 25 full time equivalent employees and 12 full time contractors. Financial responsibilities include operating budgets of $10M per annum and capital plans from $500k to $3M.
Managed continuous improvement of plant systems to increase production resulting in annual revenue of $2.5M at a cost of $200k.
Developed and implemented monthly reporting systems for measuring and directing shift team’s performance resulting in improved cross shift interaction and more consistent plant production.
Developed and implemented plant circuits to convert waste mineral staurolite into a successful by-product for sandblasting industry.
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Plant Metallurgist RGC Mineral Sands Stony Creek VA 1997 – 2004
EDUCATION and TRAINING
Master of Science Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering;
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech.) Blacksburg, VA
Bachelor of Science Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering;
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech.) Blacksburg, VA
Executive Consortium Program - Driving Corporate Growth
Australian Graduate School of Management, Sydney NSW
Kepner Tregoe -Problem Solving and Decision Making
30 Hour OSHA Construction Safety Certification
Virginia Division Mineral Mining - General Mineral Miner Certified