NORTHERN PLAINS
Chapter Officers
President
Brad Brown
brad.brown@cldpk.com
Vice President
Rod Burke
rodney.burke@orica.com
Treasurer
Angela Wood
angela.wood@cldpk.com
Secretary
Tony Trouchon
ttrouchon@nelbro.com
Board of Directors
Jim Blauart
golf252@bresnan.net
Brent Gorman
bgorman@nelbro.com
Gus Gustafson
Josh Hull
jhull@vikingxp.com
Justin Kobielusz
jkobielusz@peabodyenergy.com
Sam Mullins
smullins@bresnan.net
Billy Obermire
billyobermire@jayoo.com
Greg Smith
greg.smith@am.dynonobel.com
The Northern Plains Chapter, Society of Explosives Engineers was started in 1986. The Chapter originally covered Wyoming, Montana, North and South Dakota. In 1991, due to the size of the chapter and the participation from the Black Hills, it was decided to split the chapter. It was at that time that the Black Hills chapter was formed. Montana later formed a chapter. The Northern Plains and Black Hills chapters continue to work very closely together today, alternately hosting the "Annual Best in the West Drill and Blast Seminar." The goal of the chapters is to bring the local blasting industry together, both end users and suppliers. This industry interaction is very important to keep up with local and national issues, promote safety, and give back to the community. We currently support various scholarships, with the chapter setting up a $15,000 endowment fund in 2002 with the International Society of Explosive Engineers. This scholarship will live forever in the Northern Plains Chapter's name.
The Northern Plains Chapter of the Society of Explosives Engineers, headquartered in the Powder River Basin, has members from Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Utah and other states in the U.S. The chapter is a local non-profit organization that co-hosts the "Annual Best in the West Drilling and Blasting Conference" along with The Black Hills Chapter of Explosives Engineers. We use the proceeds of this exciting conference to help fund our scholarship program. We have given over $70,000 in scholarships in the last 16 years to local high school and college students from a three state area. The conference is an intensive three-day event that brings mining suppliers together with miners. It gives everyone the opportunity to share ideas, new technology, government issues, and safety topics.