We are pleased to welcome Richard Diaz as Senior Mining Engineer to support Minemax customers globally, with primary focus on North and South America.

Richard joins our Americas team in the Denver office to assist current and prospective clients in finding maximum value with Minemax software solutions. He will be involved with multiple aspects of the business including sales, support, training, and technical consulting.

Richard comes to Minemax with mining experience including various on-site operational roles since graduating from the Colorado School of Mines majoring in Mining Engineering. For the past five years, Richard has built up considerable expertise in mine scheduling working as a Sales Mining Engineer in the field of mine planning software.

“Richard brings to the team multiple years of hands-on software sales and technical service experience through his previous roles. He is a great fit for the team given his positive energy, his enthusiasm for helping others, and his passion for taking on new challenges.” notes Joe Kraft, General Manager – Americas.

We caught up with Richard before he started at Minemax to find out what he thinks about his new role and to get to know him better.

Minemax: Welcome, Richard! We’re glad that you have decided to join us. Was there anything in particular that led you to choose Minemax?

Richard: One of the key factors that drew me to Minemax was their long history of excellence in the mine planning space. Mine planning has always been the most challenging and exciting aspect of Mining Engineering, and Minemax has been one of the clear leaders in this space. The culture at Minemax, from my perspective, has always been one of humble servitude, thoughtful leadership and solution-focused teaching. All of those characteristics align really well with my philosophies.

Minemax: What is one priority you would like to address in your new position?

Richard: My top priority is to follow the lead of the great team at Minemax, learn as much as I can, and equip myself as quickly as possible to provide solutions to our customers and the mining industry as a whole.

Minemax: Which aspect of your new job do you anticipate you’ll enjoy the most?

Richard: My mother had a long, successful career as a public schoolteacher. When my brother and I were growing up, she would make a point of adding an educational component to every family vacation we took. When we were excited to go to the beach, my mom would make sure we visited the local nature center or museum. When we were excited to go to DisneyWorld, she made sure we visited a national park or historic site along the way.

My brother and I were both very involved in sports when we were younger. My father would always attend every single game, almost every practice, and would always drop whatever he was doing to throw the ball around, shoot some hoops, or take us to the batting cages. My mother and father instilled in me a passion for teaching, and a passion for service.

I anticipate that I will thoroughly enjoy serving our customers with all of the mine optimization challenges they encounter, while teaching them everything I know about Minemax’s products.

Minemax: Can you tell us a bit more about your interests outside of work?

Richard: I’ve been very blessed with an amazing wife and two beautiful daughters, so I really enjoy spending time with my family.  I also really enjoy spending time outside. Whether it’s hunting for elk, fishing for trout, hiking with the dogs, skiing the back bowls at Vail, or cycling the amazing Denver trail system, Colorado is a wonderful place to be outside.

Minemax: Thanks so much, Richard. We look forward to having you as a part of the Minemax team. If you’d like to contact Richard, you can reach him here.