Meet Our Core Leadership Team

Tannice McCoy

In 2023, Tannice made history as the inaugural President and General Manager of NewRange Copper Nickel.

She previously served as the manager of the Mesaba Project, now part of the NewRange portfolio, at Teck Resources Limited, a position she held since joining the company in 2002. Her expertise in hydrometallurgical processing, with a focus on extraction and electrowinning, played a role in the development, design, engineering, building, and commissioning of pilot and demonstration-scale hydromet process test plants for Teck. She also led engineering and pre-feasibility studies for Teck’s San Nicolas deposit. Educated at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), she also holds a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from York University, Schulich School of Business.

Simon Charter

Simon provides social responsibility guidance, fostering collaborative relationships with communities to build long-term resiliency. Born and raised in South Africa, Simon brings a rich cultural perspective to his role. He holds a Master of Science in environmental science from the University of Cape Town. With nearly two decades of experience, most recently with Freeport-McMoRan, Simon has successfully blended the closely linked fields of environmental science and social performance. He aligns corporate goals with social responsibility, ensuring a harmonious balance between business objectives and community well-being.

Gabe Coates

With more than two decades of human resources and administration expertise spanning the U.S. and Canada, Gabe leads our full spectrum of human resources and administrative management services. He also shoulders responsibility as NewRange’s Chief Compliance Officer. Gabe oversees strategic planning and execution, employee and labor relations, compensation and benefits, recruiting, as well as leadership development and performance programs. Prior to NewRange, Gabe served in HR leadership roles for Teck’s Base Metals ventures, including Red Dog, Pend Oreille, and HVC. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Boise State University, a Master’s of Business Administration from Corban University, and is a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) by the Society for Human Resource Management.

Paul Drevnick, Ph.D.

Dr. Paul Drevnick is a distinguished environmental scientist with expertise in mercury pollution. With nearly 25 years of academic, research and field experience, Paul leads the collection of baseline data for the Mesaba site, ensuring an understanding of the environment with an aim to design projects with minimal impact. He earned his doctorate of zoology from Miami University, specializing in environmental toxicology with emphasis on methylmercury in fish. Before joining NewRange, he served as an aquatic scientist for Alberta Environment and Parks in Canada. He also served as a research scientist on the faculty of the University of Michigan. Currently, he is an adjunct professor at the University of Calgary. Earlier in his academic journey, Paul was honored with a U.S. EPA STAR fellowship for graduate environmental study. He conducted his undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota and earned a Master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

Terry Hill

Terry leads a team of professionals in support of NewRange’s top priority – a safe and healthy work environment for employees, contractors and guests. He oversees the company’s extensive and comprehensive safety training, MSHA compliance, health and safety management program and systems development, and incident investigation. Terry brings a unique perspective to NewRange with his mining background as a brick tender in his early career and more than 15 years as a safety professional, leading safety previously at open pit mining operations for Freeport-McMoRan, and underground trona mining for Genesis Alkali and Tata Chemicals North America. Terry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from BYU Idaho and a master’s degree in advanced safety and engineering management from the University of Alabama Birmingham.

Todd Holmstrom

As the finance manager, Todd oversees the Finance, Procurement and Information Technology teams, steering the company’s financial strategies and operational efficiency. A fourth-generation northern Minnesotan, Todd brings regional perspective to his role. With more than 20 years of experience in public accounting previously at RSM, he has supported clients in the mining, construction and manufacturing industries, enhancing the financial performance of organizations by using his expertise in financial reporting and software conversions. Todd earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration from Minnesota State University – Moorhead. Additionally, he is a certified public accountant.

Christie Kearney, P.E.

A second-generation miner and fourth-generation Iron Ranger, Christie brings a rich legacy and more than 25 years of experience in environmental and engineering work to NewRange. She oversees environmental review and permitting and regulatory compliance, ensuring that we operate with the utmost respect for the environment and the cultural and historical heritage of the site. Her experience spans both the public and private sectors, having been involved in environmental review and permitting projects across the Midwest; in southeast, western and south-central Alaska; as well as through the State of Minnesota. Her previous roles at BARR Engineering and HDR Engineering have equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of both ferrous and non-ferrous mining projects across the Iron Range. Christie attended the University of Minnesota, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science and a master’s in civil engineering. She is a licensed professional engineer.

Jenna Lehti

With a career predominantly rooted in management and leadership positions for tribal nations in the business sector, Jenna brings a wealth of experience and cultural insight to NewRange. A citizen of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, her dedication to fostering positive relationships between NewRange and tribal communities is deeply personal. Her experience includes roles at Bois Forte, where she held management and leadership positions, and most recently as tribal liaison for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. She holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Minnesota – Crookston and a master’s in business administration from St. Scholastica. NewRange marks Jenna’s first foray into mining where her background, cultural understanding and commitment to collaboration help ensure that our operations are not only in compliance with regulations but also respectful and considerate of tribal nations and communities.

Colin Marsh

Colin leads the company’s engagement efforts with government officials, policymakers and stakeholders who shape, influence and implement state and federal law and policies. Prior to joining NewRange, where he develops and leads our state and federal government relations strategy, Colin worked as a consultant in the private sector on mining and other natural resource related projects, advising clients on a broad range of issues relating to mining, land conservation, tax policy, economic development and medical technology. His role is one of protecting and advancing company interests in harmony with workable public policy solutions. In addition to mining industry board affiliations, Colin serves on the board of the Minnesota Government Relations Council. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business entrepreneurship from Palm Beach Atlantic University, is a policy fellow at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and University of Minnesota and holds a TEFL certificate, TEFL International, from Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Lucas Miller

Lucas brings more than 25 years of diverse engineering and project management experience across a range of heavy industrial sectors to NewRange. Prior to joining the company, he was responsible for major capital project development at Teck’s integrated lead and zinc smelter in Trail, BC. His experience spans both engineering consulting and owner’s roles, and he has taken projects from concept through commissioning in the power generation, oil and gas, and metals industries with a variety of project delivery strategies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Queen’s University (Ontario, CA), and a master’s in mechanical engineering from Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia). He also carries a professional engineering designation from Engineers and Geoscientists BC.

Bruce Richardson

Bruce leads strategic communications efforts, overseeing web, social and news media channels and fostering transparent and effective communication with stakeholders. A seasoned leader in corporate communications across the mining, utility and retail sectors, Bruce previously led communications associated with the permitting and development of Rio Tinto’s Resolution Copper and Phelps Dodge Mining Co.’s (now Freeport-McMoRan) Safford projects in Arizona. His professional journey includes a brief stint as the director of the Office of Information and Public Affairs for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and six years as the director of corporate communications for PetSmart. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mass communications from the University of Utah.

Jean-Charles Sztuke

Jean-Charles (“JC”) leads the full spectrum of technical studies for NewRange assets in the areas of geoscience, hydrogeology, geotechnical engineering, mining and process engineering. An expert in metallurgical engineering with a focus on mineral processing, JC has most recently contributed to development of Teck’s San Nicolas copper-zinc project and NewRange’s Mesaba deposit. In addition, in his 15-year tenure at Teck, he provided metallurgical and process engineering support on a range of Teck’s base metal operations across the Americas, including Highland Valley Copper, Red Dog, Duck Pond, Carmen de Andacollo and Quedraba Blanca. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from McGill University in Montreal and a master’s in business administration from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver. He also carries a professional engineers designation from Engineers and Geoscientists BC.

Anton Van Der Merwe

Anton ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards of quality and safety, developing and implementing strategies, objectives and milestones, and managing budgets for each project. A seasoned professional with more than 25 years’ global project management experience in precious and base metals mining and processing, Anton joined NewRange from Glencore’s African operations where he led numerous projects including managing construction of Africa’s largest sulfuric acid plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Recently, he led the successful, safe demolition and salvage of the former LTV Steel concentrator building for NewRange. Born and raised in South Africa, Anton has managed projects in Africa, Italy and the U.S. He studied mechanical engineering and completed PMP (Project Management Professional) certification at the University of Cape Town.