Conservation and environmental responsibility are key efforts for the mining industry in Nevada and across the U.S. Tom Sullivan, who lives in Michigan, has spent many years working to steer mining and manufacturing companies towards a greener method of material transportation.
Growing up in Wanakena, New York, Sullivan would bike, hike and camp in the summer and ice skate, ski and showshoe in the winter. Some of his best childhood memories were made hunting with his father.
“Whether I am sitting on the beach building a sand castle with my kids or on top of a mountain ready to drop into a chute to ski three feet of fresh powder, the fresh air and the solitude is what it’s all about,” he said.
His appreciation for the outdoors translates into a commitment to conservation as Business Development Manager for MHF Services, where part of his job is showing businesses how they can go green by switching to rail transportation.
MHF Services specializes in transportation logistics management and provides a variety of transportation and packaging services. The company transports the largest amount of waste and byproduct materials by rail in the U.S. Although trucking may be the most cost effective method of transporting materials, part of Sullivan’s job is to help a company determine whether the safer, more environmentally conscious rail transportation is an option.
MHF Services is currently working with a company that had previously brought its products to ports or smelters by truck. They have now switched to rail, and the company can tout its environmental and social responsibility after its change.
As a Business Development Manager for MHF, Sullivan has developed knowledge of how the complete manufacturing cycle works, from raw materials to the finished product. He also has a great understanding of how manufacturing impacts people and the economy. His favorite part about his job is visiting different site locations and meeting new people. He has been working in the mining industry for 11 years, and sees long-term growth for both the mining sector and his career.
“There’s plenty of room for movement in this industry,” said Sullivan. “You have the opportunity to travel the world if you like or stay right here and build a great career at home.”