TUMBLER RIDGE, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Conuma Coal Resources Limited (“Conuma”) announces that the Company has hired John Schadan in the role of President, to succeed Mark Bartkoski who will step down from this position effective March 31, 2019. Conuma operates three metallurgical coal mines in the Peace River Coalfield of North Eastern British Columbia near the communities of Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd. Mr. Bartkoski, who has led the growth of Conuma from the beginning, has mixed emotions about leaving his adopted hometown of Tumbler Ridge in order to return to Ohio to spend more time with his family, including a growing number of grandchildren. Observes Mark on his decision: “When I came to Tumbler Ridge nearly three years ago, I hoped that we could build a coal company with the values and integrity that we have instilled and developed at Conuma. We have succeeded thus far beyond my imagination.”
Conuma’s board of directors conducted a global search for a replacement and are pleased to announce John Schadan as the second President of Conuma. Mr. Schadan has more than 30 years of experience in Canadian mining, including as President of Westmoreland Coal Company, and positions with Luscar Ltd., Manalta Coal Ltd., Fording Coal, Ltd., and most recently as VP of Operations for KMC Mining Corporation. He has a mining engineering degree from Queen’s University and has served in leadership roles previously with the Coal Association of Canada and the Alberta Chamber of Resources. John, and his wife Louise, live in Edmonton, and have lived in Western Canada for several decades during John’s career in Canadian mining. They look forward to becoming an integral part of the Conuma community. Says Mr. Schadan of his new challenge: “I look forward to continuing to shape the success story that Conuma has started, and helping the Company achieve its growth targets in the future. We will continue the relentless dedication to safe operations, continued environmental stewardship, and pro-active stakeholder engagement to ensure that Conuma maintains its all-important social license to operate.”
Founded in 2016, Conuma employs nearly 900 people, and has been one of the fastest growing employers in the province in the past three years. The company has three operations: Brule, Wolverine and Willow Creek mines, all of which produce high-quality, metallurgical coal, which is a key ingredient in steelmaking. For the past two years the Company’s operations have been selected for the Edwin Prior Award by the B.C. Chief Inspector of Mines, recognizing the safest mid-sized surface mining operations in the province.
