Meet The Team
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Richard Tremblay
Senior Vice President, Operations
Richard Tremblay joined Taseko as General Manager, Gibraltar in July 2014. Mr. Tremblay is an experienced senior level executive with over 30 years in the mining industry. He has a strong operations background in Open Pit Mining as well as Mineral Processing.
Prior to joining Taseko Mr. Tremblay held positions as Vice President Operations, Coalspur; General Manager Fording River Operations Teck Coal; General Manager Line Creek Operations, Elk Valley Coal Corporation; and Superintendent, Processing Elkview Operations and Coal Mountain Operations, Elk Valley Coal Corporation.
In May 2019 Mr. Tremblay was named Mining Person of the Year by the Mining Association of BC for his work on the BC Health, Safety, and Reclamation Code Committee and the Mining Jobs Task Force. He also served as Chair of the BC Mine Managers Committee from 2007 to 2009.
Mr. Tremblay holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University and is a professional engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University.
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University
- MBA, Simon Fraser University
Work Experience
- Senior Vice President, Operations, 2021 - Present, Taseko Mines Limited
- Vice President, Operations, 2019 - 2021, Taseko Mines Limited
- General Manager, Gibraltar, 2014 - 2019, Taseko Mines Limited
- Vice President Operations, 2013 - 2014, Coalspur
- General Manager Fording River Operations, 2006 - 2013, Teck Coal
- General Manager Line Creek Operations, 2005 - 2006, Elk Valley Coal Corporation
- Superintendent, Processing Elkview Operations and Coal Mountain Operations, 1996 - 2005, Elk Valley Coal Corporation
Boards
- Chair of the BC Mine Managers Committee (2007 to 2009)
Awards
- 2018 Mining Person of the Year, Mining Association of BC
Brent Berg
General Manager
Brent Berg has over 24 years’ experience in the mining and mineral processing industry. During his career, he has managed and developed mines for 16 years and worked for in-situ recovery operations for over 10 years.
Prior to joining Florence Copper as its General Manager in April 2020, Brent worked for Excelsior Mining Corp. as its Vice President Sustainability, Health & Safety, and spent over twenty years at Cameco Corporation in various roles including President, Cameco Resources where he was responsible for oversight of their U.S. operations in Wyoming and Nebraska.
As Florence Copper’s General Manager, Brent leads the Florence Copper team to create a safe, motivated, and productive environment. He closely collaborates with the local community, regulatory authorities, and key stakeholders.
Brent is a Professional Engineer with a B.A.Sc. in Regional Environmental Systems Engineering from the University of Regina and an MBA from the University of Regina. Currently, he is a board member for the Arizona Mining Association.
As a resident of Pinal County, Brent and his family take advantage of the many opportunities for hiking and golfing. He is also passionate about hockey and coached several of his son’s youth teams.
Education
- B.A.Sc. Regional Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Regina
- MBA, University of Regina
Work Experience
- General Manager, 2020 – Present, Florence Copper Inc.
- Vice President Sustainability, Health & Safety, 2019 – 2020 – Excelsior Mining Corp.
- President, Cameco Resources, 2013 – 2019 – Cameco Corporation
- General Manager, East Central WY, 2011 – 2013 – Cameco Corporation
- Director, Environmental Leadership, 2010 – 2011 – Cameco Corporation
- Manager, Program Development, 2007 – 2010 – Cameco Corporation
Boards
- Arizona Mining Association (current)
- Wyoming Mining Association (past)
- Wyoming Business Alliance (past Steering Committee member)
- World Nuclear Association (past Uranium Mines Standardization Working Group co-chair)
- Mining Association of Canada (past Towards Sustainable Mining company rep)
Awards
- Professional Engineer (Assoc. of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of SK)
- Project Management Professional (Project Management Institute)
Rita Maguire
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
Rita Maguire is a recognized expert on western water policy, with over three decades of professional experience. She joined Florence Copper in 2011 and leads the Florence Copper team in legal matters, as well as leading its public and government affairs activities.
Rita’s career highlights include her roles as a founding partner of Maguire, Pearce, & Storey, PLLC, President of the Arizona Center for Public Policy, Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Fife Symington.
She currently sits on the Colorado River Advisory Council and the Water, Science & Technology Subcommittee for the National Academies of Science. Recently, Rita was awarded the Michael J. Brophy Distinguished Service Award by the Environmental and Natural Resource Law Section (ENRLS) of the Arizona State Bar.
Education
- Juris Doctorate, Arizona State University
- Master’s in Business Administration, Arizona State University
- Bachelor of Science, Arizona State University
Work Experience
- Executive Vice President & General Counsel, 2011 – Present, Florence Copper
- Partner, 2015‑Present, Maguire & Pearce, PLLC
- Partner, 2007‑2015, Maguire, Pearce & Storey, PLLC
- President and CEO, 2002‑2006, Arizona Center for Public Policy (aka ThinkAZ)
- Director, 1993‑2001, Arizona Department of Water Resources
- Deputy Chief of Staff, 1991‑1993, Governor J. Fife Symington
- Associate Attorney, 1988‑1991, Snell & Wilmer
- Research Analyst, 1981‑1985, Arizona State Senate – Commerce and Labor Committee,
- Supply Coordinator, 1979‑1981, Indonesian Crude Oil
Boards
- Water, Science & Technology Subcommittee, National Academies of Science
Awards
- 2016 Michael J. Brophy Distinguished Service Award, Environmental and Natural Resource Law Section of Arizona State Bar
Stacy Gramazio
Manager of Communications and Public Affairs
Raised in Mesa, Arizona, Stacy Gramazio graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in Media Arts. After spending a decade in Los Angeles working in television production, she and her family moved to her home state of Arizona in the new area of San Tan Valley over 13 years ago.
Upon her return, Stacy taught for the Florence Unified School District and Central Arizona College. She joined the Florence Copper team in 2012 and has led the communications and public affairs staff through the permitting and public review process.
She is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Arizona Forward Central Regional Council and the board of directors for the Central Arizona College Foundation. In 2014 and 2016, she was recognized by Central Arizona College for Exemplary Leadership in Pinal County.
In her spare time, Stacy is busy raising two active boys with her husband Chris.
Education
- B.A. Media Arts, University of Arizona
- K-12 Teaching Certification, English, California State University at Northridge
Work Experience
- Manager of Communications and Public Affairs, 2012 – Present, Florence Copper
- Instructor, 2010-2011, Central Arizona College, GED program
- English Teacher, 2009-2010, Florence Unified School District
- Movie/TV Production Coordinator, 1994-1999, DreamWorks SKG, TriStar, and others
Boards
- Arizona Mining Association, Communications Committee Chairman
- Florence Copper Community Foundation, President
- Arizona Forward, Central Regional Council
- Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, Immediate Past Chairman
- Central Arizona College Foundation, Secretary
Awards
- 2014 Exemplary Leadership, Central Arizona College
- 2016 Exemplary Leadership, Central Arizona College
Sophie Dessart
Manager of Communications and Public Affairs
Sophie Dessart’s experience centers around strategic communications, journalism, and project management. Prior to joining Florence Copper, she most recently worked as a consultant for Phoenix-based Global External Relations, helping mining companies cultivate their social license through social risk assessments, stakeholder mapping, and social media analysis.
Sophie has a Masters of Global Management in Global Affairs and Global Business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, Arizona. While at Thunderbird, she worked as Editor-in-Chief of Thunderbird’s Das Tor News & Media, where she led a team of nearly 30 from over 10 different countries. Her work was honored when she received the Barton Kyle Yount (BKY) Award and Dean’s Circle Award upon graduating at the top of her class.
Sophie is a member of the American Exploration and Mining Association (AEMA) Society Class 2021-2022 and the Arizona Mining Association Communications Committee. She serves on the board of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and is the President of the Florence Copper Community Foundation. She also volunteers as an advisor to the Executive Director of the Clarisse Machanguana Foundation, a social venture focused on educating youth through sports.
While Sophie has lived across the U.S. and abroad, Arizona holds a special place in her heart, as she spent part of her childhood in Tucson and completed her graduate degree in Phoenix. She now is a proud resident of Florence and loves exploring local Pinal County libraries for her next favorite book and cooking in her free time.
Education
- B.A. Business, Sweet Briar College
- Masters of Global Management, Global Business & Global Affairs, Thunderbird School of Global Management (Arizona State University)
Work Experience
- Manager of Communications and Public Affairs, 2022-Present, Florence Copper
- Consultant, Global External Relations, 2021-2022
- Editor-in-Chief, Das Tor News & Media, 2020-2022
- Contract consulting projects in U.S., Belgium, and Spain, 2020-2022
- Precinct Inspector, Michigan Department of State, 2016-2018
Boards
- Florence Copper Community Foundation, President
- Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, Board Member
- United Way of Pinal County, Board Member
- American Exploration and Mining Association, 2021-2022 Society Candidate
- Clarisse Machanguana Foundation, Advisor
Awards
- Barton Kyle Yount Award
- Thunderbird School of Global Management Dean’s Circle Award
- Sweet Briar College Emilie Watts McVea Scholar
