Wheeling and dealing on 8-minute speed dates

ELKO – Picture yourself for a moment on speed dates with some really hot prospects. You have eight minutes to make your case, and those prospects have the same eight minutes before they have to move along to the rival at your left. Steve Antonini, general manager of JenTech Drilling Supply, left, shares a smile with Alan London, controller of McEwen Mining on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Reverse Mining Expo at the Elko Conference Center.

But you really want to hook up, so you make your best presentation, you even give your hot prospect a few trinkets to remember you, plus, of course, your phone number. That’s what went on Thursday at the Elko Conference Center. Amanda Hilton, president of the Nevada Mining Association, speaks with Steve Antonini, general manager of JenTech Drilling Supply, during the association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko on Thrusday, March 20, 2025.



The Nevada Mining Association presented its “Reverse Mining Expo” featuring 73 vendors, who are suppliers to the Nevada mining industry or wish to be, and 16 mining operators. “We loosely compare it to speed dating, but it’s an opportunity for our vendor members and our operator members to start building relationships in eight minutes,” Angelique Martinez, membership manager of the mining association, said. “So it’s like an elevator pitch to open the door to start making those connections.

” Industrial Supply Co. had some of the items it supplies to the mining industry on display on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko. Mining association President Amanda Hilton said the event was very successful and participants enjoyed themselves.

Business-wise, connections were being made on Thursday, several participating vendors said. Ralph Maxfield of Ames Construction said his company sees the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo as "a great opportunity." “We enjoy talking to the operators,” Ralph Maxfield, regional industrial manager with Ames Construction’s Salt Lake City office, said, adding that one operator had shown interest by midmorning.

“It’s a great opportunity.” The company has an office in Carlin and Maxfield said afterward the event was good. Michael, the Elko area manager for Borealis Fuels and Logistics, said the company also provides propane for residential and commercial customers.

He grew up in Elko and knows the area well. Michael Simmons, the Elko-area manager of Borealis Fuels and Logistics, said the reverse expo was “going really good.” Borealis was at the event to find new business in the mining industry and Simmons also noted the company is “the new propane guys in town” for residential and commercial propane.

“Best propane prices in town, local phone number, local people,” he and colleagues said. KP Exploration's Royal Johnson, left, and Kenny Porter were at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to build their business and make money. KP Exploration’s Royal Johnson and Kenny Porter said they traveled from Arizona to Elko for the event, and, mostly, “to get work” and “exposure.

” KP drills core samples for mining companies and Johnson pointed out Nevada is a “huge market” for their services. KP can work in any mine situation, from gold and silver to lithium and more, they said. Dale Kendall and his team from ICM use a video to show off their services, and offer their potential speed daters some trinkets to help start conversations on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elko.

Sales Manager Bert Hansen out of Utah and Territory Manager Dale Kendall out of Reno said their company, ICM Solutions, was looking for potential clients in need of crushing, conveyor and screening equipment. At a previous mining association event in Tahoe, the company found opportunities with two big Nevada mine operators. Ehren Ellenburg, a technical sales resource with Clipper Controls, said the company is making inroads with mining companies.

Ehren Ellenburg, technical sales resource with Clipper Controls, said the company is a regional manufacturer’s rep, servicing Nevada, California and Hawaii. The company does a lot of work in California with oil and gas businesses and with natural gas pipelines in Nevada. It’s also making inroads with mining companies, such as those represented by the mining association.

Among his mining clients is SSR Mining’s Marigold Mine. He said after the event one goal for the speed dates is to network and make new contacts. To that ends, he said, it was a success.

Danny Irvine, co-owner of Australian Diversified Engineering of Brendale, Queensland, Australia, traveled over 7,400 miles to attend the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko. He said the trips to Nevada for the events are worth the time and expense. At a mining association reception afterward, he made a new contact and exchanged cards with Danny Irvine, who is a co-owner of Australian Diversified Engineering, which is based in Brendale, Queensland, Australia.

As a representative of other businesses, the two might have mutual aim down the road. Ralph Maxfield of Ames Construction speaks with a potential client during one of the many speed dates on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Elko Conference Center. Irvine traveled the farthest to be at the Reverse Mining Expo in Elko, about 7,482 miles and just over a day in the air and on the ground.

But he said it was worth the travel and the time, even for a director and owner of an engineering firm working with some heavy hitters at home and in Nevada. He said the expense was less than that at some events and local marketing back in Brendale. A rep with AdWear Inc.

out of Salt Lake City, which provides custom logos and images on work and safety gear, speaks with a potential customer during an eight-minute speed date at the Elko Conference Center on Thursday, March 20, 2025. He said his first Reverse Expo was in 2017 and he's been a regular attendee since. What Irvine and all the vendors hoped for on this week of St.

Patrick’s Day was a shot at that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It appeared several may have found it. KP Exploration's Royal Johnson, left, and Kenny Porter were at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to build their business and make money.

A rep with AdWear Inc. out of Salt Lake City, which provides custom logos and images on work and safety gear, speaks with a potential customer during an eight-minute speed date at the Elko Conference Center on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Mining industry professionals gather at the Elko Conference Center on Thursday, March 20, 2025, for the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo.

Some mining companies had space set aside to chat with vendors at the Reverse Mining Expo in Elko on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Industrial Supply Co. had some of the items it supplies to the mining industry on display on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko.

A rep with RAM Enterprise Inc. speaks with a potential client about the company's expertise in mining, commercial and industrial electrical services at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo. Ralph Maxfield of Ames Construction said his company sees the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo as "a great opportunity.

" Mining professionals take a pause between speed conferences to grab coffee and snacks at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Steve Antonini, general manager of JenTech Drilling Supply, left, shares a smile with Alan London, controller of McEwen Mining on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Reverse Mining Expo at the Elko Conference Center. Danny Irvine, co-owner of Australian Diversified Engineering of Brendale, Queensland, Australia, traveled over 7,400 miles to attend the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko.

He said the trips to Nevada for the events are worth the time and expense. Amanda Hilton, president of the Nevada Mining Association, speaks with Steve Antonini, general manager of JenTech Drilling Supply, during the association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko on Thrusday, March 20, 2025. Michael, the Elko area manager for Borealis Fuels and Logistics, said the company also provides propane for residential and commercial customers.

He grew up in Elko and knows the area well. Dale Kendall and his team from ICM use a video to show off their services, and offer their potential speed daters some trinkets to help start conversations on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elko. Representatives with SGS North America speak with a potential client on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Elko Conference Center.

Ralph Maxfield of Ames Construction speaks with a potential client during one of the many speed dates on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Elko Conference Center. Ehren Ellenburg, a technical sales resource with Clipper Controls, said the company is making inroads with mining companies. Scenes from the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

KP Exploration's Royal Johnson, left, and Kenny Porter were at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to build their business and make money. A rep with AdWear Inc. out of Salt Lake City, which provides custom logos and images on work and safety gear, speaks with a potential customer during an eight-minute speed date at the Elko Conference Center on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Mining industry professionals gather at the Elko Conference Center on Thursday, March 20, 2025, for the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo. Some mining companies had space set aside to chat with vendors at the Reverse Mining Expo in Elko on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Industrial Supply Co.

had some of the items it supplies to the mining industry on display on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko. A rep with RAM Enterprise Inc. speaks with a potential client about the company's expertise in mining, commercial and industrial electrical services at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo.

Ralph Maxfield of Ames Construction said his company sees the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo as "a great opportunity." Mining professionals take a pause between speed conferences to grab coffee and snacks at the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo on Thursday, March 20, 2025. Steve Antonini, general manager of JenTech Drilling Supply, left, shares a smile with Alan London, controller of McEwen Mining on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Reverse Mining Expo at the Elko Conference Center.

Danny Irvine, co-owner of Australian Diversified Engineering of Brendale, Queensland, Australia, traveled over 7,400 miles to attend the Nevada Mining Association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko. He said the trips to Nevada for the events are worth the time and expense. Amanda Hilton, president of the Nevada Mining Association, speaks with Steve Antonini, general manager of JenTech Drilling Supply, during the association's Reverse Mining Expo in Elko on Thrusday, March 20, 2025.

Michael, the Elko area manager for Borealis Fuels and Logistics, said the company also provides propane for residential and commercial customers. He grew up in Elko and knows the area well. Dale Kendall and his team from ICM use a video to show off their services, and offer their potential speed daters some trinkets to help start conversations on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Elko.

Representatives with SGS North America speak with a potential client on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Elko Conference Center. Ralph Maxfield of Ames Construction speaks with a potential client during one of the many speed dates on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Elko Conference Center. Ehren Ellenburg, a technical sales resource with Clipper Controls, said the company is making inroads with mining companies.

Keith Kohn is editor of the Elko Daily Free Press. Reach him at [email protected] .

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