Ask a Pro: MGE Alum Offers Industry Advice

The Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources recently conducted an interview with MGE alum David Travis as part of its Ask A Pro video series. Travis currently serves as vice president of Mine Planning at Freeport McMoRan, and offered advice to new engineers, as well as predictions for the mining industry.

“If your leaders are giving jobs that you don't feel comfortable doing, that's a sign that they really see a lot of potential," Travis said. "You step outside your area of expertise to go solve the problem or be on a team. You need to take all of those, because you know that a broad breadth of experience is really what makes a good engineer or a good leader or a good manager.”

Travis also emphasized that the mining industry is heading toward more innovative methods, such as artificial intelligence.  

“A mining engineer is a little bit different than other engineers in that you have to have some pretty good knowledge of all the other engineering disciplines to be successful," Travis said. "You don't have to be an expert, but you do have to have knowledge."