Denise Bowdon, Community Specialist for South32’s Hermosa Project.​

South32 is a global metals and mining company, headquartered in Perth, Australia​. They currently have operations in Australia, Southern Africa, and South America and are investing heavily in growing their presence in North America at the Hermosa project in the Patagonia Mountains outside the town of Patagonia, Arizona. South32’s Hermosa project is currently the only advanced mine development project in the United States that could produce two federally designated critical minerals—manganese and zinc—both of which are essential minerals for powering the nation’s clean energy future.

During the 2024-2025 school year, South32 supported Mat Bevel Company’s STEAM world-building program, The Universe Within, which has served over 800 youth in Santa Cruz County through hands-on, project based discovery learning.

Denise Bowdon, Community Specialist for the Hermosa Project, shared that South32’s approach of making a difference and improving people’s lives now and for generations to come, aligns with the work that Mat Bevel Company carries out through its programs. She said, “We are trusted by our owners and partners to realize the potential of their resources. Our values of care, trust, togetherness and excellence align with Mat Bevel Company’s programs which open new ways of being and learning through world-building to transform individual lives and our communities – we believe in lifting up the community in which we operate.”

Through the Hermosa project, South32 is setting a new standard for sustainable mining in Southern Arizona. It’s a next-generation mine with a small footprint and an all battery-electric fleet for safety and emissions.

Denise Bowdon and her team at the Centro groundbreaking on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Denise explains, “Our focus is on responsible mining, water conservation (90% less water use than traditional mines), using advanced technology and our commitment to supporting the local workforce with an aim of hiring 80% local. We’re investing in education, skills training and collaborations to ensure long-term benefits stay in the community.”

This year Mat Bevel Company’s fundraising theme was ‘Plant The Seed.’ South32 is planting seeds of innovation and entrepreneurship through their mining operations, integrating the latest technology and innovative problem-solving to benefit the region. Through a state-of-the-art water treatment facility and a remote operations center called Centro in Nogales, Arizona, South32 encourages an entrepreneurial spirit and new ideas. Of note, Centro will accommodate employees and the automation technology needed to remotely monitor and operate some of the underground and surface equipment located at the mine site. Centro will host around 200 full-time employees over several shifts in a 24-hour period. Denise explains, “Imagine sitting in your gaming chair with operation equipment located twenty-eight miles away and three thousand feet underground!”

Other “seeds” that South32 plants are through education and training, by investing in programs like The Universe Within which provides youngsters in fourth through eighth graders with above grade-level exposure to physics. In addition, South32 provides STEM scholarships to high school senior winners throughout Santa Cruz County. This year South32 will present four $2,500 scholarships at each Santa Cruz County High School, to graduating seniors based on essays, grade average and admittance into a four-year college to study STEM.

Denise shares, “My first scholarship I was able to present was to a Patagonia Union High School senior. As a local resident of Patagonia this was extremely satisfying. The student went to the University of Arizona and came back to Patagonia to work on site for South32’s Hermosa project.”

South32 is planting seeds through its new Santa Cruz County Electrician Program as well. This fall, a first cohort of 16 students will start and complete this higher education program together, in partnership with Pima Community College and the Santa Cruz Center, training them for local jobs at South32. In addition, they have been sponsors of the Technolochica’s Program for middle school girls and Robotics camp in Santa Cruz County for several years.

Denise shares, “What I like most about working with South32 is that the company truly cares about the environment, community and the people that work here. There is so much thought and actions put into everything that is done on and off site to protect the environment, community and the people that work here.”

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT SOUTH 32!

The Raise the Bar Team who supports Mat Bevel Company’s work and youth programming for rural communities.

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In 2009, Jennifer Tersigni founded her company Raise the Bar Consulting to provide support for nonprofits that are doing great work in communities. The company offers growth and transformation strategies to help organizations thrive through three core areas of support: fundraising and revenue growth, organizational development, and transitional leadership solutions.

This year Raise the Bar Consulting was the first to donate on June 1 during Mat Bevel Company’s (MBC) ‘Plant The Seed’ fundraising campaign. Founder and CEO Jennifer Tersigni says, “I was inspired to support Mat Bevel Company’s STEAM world-building program called The Universe Within this year because it’s benefiting youth in the rural communities of Santa Cruz County. Growing up in a rural area myself, I understand the challenges faced in America’s rural communities firsthand. In fact, my childhood is one of the transformative experiences that led me to work in and for the nonprofit sector.”

Jennifer has long supported MBC’s vision to build cultural enrichment and opportunities for youth through arts and science education, not just because it’s needed, but because she believes what the nonprofit offers is extraordinary and visionary. She explains, “Their work inspires children (and adults) and creates a sense of awe and wonder, like a spark that lights the creative fire.”

Jennifer has been a fan of MBC Founder Ned Schaper’s work dating back close to 25 years. At the old Mat Bevel Institute, she witnessed people of all ages and stages of life being inspired. The property offered a format of art that was mesmerizing, the kind few people had ever seen. Jennifer adds, “Folks would leave the shows and talk for days about their experience. It was amazing.”

When the Mat Bevel Institute building was torn down in the mid 1990s, she never imagined that someday MBC would purchase its own property, and that the nonprofit would also open a satellite location in rural Patagonia, AZ.

Jennifer says, “Few artists and innovators make such a move, truly offering access to those who might not have it otherwise. What an incredible gift to Patagonia and Santa Cruz County to have access to such creative programming, usually reserved for urban centers. I was once again inspired by MBC’s transformation to build something bold, visionary, and new. I decided to make a sponsorship gift to support MBC’s vision of providing cultural enrichment and opportunities for youth through arts and science education, especially in underserved rural communities.”

Jennifer believes that every child, regardless of their background, deserves access to transformative experiences that inspire creativity, critical thinking, and resilience.

Raise the Bar Consulting, much like MBC, has planted many seeds over the years that have led to significant growth and opportunities for youth, families, and communities. Its current and past work with noteworthy partners like LPKNC, SARSEF, Arizona Youth Partnership, Institute for Better Education, Literacy Connects, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, Beads of Courage, and many others have allowed them to be a small thread in the tapestry of support for the arts, science education, and youth development.

Jennifer says, “As we celebrate our 15th anniversary and expand our work with schools, we are excited about new ways we plan to partner to support youth, arts, and education—nurturing hope, instilling confidence, and fostering a sense of belonging that will last for generations. The opportunity to philanthropically support organizations like MBC feels good, builds dreams, enriches lives, and helps others. After all, it wasn’t that long ago when some of us were those very kids in a rural town where someone else did the same for us. Now, it’s our turn to pay it forward.”

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT JENNIFER AND RAISE THE BAR CONSULTING!

South 32’s Manager of Project Technology Todd Pereira with a Desert Tortoise.

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Todd Pereira, Manager, Project Technology joined South32 in January 2023. He holds a double diploma in IT (Network Engineering & Systems Administration) from Canberra Institute of Technology in Australia and a Masters of Management (IT) from Charles Sturt University in Australia.

He has over 16 years of experience in the mining industry, working with technology in diverse locations including Australia, Saudi Arabia, and the USA. He says, “I have developed a deep understanding of the industry and its unique challenges. In my previous role as Head of IT with Nevada Gold Mines I successfully led the integration of Barrick and Newmont domains to form the largest gold mining complex in the world.”

South32 has sponsored Mat Bevel Company each year supporting The Universe Within world-building curriculum which aligns with one of its core focus areas, education, in particular cultivating skills and a passion for STEM subjects at an early age. STEM literacy is absolutely an essential part of mining, especially when it comes to a company that strives to innovate using digital transformation, which refers to adopting technology to improve operational efficiency.

Digital Transformation has not been widely adopted within the mining industry, but Todd and his team at South 32 are changing that. While companies in other industries can decide how to adjust their pricing models, mining companies’ pricing is controlled by external forces like the stock market and stability of global economies. For the industry to maximize profits, digital transformation provides a method to drive down those overheads for mining companies. This efficiency creates more opportunities for mining projects to continue and invest in their partnering communities.

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South 32’s Todd Pereira skiing on Mount Lemmon

The Hermosa Project near Patagonia, Arizona is the only advanced mine development project in the U.S. as of 2023 that could produce two federally designated critical minerals—one of the world’s largest undeveloped zinc resources and manganese, a resource that could produce battery-grade manganese to supply domestic demand. There has been no manganese mining in the U.S. since the 1970s, and there is no manganese metal production in all of North America. More than 75% of manganese metal in North America is imported from foreign sources, and the US is now 100% reliant on foreign sources for manganese. In addition, the US produces only 6% of the world’s zinc and is highly reliant on international sources for this metal.

South32 aims to “Power America’s Clean Energy Transition” through the Hermosa Project by producing minerals needed to build electric vehicles and renewable energy, thereby helping in the effort to decarbonize two of the highest greenhouse gas emitting sectors and power the nation’s clean energy future. With the U.S. highly reliant on imports and overseas supply chains for these resources, the Hermosa Project was selected as the first mining project to take part in the federal government’s FAST-41 program.

Todd says, “We’re designing the Hermosa Project to be a different kind of mine, using advanced technology and methods that will make it safer and more sustainable than older mines. For example, the project started with a $30 million voluntary clean-up of historic tailings piles left by previous owners. Building Santa Cruz Country’s first dry stack tailings facility to store more than 2.2 million tonnes of legacy tailings has helped the Hermosa Project reduce its water footprint by more than 75% of what similar mines in the broader region use.”

Additionally, Hermosa, thanks in part to its underground mining operational plans, has a footprint that is 95% smaller than a typical open-pit mine in Arizona. The mine is being designed to use renewable energy and electric vehicles to power its operations. South32 will also be constructing a remote operations center with state-of-the-art remote operating and automation technology.

During the initial construction phase, the project is expected to generate a cumulative $29 million in local taxes for Santa Cruz County, double the current amount, and $38 million in state taxes over the projected construction period (2022-2027).

Top prize winners in the 39^th Annual Youth Engineering and Science (YES) Fair were also winners at the Regeneron International Engineering, Science, and Technology Fair in Dallas, Texas, on May 14-15. The winners were pictured on awards night at the local fair, held March 2 at the Rothery Educational Service Center in Sierra Vista. Pictured are (from the left) Amy Martinez, teacher at Buena High School, the Buena High YES Fair Team of Emery Denham, Kevin Tran and Dylan Rubstello, Veritas student Manuel Castillo, Veritas teacher Melissa Bravenec and SSVEC Chief Executive Officer Jason Bowling.

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MBC sponsor Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) serves more than 53,000 member accounts located in a four-county service area in southeast Arizona. SSVEC is an industry leader in providing safe, reliable, and affordable service.

The Cooperative is guided by principles that emphasize voluntary and open membership, concern for the community, democratic member control, and support for education.

It is this support for education that has garnered SSVEC support for MBC’s The Universe Within STEAM program each year. SSVEC youth programs include scholarships, the Washington Youth Tour, and the Youth Engineering and Science (YES) Fair.

As a cooperative, SSVEC members are the owners of the company. Members are entitled to vote and/or serve on the elected Board of Directors. Members also benefit from the financial success of the not-for-profit cooperative. Each year, the SSVEC Board of Directors reviews the financial status of the Cooperative and decides on the capital credits that are returned to the members.

During the past 86 years, SSVEC has paid out more than $33 million in capital credits to its members.

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Winners of the 2023 Washington Youth Tour all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital were announced Nov. 16 at a family-student banquet held in Benson and hosted by SSVEC. Those pictured include (standing from the left) SSVEC Chief Executive Officer Jason Bowling, Benjamin Squires and Heart Monger, both of Buena High School; Juliannah Gavin and Brianna Vandeweg, both of Veritas Christian Community School; Kevin Tran of Buena High School, and Dan Barrera, Secretary of the SSVEC Board of Directors. Those seated, from the left, include Sammy Judd, St. David High School; Nathan Miles, Benson High School, Kyle Asato, Tombstone High School, and Ryan Wilde, Buena High School.

SSVEC is also a founding member of the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO), which generates electricity for local members and other cooperatives in Arizona, New Mexico, and California. AEPCO’s Apache Generating Station in the town of Cochise, AZ, is the primary source of electric power for SSVEC and AEPCO’s other members.

Innovation and investment continue to be priorities for SSVEC. In 2023 the Cooperative added another 20-megawatt solar farm, with a battery system, that will provide power to some 3,000 local members. In 2024, SSVEC anticipates increasing its energy portfolio with the addition of more solar power, increasing its overall energy mix to more than 35 percent from renewable resources.

MBC sponsor Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, represented by VP of Marketing & Communications Marcus Harston, pictured above, far right, presenting scholarship checks to Benson Unified School District.

Through our sponsor recognition articles, we are showcasing the many ways professionals cultivate and use creativity to improve their personal lives, their careers, the places they work and their communities. This article features Gloria Spencer, President of Nogales US Customs Brokers Association and General Manager of Livingston International. Read on to learn more.

Marcus Harston is Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC). The Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned distribution cooperative in Southern Arizona. SSVEC provides electricity to more than 60,000 services over some 4,100 miles of energized line.

Marcus explains, “My role at SSVEC is broad. I’m responsible for all marketing communications material, including print, social media, and video across all public outlets. I manage a variety of member-oriented programs such as Surge Protection, energy audits, and solar inspections. And I lead all youth programs including scholarships, the Washington Youth Tour, and the Youth Engineering and Science (YES) Fair.”

In his role, he directly interacts with the Board of Directors, Senior Management, Members, and affiliated organizations such as National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association (GCSECA), and Touchstone Energy.

MBC sponsor Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, represented by VP of Marketing & Communications Marcus Harston, pictured center above in the blue shirt, with volunteer staff members from SSVEC and Boys & Girls Club during a volleyball clinic to benefit high school and middle school coaches and players in Cochise County.

After serving 24 years in the military, Marcus entered the private sector with an eye toward educating young people. He says, “I started at SSVEC as the Community Relations Manager, where I was responsible for managing all youth programs. In this role, I was able to achieve my goal of educating and improving the future of young people in our service area.”

For Marcus, creativity is an opportunity to express, create, and direct elements of communication to other people and audiences. Utilizing the “tools” of creativity, he conveys messages in unique and invigorating ways with specific and general audiences, depending on the circumstances. The result of creativity has the power to inspire, motivate, and lead to a specific positive change in people.

Marcus says, “I employ creativity every day, personally and professionally, whether I’m developing correspondence, considering a marketing message, or even in contemplating a difficult golf shot on the weekend! Having a creative capacity empowers me to ‘think outside the box.’ Working in a position that invites a variety of messaging to diverse audiences gives me the opportunity to develop creative solutions and ideas to help achieve the Cooperative’s mission.”

The SSVEC golf tournament hosted for large users of electricity to assist with energy efficiency, usage and other programs to benefit companies in the service area.

At SSVEC, creative ideas are often inspired from discussions with fellow team members. Marcus says, “It’s important to ‘eliminate the fear factor,’ so that all ideas can be heard, without consequence, regardless of how radical they may be.”

Reading and researching are also ways that Marcus generates creative ideas. He compares outcomes from the experience of others and contemplates ideas that come to mind while digesting new materials and information. He also uses relaxation techniques, aimed at clearing and focusing the mind, to stimulate new, creative, ideas.

Marcus Harston is Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative

MBC sponsor Nogales US Customs Broker’s Association, represented by board president Gloria Spencer receiving her US Customs Broker license from CBP in Phoenix, September 2009.

Through our sponsor recognition articles, we are showcasing the many ways professionals cultivate and use creativity to improve their personal lives, their careers, the places they work and their communities. This article features Gloria Spencer, President of Nogales US Customs Brokers Association and General Manager of Livingston International. Read on to learn more.

Gloria Spencer is Branch Manager at Livingston International and President of the Board of Directors for Nogales U.S. Customs Brokers Association, a 2022-2023 Mat Bevel Company sponsor. She says, “As US Customs Licensed Brokers, we play an essential role in the flow of products from around the world and in this way, contribute to the economy of the USA.”

Customs brokers help companies import products into the USA from countries all over the world with whom the US has a normal trade relationship. These individuals and firms are licensed through US Customs & Border Protection (CBP), a Department of Homeland Security, to act as agents for importers and exporters. Brokers handle all the required protocols involved in customs clearance and importation of goods, in compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations -Title 19, Customs Duties.

In reporting information required by all participating government agencies that regulate the eligibility to import products, they protect the safety and interests of consumers in the USA.

Gloria says, “This is a highly specialized and complex job, but a rewarding one, as we keep the economy flowing! I use my creativity to visualize and analyze problems from different angles, and to figure out resolutions that will help myself, my company and my customers. I apply my experience and creativity to write instruction sheets or procedures so others know what to do when they encounter a similar issue, or need to train employees.”

Gloria discovered her career path by leveraging some of her best creative skills: analyzing details, solving problems and applying critical thinking. In the 90s she was hired as a purchasing manager in a manufacturing plant in Mexico. She also managed the Inventory Control function, calculating the cost of new products which includes at a high-level, parts + labor + freight + overhead costs.

This was during the time when the US, Mexico and Canada signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which allowed duty-free trade between the signatory countries. The agreement also required products to use specific quantities of NAFTA-region components in a product to qualify for free-duty imports.

Gloria explains, “My general manager, who was a mentor to me, asked me to help calculate the product cost for NAFTA purposes, since I was already assessing our product for Inventory Control. I insisted on taking professional training from our local customs broker experts, so that I could learn the regulatory requirements and take on the task of NAFTA record keeper to help our company claim NAFTA benefits with US Customs. This was my incursion into International Trade related functions.”

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Birds and flowers from Gloria’s garden.

Her mentor challenged her to pursue a government license to become a broker in Mexico so that she could help manage the import and export of production materials for the factory. She signed up for classes, took a test required by Mexico’s Hacienda and obtained her in-house Mexico Broker license. The experience of contributing to her company as in-house broker led her to decide to become a US Customs Broker later in life when she emigrated to the US. To qualify as a broker in the US, Gloria became a US Citizen, passed a rigorous US Customs broker test with English as her second language and passed an CBP-required FBI background check.

For Gloria creativity is a deep source of satisfaction derived from learning and applying her learned skills, plus inspiration and intelligence to make something beautiful or useful. To help stimulate her creativity, she loves to read books, take courses and watch videos to learn how to do activities that interest her, from taking good photographs to growing fruit trees, veggies and flowers for pollinators.

Regarding the role creativity plays in her personal life, Gloria says, “In my hobbies, creativity means taking a beautiful picture of a sunset, planting flowers, herbs, and veggies in my garden, then taking pictures of the visiting butterflies and hummingbirds. I then harvest plants from my garden to cook something delicious like a basil-pesto pasta dish, to share with loved ones.”

While there are situations in life that we have no control of, like the Covid 19 pandemic and its impact in everyone’s activities, Gloria advises young people to focus on what they have control of: “Positive decisions like studying and learning. Everything we learn will be useful in life and nothing can take our knowledge and skills away from us.”

Gloria Spencer, President of Nogales US Customs Brokers Association and General Manager of Livingston International