Timothy R. Snider

2008 Inductee into American Mining Hall of Fame

A third-generation Phelps Dodge employee, Tim Snider began his career as an underground mine laborer in the Copper Queen operation in Bisbee, Arizona. He received his B.S., Geology and Chemistry at Northern Arizona University in 1979, and in 1996 attended the advanced Management Program at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

During his 37 years with Phelps Dodge, he held numerous operational, technical, and exploration positions. During the 1980s and early 1990s, he led Phelps Dodge’s development of large scale, low-cost, solution extraction-electrowinning process technology. Later, he launched the Candelaria mine development project, which was Phelps Dodge's first major mine and concentrator in South America. Also, he led the operation and modernization of the company's largest mining operation in Morenci.

In 1998, Tim was appointed President of Phelps Dodge Mining Company and in 2003 was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of Phelps Dodge Corporation. In these roles, he led the operational and technical integration of Phelps Dodge's Cyprus-AMAX acquisition and helped to establish Phelps Dodge as one of the industry leaders in technology development and operational excellence. In early 2007, he assumed the role of President and Chief Operating Officer of Freeport-McMoran Copper and Gold, Inc. upon Freeport's acquisition of Phelps Dodge, a position he held until his retirement from full time work at the end of the first quarter of 2008.

He is a director of Compass Minerals International, Inc. based in Overland Park, Kansas, and a board member of various non-profit organizations, namely Northern Arizona University Foundation and The University of Arizona Science Center and Mineral Museum. Tim is a member of the Colorado School of Mines Visiting Committee and a director of the Mineral Information Institute. He is a member of SME and the National Association of Corporate Directors.

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