2026 Intermountain Critical Minerals Summit In Conjunction with the 111th Annual Utah Mining Association Convention
Summit Partners
Summit Sponsors
Why Attend the Summit
Summit Program & Agenda
Explore the full program for the 2026 Intermountain Critical Minerals Summit, including session descriptions, featured speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors.
Day One — Wednesday, November 4, 2026
From Strategic Vulnerability to Domestic Capability
8:00–9:00 a.m. — Registration, Breakfast & Exhibits, Sponsored by The Western Way
9:00–9:10 a.m. — Summit Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:10–9:25 a.m. — Opening Keynote: Governor Spencer J. Cox
9:40–10:30 a.m. — Panel: Critical Minerals for Economic and National Security
Moderator: Ivy Estabrooke, Independent Director, Rare Earths Americas
Taylor Sulik, CEO, Mithril Mining
Greg Gregory, Former President, Materion Natural Resources
Cory Smith, Principal Advisor – Process, Rio Tinto Copper– Research & Development
Charles Nathan Cardinell, Senior Staff Materials Engineer, Lockheed Martin
10:30–10:40 a.m. — Networking Break, Sponsored by Barney Trucking & DISA Uranium
10:50–11:40 a.m. — Panel: Utah’s Workforce Pipeline: Preparing Students and Workers for Critical Minerals Careers
Moderated by: Vic Hockett, Association Commissioner, Talent Ready Utah
Brian Steed, VP for Government and External Relations, Utah State University
Ashley Schultz, Program Manager for Workforce Training and Education, SLCC
Pearl Sandick, Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Dean of the College of Science University of Utah
Jason Kaiser, Dept. Chair of Geosciences, Professor of Geology, Southern Utah University
11:40 a.m.–12:05 p.m. — Luncheon Keynote: Congressman Burgess Owens
12:15–1:15 p.m. — Lunch / Partner and Sponsor Engagement, Sponsored by Lilac Solutions
1:15–2:05 p.m. — Critical Minerals Processing and Smelting — Closing the Midstream Gap
Moderator: Mick McCaslin, Principal, McCaslin Consulting
Curtis Moore, VP Marketing & Corporate Development , Energy Fuels
Michael Free, Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Director of the Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals, University of Utah
Peter Flanagan, Senior VP of Sales & Key Accounts, FLSmidth
Ryan Walton, Principal Advisor – Metals Projects for Smelting and Refining, Rio Tinto Kennecott
2:05–2:35 p.m. —The MINES Center: Strengthening America’s Critical Minerals Future, Dr. Adam Cohen,President & CEO, Associated Universities, Inc.
2:35–3:25 p.m. —Panel: Federal Policy— Building a Predictable Path from Discovery to Production
Moderator: Megan Houdeshel, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney
Justin Anthony, Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Mike Lee
Dana Dean, Acting Director, Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining
Parker Kasmer, VP Government Affairs, Mariana Minerals
Trent Staggs, Region 8 Advocate, U.S. Small Business Administration
3:25–3:45 p.m. — Networking Break, Sponsored by DISA Uranium & Barney Trucking
3:45–4:35 p.m. —Panel: From Ore to Innovation: Research, Technology, and Commercialization
Moderated by Charles Musgrave, Dean of Engineering, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Utah
Caleb Hill, Senior Manager, Critical Minerals and Geothermal Energy, Idaho National Laboratory
Hongyou Fan, Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff and R&D Manager, Sandia National Labs
Anthony Burrell, Research Advisor, Materials Science, National Laboratory of the Rockies
Mike Free, Professor Metallurgical Engineering, Dept. Chair, Director Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals at the University of Utah
4:45–5:00 p.m. — Day One Summary & Announcements
5:00-5:30 p.m. — Headshots for Members and Partners
5:30–7:00 p.m. — Welcome Cocktail Reception, Sponsored by Pace Analytical
3:35-5:45 p.m. — Reverse Expo, Pre-Registration Required, Members-Only
Day Two — Thursday, November 5, 2026
Building the Talent, Institutions, and Partnerships to Deliver
8:00–9:00 a.m. — Breakfast & Exhibits, Sponsored by Jennmar
9:00–9:10 a.m. — Day Two Opening Remarks
9:10-9:20 a.m. — Opening Keynote: President Taylor Randall, University of Utah
9:20-9:40 a.m. — Fireside Chat: The Future of Critical Minerals Research & Innovation, University of Utah President Taylor Randall and Dr. Jud Virden, Director, National Laboratory of the Rockies
9:40–10:30 a.m. — Panel: National Laboratories and Universities— Turning Research into U.S. Capability
Moderator: Dawn Wellman, Senior Research Fellow in Critical Minerals and Materials, Savannah River National Laboratory
Shannon M. Bragg-Sitton, Associate Laboratory Director, Idaho National Laboratory
Bill Tumas, Deputy Laboratory Director, Science and Technology, and Chief Research Officer, National Lab of the Rockies
Jim Redmond, Center Director (Acting), Sandia National Labs
10:30–10:40 a.m. — Networking Break, Sponsored by Barney Trucking & DISA Uranium
10:50–11:40 a.m. — Panel: Building America’s Critical Minerals Supply Chains
Moderator: Ben Kolendar, Chief of Staff, World Trade Center
Brock Alexander, VP Government & Defense, 5N+, Inc.
Matthew Lengerich, President and Executive General Manager, Jervois USA
Darian Orozco, VP of Development and Engineering, Mariana Minerals
Royce Ferguson, Senior Advisor, Non-Gov, DARPA
11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Utah Mining Association Business
12:40–1:30 p.m. — Luncheon Panel, Sponsored by Revival Gold & Utah Potash
The Next Generation Speaks: Student Perspectives on Critical Minerals. Convened by Kim Brannon, Sr. HR Director, NovaGold
University of Utah Students: Travis Bach, Lola Nielson, Carson Smith, Bradyn Bath
1:40 –2:30 p.m. — Panel—State Policy: Creating Competitive Conditions and Infrastructure for Critical Minerals Development
Moderated by Brian Somers, President, Utah Mining Association
Stephanie Mills, Metallic Minerals Section Manager and Senior Geologist, Utah Geological Survey
Emy Lesofski, Director of Utah Office of Energy Development and Special Energy Advisor to Governor Spencer Cox
Ben Hart, Executive Director, Utah Inland Port Authority
David Shallenberger, Representative, Utah House of Representatives
2:30–3:20 p.m. — Critical Minerals Projects in the Intermountain West: From Resource Potential to Operating Supply Chains
Moderator: Pratt Rogers, Department Chair, Mining Engineering, University of Utah
Greg Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Ionic Mineral Technologies
Jonathan Lindley, Head of Strategy & Business Development, Intrepid Potash
Mark Mulligan, Vice President Engineering & Projects, Lilac Solutions
Nick Proctor, Director of Resource, DISA Uranium
3:20–4:00 p.m. — Closing Keynote: Congresswoman Celeste Maloy
Questions? Contact Nikki Olsen at nolsen@utahmining.org, or 801-364-1874.
Utah Mining Association
136 South Main Street, Suite A403
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
Phone: 801-364-1874
Support The Mining Industry
Your support is essential to the long-term success of the mining industry and our way of life.