We're excited to announce the return of Best Mining Story, one of our most requested features on Kinross World! The Best Mining Story column is an opportunity for employees across our global operations to share their stories, memories and experiences to highlight the diversity of our workforce and the unique journeys our employees have taken into the mining industry.

This week, we hear from Kathy Barger, an Accountant from Round Mountain, who has laid the foundation for three generations of Women in Mining at Kinross.

Kathy shares her family’s story below:  

“My family’s journey in the mining industry began almost five decades ago, in 1978. I had recently joined the Round Mountain team and was one of very few women working in a male-dominated industry. Although I was in the administrative department, which was home to more women than men, I always hoped the future of mining would include more women in the field rather than in the office and had hopes of inspiring the next generation of miners – particularly my daughter Stephanie.”

“Stephanie is my only child, and we’ve always shared a very close bond. I had hoped she might follow a similar path and one day join the Round Mountain team, getting out into the field and building her career with Kinross. When she decided to move to Las Vegas in 1994, I had to accept that she might never return to our small town after experiencing life in the big city. But everything changed the moment she gave birth to my granddaughter, Kamryn.”

“In 2010, Stephanie returned home with her three year old daughter and was looking for employment opportunities. I encouraged her to apply to Kinross and next thing I knew we were headed to work together. Kinross not only provided her with a stable job, income and long-term opportunities, they also provided her flexibility as a single mother, whether that be with a flexible work schedule or on-site daycare, so she was able to focus on her career while knowing she had support for her family.”

“Now working as an Environmental Specialist, Stephanie continues to build her career at Round Mountain and has carried on the tradition of inspiring the next generation in our family. Over the past two summers, we’ve welcomed her daughter, Kamryn, to the Round Mountain team as a summer intern in the Human Resources and Technical Services departments. Although she’s still young, we hope that her time at Round Mountain—and the exposure she’s gained to various parts of the operation—will positively influence her as she prepares to pursue post-secondary education in forensic science.”

“As I look back on my 47 years in mining, I feel these last few years have been some of the greatest and ones that I am most proud of. I am proud of the evolution I have seen for women in mining and I am proud that my family gets to be a part of that evolution for hopefully generations to come. The three of us may come from different generations and life experiences, but we will always have one thing in common – our time shared being women in mining and the impact we are making each day on pushing the industry forward. I am proud of my family, and proud that Kinross will always be a part of our family’s story.”

Do you have a Best Mining Story you want shared on Kinross World? Send your submissions to KinrossWorld@Kinross.com for a chance to be featured! Submissions can range from operational achievements, to exploration adventures, safety shares or inspirational moments. We look forward to your stories!

Three generations of Women in Mining! From left to right:
Kathy Barger, Accountant, Round Mountain, Kamryn Warczak, Human Resources Summer Intern, Round Mountain, and Stephanie Naegle, Environmental Specialist, Round Mountain