Justin was born and raised in Ferry County and joined Kinross as a summer intern in 2011. He has a passion for geology and discovery, as mining has run in his blood for several generations. After his internship, Justin joined the Kettle River team as a permanent employee in 2017 where his drive, innovative spirit, and dedication led him to his current position as Exploration Manager.
His leadership in mining and exploration geology have helped to shape and guide activities in the region. He readily steps up to challenges and strives to find the best path forward with his team. Justin has been instrumental in guiding the Curlew Basin Exploration program, the main exploration project at Kettle River. Several vein discoveries at Curlew Basin led to approval of the large-scale exploration project that aims for the potential restart of the Kettle River/Curlew Basin mine. His detailed focus, perseverance and vision have tested new targets resulting in continued significant resource growth. Justin is the technical point person for the project, and has a natural talent for explaining even the most complicated aspects of exploration and geology to any audience. His passion shines through in all he does, from the quality of his work to inspiring kids in local schools.
Justin is known by his peers as a hard-working, dedicated team player who is always available to support his colleagues. As a Kettle River native, with his family history in the region dating back to the 1800s, Justin is passionate about his work and his community. Not only does he embody the very definition of High Performance Culture, Justin is also an absolute pleasure to work with. He always has a smile on his face, a kind word to say, and manages to find the good in every challenge he meets.
“Justin continues to step up to any challenge, year-after-year. He builds relationships, mentors people, values others, works hard, challenges assumptions, thinks outside the box, and cares for his community and the environment, said Kat Autenrieth, Regional Director, North America Brownfields Exploration. “His dedication and passion for his job is contagious and truly embodies the Kinross values.”
