STEVEN RUTHERFORD

Waterloo | IN 46793
sdrutherford@centurylink.net

260-235-9236

VP PROJECTS ENGINEERING OPERATIONS

Consistent record of improving safety, quality, customer service, production, maintenance and overall
project and operating costs
Senior Executive with comprehensive project management and operations experience, including start-ups and
acquisitions, streamlining organizations and operations, and new business development. Known as an effective team
leader and communicator with demonstrated success communicating from plant floor to board room.
Multimillion-Dollar P&L Accountability | Greenfield Projects | Negotiations | Engineering
Process Control |Plant Automation | Human Resources

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ESSAR PROJECTS, Hibbing, MN
2010-Present
Executive Director, 2014-Present
Promoted to officer and Board of Directors for Essar Projects (USA) and continue with overall responsibility to complete
the 7.0 MTPA project on schedule and budget.
Chief of Projects, 2012-2014
Expanded capacity of 4.1 MTPA taconite plant to 7.0 MTPA for an additional $650M, total capital cost of $1.7B. Secured
commercial agreements between project stakeholders, permits, engineering, procurement, financing, staffing for
construction and operations, and constructing plant on schedule and budget. Additional responsibilities included
securing new clients/projects in North and South America and serving on Board of Directors for Essar Constructions
Limited, Dubai.
Assisted finance team with efforts to secure $650M in project financing.
Recruited senior staff to build and operate plant.
Secured all required environmental permits to build and produce 7.0 MTPA.
Negotiated favorable procurement contracts for incremental equipment.
Bid 3 new jobs in North America, 1 was successful thus far.
Project Director, 2010-2012
Responsible for project safety, permitting, financing, human resources, accounting, engineering, operations,
maintenance, inventory/spares and negotiating all raw material and utility contracts to build a $1.1B greenfield 4.1
MTPA taconite plant.
Assisted finance team with securing $713M in project financing from (7) India banks.
Recruited senior staff to build and operate the plant.
Developed and implemented safety and HR policies.
Secured all required environmental permits to build and produce 4.1 MTPA.
Secured favorable Project Labor Agreement with labor unions to reduce capital costs.
Secured $65M of non-recourse funding from the State of Minnesota for infrastructure improvements and
completed construction $1.2M under budget.
Secured favorable 10-year power and gas contracts.
Maintained $1.1B budget and schedule per funding commitments.
MESABI NUGGET, Hoyt Lakes, MN
2007-2010
Project/Operations Manager
Oversaw project safety, permitting, financing, human resources, accounting, engineering, maintenance,
inventory/spares and negotiating all raw material and utility contracts.
Completed negotiations with five partners to wind-up former company and form new company.
Completed negotiations with State environmental agencies to construct a large-scale demonstration plant in
Minnesota capable of producing 500,OOO tons per year of iron nuggets.
Secured favorable Project Labor Agreement with labor unions, reducing capital costs.
Secured $26.5M of non-recourse funding from State of Minnesota.
Successfully built/commissioned Worlds first commercial iron nugget facility in less than 24 months.
Completed negotiations to purchase iron ore reserves to produce 2M tons per year of iron nuggets for 65+
years for Mesabi Mining LLC.

STEVEN RUTHERFORD

PAGE TWO

IRON DYNAMICS INC., Butler, IN

1998-2007
Manager Engineering, 2000-2007
Supervised department engineers, maintenance employees, and contractors as well as 3 engineers for Mesabi Nugget
Pilot Demonstration Plant as Project Manager.
Increased plant availability from 60% to 90%.
Reduced water treat costs $100K per year.
Favorable to budget by $110K for Campaign-4 capital installation.
Favorable to budget by $230K for Campaign-5 capital installation.
Successfully completed commercial negotiations for Mesabi Nugget Project (MNP).
Favorable to construction budget by $1.2M for MNP.
Assisted with loan applications and lobbying for $15.5M from two Minnesota economic development agencies.
Successfully applied and received $5.5M grant from Department of Energy for MNP.
Supervisor Operations & Engineering, 2000
Supervised 4 operation supervisors, 3 engineers, and 52 employees.
Developed Weekly Highlight Report, improving safety awareness, establishing production
communicating accomplishments, and recognizing employees for plant improvement ideas.
Established teams, improving employee safety, work environment, and training.
Trained 2-new supervisors and 15 new utilities.
Improved manpower flexibility with job combinations and cross-training.
Achieved the following team results:
o Reduced gas costs $69K/month or 20%
o Reduced disposal costs 30%
o Increased plant availability 40%
o Set two production records

goals,

Supervisor Operations, 1998-2000

Supervised 1 electrical engineer, 12 employees and 4 instrumentation contractors.
Managed/engineered instrumentation projects, all were completed on budget and schedule.
Designed/implemented prototype carbon injection system for hot metal chemistry correction.
Assisted in redesign of pellet plant, rotary hearth furnace (RHF), and submerged arc furnace (SAF).
Developed process control strategies, MMIs, and operator training.
Achieved the following team results:
o Produced the Worlds first coal-based direct reduced iron using a RHF
o Produced the Worlds first liquid pig iron using RHF/SAF technology

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
U.S. SILICA, Berkeley Springs, WV and Mill Creek OK
Plant Manager
Corporate Engineering Manager
Corporate Automation Manager
INLAND STEEL MINING, Virginia, MN
Section Manager Electrical & Automation
Supervisor Electrical & Automation

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science (BS), Industrial Technology, Bemidji State University, MN
Master Electrical License, State of Minnesota
Electronics Degree, Lacrosse, WI
70+ Industrial Automation and Process Control Credits
45+ Advanced Management Credits

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Active member of Unity Way, including serving as a Board Member and participating in Day of Caring and Back Packs