Congratulations!

Dr. J. Steven Gardner - 2002 GEM Individual Award

October 14, 2002 -- The Central Appalachian Section of SME is very pleased to announce that Steve Gardner was selected by SME as the recipient of the 2002 Government, Education, and Mining (GEM) Individual Award. This award was given in recognition of Steve's "...enthusiastic support of GEM activities and for educating the public by partnering with school districts and university systems to provide more information about the mining industry." This prestigious award will be presented to Steve at the SME Dinner on Wednesday, February 26, 2003, during the Annual SME Meeting and Exhibit in Cincinnati, Ohio. I hope each of you will join us in congratulating Steve for his contributions in this regard.

J. STEVEN GARDNER, P.E., P.S. - Steve Gardner is the President of Mining Consulting Services, Inc. He has been responsible for the management of services that include mine planning, geotechnical engineering, environmental assessments, property evaluations, impoundment and refuse area design, hydrology, and environmental permitting. He holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Kentucky in Mining Engineering and Agricultural Engineering, respectively, plus a graduate level Environmental Systems Certificate. Previously he has worked as an engineer and manager in both mining operations and engineering consulting and served on a mine rescue team. He recently worked on the Editorial Review Committee for the Kentucky Mining Institute in preparing the Fifth Edition of the Coal Mining Reference Book that is utilized as a study guide for Kentucky Mine Foremen's Exams.