In this special episode of the Mining Minds Podcast, we sit down at U.S. Steel Minntac with Mike Bakk, Director of Facilities Excellence, and Chrissy Bartovich, Senior Director of Environmental. From humble beginnings to leading major projects that shape the future of steelmaking, Mike and Crissy share their personal journeys, leadership lessons, and the innovations driving today's mining industry.

We dive into the transformation of mining from "pick and shovel" to high-tech operations featuring AI, robotic dogs, and advanced reliability systems. Mike and Crissy sheds light on the critical role of environmental stewardship, community engagement, and the innovations needed to meet evolving regulations. Together, their stories highlight resilience, continuous improvement, and a legacy of mining that sustains families, communities, and industries for generations to come. Brass in to join the conversation!

Special thanks to Kristen Vake (Iron Mining Association of MN), Julie Lucas and Talia Sandys (MiningMinnesota) for making this episode possible.

Episode Sponsors:

Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals

JSR Fleet Performance

Liebherr Mining

Episode Chapters:

02:15 Mike's early start and path into mining

07:50 Lessons from leadership at a young age

13:15 Managing crews and building respect

17:00 Career moves and new opportunities at Keetac

26:00 The $150M pellet upgrade project

29:00 Community pride and the impact of steelmaking

34:00 Robotics, AI, and mining's digital future

38:00 Crissy's journey into mining & environmental leadership

48:40 Compliance, community trust, and high standards

53:30 Community advisory panels & public transparency

59:30 Innovation in environmental solutions: crowdsourcing success

01:09:00 Opportunities at U.S. Steel and the future of mining