Bagdad Mine Manager Benny Corbell recently was honored with the Mining and Minerals Education Foundation’s Medal of Merit for young professionals award for his contributions to the advancement of the mining industry.
Corbell is the fourth Freeport-McMoRan recipient of the award and the third to achieve this distinction during their tenure at Bagdad.
"I feel very honored to receive this award,” Corbell said. “The Mining and Minerals Education Foundation has a lot of people to choose from, and I am grateful to be selected."
Corbell started with the company in 2009 as a mine engineer in Morenci after graduating from the University of Arizona. His career progressed through diverse roles and multiple locations before leading him to Bagdad as Chief Mining Engineer. In 2021, he moved to his current role of Mine Manager.
When asked about his leadership style, Corbell reflects on the qualities instilled in him during his childhood. As a fourth-generation miner, he was raised with values such as hard work, perseverance, and a constant drive for improvement.
Drawing from his experience as a former Army reservist, Corbell emphasizes the importance of developing a cohesive team and measuring results to achieve success for customers. "It's about developing people — placing the right individuals in the right positions and ensuring they have opportunities to grow,” he said.
"This award reflects years of hard work and dedication from Benny in his personal and professional life,” said Jeff Monteith, General Manager-Bagdad. “He is always striving to learn more about the business and constantly looking for ways to improve the performance of the Mine Division. He is the embodiment of the award, and it is well deserved."