CHIMEZIE ODIKE
Seguin,TX
Summary
Results-driven Mine Engineer with extensive experience leading multi-site mine planning, and operational improvement initiatives. Skilled in short- and long-term planning, contractor management, budget oversight, and safety compliance. Seeking to leverage technical expertise and project leadership to enhance production efficiency and deliver strategic capital projects that align with organizational objectives.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Mine Engineer
CEMEX
New Braunfels, TX
03.2025 - 03.2026
- Formulated short- and long-term mine plans for two sites, ensuring adherence to existing and future permits and volume targets for plant throughput.
- Leveraged Surpac and Carlson software alongside topographic data and geological drill information to develop geologic model.
- Collaborated with the the operations teams to develop KPI to ensure mine plan compliance
- Developed of monthly progress reports for the senior management team
- leveraged ArcGIS to develop project site maps vital in during mine plan meetings
- Supervised drill-and-blast and specialty contractors, monitoring performance against scope, KPIs, safety standards, and contractual requirements.
- utilized pit flyovers for accurate volume estimation
- Prepared monthly production forecasts, progress reports, and reconciliation summaries to provide leadership with accurate performance visibility.
- Supported environmental and regulatory compliance activities by coordinating with internal stakeholders and external agencies to maintain operational permits and reporting requirements.
- Collaborated cross-functional mine planning meetings to proactively identify constraints, resolve scheduling conflicts, and remove execution barriers impacting production targets.
Mine Engineer
Pattison Sand Company
Garnavillo
07.2024 - 02.2025
- Facilitated weekly site mine plan meetings, coordinating activities and ensuring alignment with project objectives.
- Implemented solutions based on field observations, addressing operational challenges, and optimizing processes for improved performance.
- Coordinated cross-functional input from operations, finance, safety, and procurement to align contract terms with site objectives, production goals, and budget constraints.
- Coordinated day-to-day execution of mine and capital projects, aligning equipment availability, workforce planning, production schedules, and safety requirements to maintain efficient field operations.
- Improved haul cycle efficiency through route optimization and field-driven operational adjustments, generating measurable cost savings while reducing near-miss exposure and operational risk.
- Planned and managed drill & blast activities, including blast design to ensure proper fragmentation and maintain compliance with applicable regulation.
- Maintained accurate and organized blast records in accordance with regulations and maintain proactive relationship with regulators.
- Performed end of month drone flights for pit reconciliation.
- Ensured the safety of all employees, visitors, and contractors and promoted a culture of Zero4Life.
- Implemented structured progress tracking systems and performance dashboards to monitor schedule adherence, cost, performance, contractor productivity, and key operational KPIs.
Mine Engineer
Lhoist North America
Las Vegas, NV
06.2023 - 04.2024
- Managed daily drill and blast schedules, ensuring safe, efficient, and production-aligned execution while maintaining full compliance with site safety standards and regulatory requirements.
- Led kickoff meetings for capital stripping programs, establishing scope, budget alignment, safety expectations, and execution timelines with contractors and site leadership.
- Guided contractor stripping and blasting projects, monitoring performance to ensure adherence to scope, schedule, cost targets, and quality standards.
- Reviewed monthly contractor blasting invoices and approved submissions for payment, maintaining financial accuracy and budget control.
- Supervised active pit development projects, coordinating field crews and ensuring alignment with approved mine plans and production targets.
- Developed a comprehensive 5-year mine plan integrating strategic objectives, stripping strategy, equipment capacity, and production forecasts to support long-term operational sustainability.
- Designed ore and waste boundaries using geologic model.
- Oversaw drill data management and short-term geological model updates, improving planning accuracy and reconciliation reliability.
- Prepared weekly production and project performance reports for senior leadership, providing visibility into schedule adherence, cost performance, and operational risks.
- Performed drones flight survey for end of month pit reconciliation and other mine projects.
- Produced monthly blast and pit reconciliation reports, strengthening cost transparency and performance accountability.
- Successfully reduced blasting costs by thirty cents per ton through optimized blast designs.
- Facilitated weekly mine planning meetings, aligning engineering, operations, and contractors on priorities and risk controls.
Strategic Mine Planner
Freeport McMoran
Green Valley
10.2020 - 04.2023
- Collaborated with a cross-functional technical team to develop an 85-year Life of Mine (LOM) plan, integrating geology, geotechnical constraints, production sequencing, and economic drivers.
- Facilitated mine plan optimization workshops to align short-term production plans with long-term strategic objectives and reserve development strategies.
- Designed haul road networks, pushbacks, and waste dump configurations to support efficient material movement and long-term pit expansion strategies.
- Developed pit extraction schedules for the Life of Mine plan, balancing production targets, stripping ratios, equipment capacity, and economic performance.
- Served as the company liaison for field-based projects involving Caterpillar equipment initiatives and collaborative programs with Freeport-McMoRan, supporting operational trials and performance evaluations.
- Supported long-term geological model development by integrating production data, reconciliation results, and field observations to enhance resource confidence and mine planning accuracy.
- Occasionally acted as Operations Supervisor, overseeing field activities, coordinating crews, and ensuring the safe execution of daily production targets.
Geomechanics Engineer
Freeport-McMoRan
Green Valley, AZ
08.2017 - 10.2020
- Served as project engineer for the site-wide slope depressurization campaign, responsible for execution planning, safety performance, budget tracking, and geotechnical risk reduction.
- Prepared and submitted drilling campaign permits to county authorities, ensuring regulatory compliance and timely approvals.
- Facilitated blast optimization meetings with drilling and blasting teams to align production activities with the slope risk management.
- Managed monthly reconciliation and performance tracking of slope monitoring systems, including IBIS radar, piezometers, ground probe and total stations.
- Developed and implemented slope failure mitigation plans integrated into daily operations and short-term planning processes.
- Collaborated with a cross-functional team of engineers to develop a comprehensive depressurization drill plan aligned with production requirements and safety constraints.
- Created standard operating procedures for slope data analysis to standardize interpretation methods and improve consistency among slope technicians.
- Reviewed pit designs from planning to ensure compliance with safe bench integrity in mining area.
Education
BS - Mining Engineering
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ05.2018
Skills
- Proficient in AutoCAD, ArcGIS, Surpac, Excel, & Google Earth and working of knowledge of MineSight 3d
- Ability to work on multiple projects at multiple sites simultaneously with a sense of urgency in a fast-paced environment
- Experience with drone survey
- Knowledge and experience with GPS survey equipment and surveying standards
- Experienced MS-Office and PowerPoint skills, with emphasis on Excel
- Knowledge of SAP
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
Certification
FAA drone License
Project Management Profession (PMI) - May 2026
Timeline
Mine Engineer
CEMEX
03.2025 - 03.2026
Mine Engineer
Pattison Sand Company
07.2024 - 02.2025
Mine Engineer
Lhoist North America
06.2023 - 04.2024
Strategic Mine Planner
Freeport McMoran
10.2020 - 04.2023
Geomechanics Engineer
Freeport-McMoRan
08.2017 - 10.2020
BS - Mining Engineering
University of Arizona