Bartovich named “SME Minnesota Mining Professional of the Year”

Chrissy Bartovich wasn’t quite sure she heard her name called.

“It was a complete surprise,” Bartovich, of Mountain Iron, United States Steel Corp. senior director Environmental, Tailings and Community Relations said. “We sat in the back of the room and it was a long walk to the front of the room when they called my name.”

Bartovich was presented with the 2024 Minnesota Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), “SME Minnesota Mining Professional of the Year,” award at the annual Minnesota SME conference in Duluth.

It’s a prestigious award given annually to an outstanding individual who has significantly contributed to the betterment of the Minnesota mining industry with their expertise and education.

“Chrissy’s career and dedication to improving the Iron Range have truly set her apart,” Katie Larson, Minnesota SME past chair said. “We thank Chrissy for her years of service and commitment and congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.”

Bartovich, on June 1, marks 25 years of working at U.S. Steel’s Minnesota Ore Operations.

Minnesota Ore Operations includes Minntac Mine in Mountain Iron and Keetac in Keewatin.

Over that time, Bartovich has also been tasked with environmental responsibilities at other U.S. Steel facilities across the nation.

At the SME conference, Bartovich said she wasn’t sure she heard correctly when her name was called for the award.

“They started reading the bio and I thought, ‘It kind of sounds like me’,” Bartovich said. “And then I thought, ‘That’s me’.”

The thought of receiving an award for their work doesn’t cross the minds of mining industry employees, Bartovich said.

“We just go to work every day, put your head down, do your work and don’t expect recognition,” Bartovich said. “It was very surprising and I was very humbled that somebody would nominate me.”

Whomever nominated Bartovich is being held confidential.

However, the nomination text said Bartovich strives to improve things for the place she and her family call home and she has a profound understanding of mining and it’s long-term well-being of the communities in which it operates.

Bartovich can distill complex regulatory and technical issues in a manner understood by all the while volunteering her time supporting industry initiatives and educational programs, the nomination said.

Bartovich also works with regulatory agencies and politicians in St. Paul on policies to make the industry better, the nomination said.

Beyond work, Bartovich is active with the Rock Ridge Girls’ Hockey Boosters, the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota board of directors and the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota board of directors.

Since receiving the award, Bartovich said congratulations have come in from co-workers and friends.

“The best part was a lot of people saw it and reached out to me and said ‘You deserved this’,” Bartovich said.

The award has since 1996 been presented by the SME.

Two other local U.S. Steel employees had received the award prior to Bartovich, Sarah Blust in 2002 and Jason Barta in 2020, according to U.S. Steel.