A Career Forged on Purpose – 20 Years Strong & Still Building
Tom, Millwright
Mornings at Pogo Mine begin long before most of the world wakes up.
At 3am, Tom eats breakfast. By 5am, he’s riding to the mill, tools packed, hard hat on, ready to keep the systems running that quietly power modern life.
Tom has been doing this work for 20 years.
“Discovering the mining industry, seeing it evolve, and experiencing first-hand how it impacts every aspect of modern life has made it a really great way to spend 20 years,” he says, “and provide for my family.”
As a millwright at Northern Star, Tom is one of the skilled tradespeople responsible for keeping the heart of the mine moving. Pumps, conveyors, mills, filter presses, incinerators, if it moves material through the process, Tom and his team are responsible for keeping it running safely and efficiently.
“It has been fascinating over the years to learn of the impact of minerals in unexpected places, such as modern medicine,” says Tom.
Gold is now used in cancer therapy for targeted drug delivery. Tiny gold nanoparticles can be coated with drugs that specifically bind to cancer cells, helping deliver treatment right where it’s needed while sparing healthy cells. It’s also enhancing photothermal therapy: when exposed to certain wavelengths of light, gold nanoparticles heat up. If they’re inside a tumor, that heat can kill cancer cells with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.
“It’s amazing to think that the gold we are taking from the ground has the potential to change someone’s life.”
An Adventure of a Lifetime
Tom didn’t grow up in Alaska. He was born and raised in Oregon but as he approached 40, he felt a pull north.
“I always wanted to go to Alaska,” he says. “Gold mines were the draw.”
He first worked at Fort Knox, then came to Pogo in 2006, attracted by the four weeks on, two weeks off work schedule, and the opportunity to build something long-term. What he found was more than a job.
He found people.
“That’s what’s kept me here,” Tom says. “A tight-knit, caring group who looks out for each other. It really is a family atmosphere.”
Guided By Safety
Every day starts with a safety meeting, the foundation of everything they do. Crews review assignments, identify potential hazards, coordinate with electrical and engineering teams, and ensure every person understands the plan before work begins.
Safety at Pogo isn’t a rulebook - it’s a shared responsibility.
“People take ownership,” Tom explains. “They speak up. And Northern Star truly stands behind safety.”
Once assignments are set, Tom works hands-on: rebuilding pumps, inspecting equipment, performing preventative maintenance, responding to unexpected breakdowns. Most jobs are completed in a day. If not, the night shift picks up seamlessly where the day crew leaves off.
Surrounded by Skill and Respect for the Land
About 75 percent of his work is indoors, but the conditions outside are unmistakably Alaskan. Extreme cold. Long winters. Wildlife roaming freely beyond the worksite, bears, caribou, foxes moving through the landscape undisturbed.
“It’s surprising, honestly,” Tom says. “I take pride in the fact that we’re able to operate here and simultaneously respect the environment and the wildlife that live around us.”
That respect is something Tom wishes more people understood about modern mining.
“Mining today isn’t what it was 100 or even 50 years ago,” he says. “We start with reclamation planning to understand how to restore the area to its natural state before operations begin. It’s not only the law, but also simply the right way of doing business to be environmentally sound. Things are done responsibly, carefully, and with long-term thinking.”
He believes education is key, helping people understand that modern mining and environmental stewardship are not opposites, but partners.
Fostering Critical Thinking
For Tom, one of the most rewarding parts of the job isn’t the machinery, it’s the people just starting out.
“Most of the new folks are green,” he says. “They’re learning from the beginning. And seeing their excitement when something clicks, that’s the best part.”
Teaching new workers, sharing knowledge, watching confidence grow, this is where Tom finds purpose beyond the paycheck.
“Seeing the interest in new people and helping them discover mining,” he says. “Seeing their excitement when they learn something new.”
That excitement matters. Mining offers strong career paths, opportunities for growth, and competitive wages right out of the gate. But more than that, it offers the chance to be part of something bigger than yourself.
When asked what he’s most proud of, Tom doesn’t hesitate.
“Making sure everyone goes home safe every day.”
Because behind every ounce of gold, every piece of infrastructure, every modern convenience, there are people like Tom, showing up before dawn, working together, problem solving, and quietly keeping the world moving.
Mining isn’t just about what we extract from the ground.
It’s about the people who make the day-to-day life possible, one shift, one lesson, one safe day at a time.
