The Penn State Student ISEE Chapter hosted a joint dinner/meeting with the Eastern PA ISEE Chapter on April 10, 2024.
The meeting was held on the Pennsylvania State University campus at the Hosler Building, Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering. The guest speaker was Christopher DCatalano, Chief of Explosives and Safety Section, PA Department of Environmental Protection. Chris spoke on “Academics in Blasting: Value and Balance.” He touched on his own life experience coming up through the ranks in a variety of job experiences and now, how he is still working on his own continuing education and degree.
Chris discussed how much the explosives and blasting industry has advanced and how investigating blasting claims advanced as well. In attendance were 10 students,4 faculty members, and 5 Eastern PA Chapter members, either in person or via zoom.
WASHINGTON, DC – The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) released its first-ever economic impact study highlighting the importance of the commercial explosives industry at the national, state, and congressional district levels. The study, based on 2023 data, revealed that the commercial explosives industry creates more than 60,000 jobs and contributes more than $19 billion each year to the U.S. economy.
Considered the ultimate power tool, commercial explosives are essential for quarrying aggregates necessary to build our nation’s infrastructure, mining critical minerals, and producing both traditional and renewable sources of energy.
“Few people today give much thought to the essential role commercial explosives play in our everyday lives,” said IME President Clark Mica. “Throughout our nation’s history, commercial explosives have not only helped build America, they have enabled our modern way of life. Whether it is the car you drive to work, the fuel you use to power your car, the roads you drive on, or the mobile phone you use to communicate, commercial explosives make all of these things possible.”
The economic impact study includes the direct contribution, supplier contribution, and downstream positive impacts of the entire commercial explosives industry value chain—from manufacturers to distributors to users. “This report shows the great success and impact of the commercial explosives industry,” said Tim O’Brien, President of Detotec North America, Inc., and Chair of IME’s Board of Governors.
“The commercial explosives industry creates good-paying career opportunities with good benefits while also being a positive economic driver in our local communities.”
The study showed that commercial explosives generated more than $1.2 billion in federal taxes and another $1 billion in state and local taxes for municipalities across the country, funding important projects like building roads and schools.
“Our mission is to improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of commercial explosives,” said Jason Rawlings, President of Austin Powder Co., and Vice Chair of IME’s Board of Governors. “While there are still significant opportunities to grow our workforce, you can’t dispute the overall positive impact our industry has in the U.S.”
Mica concluded: “The impact of commercial explosives cannot be understated. As the first link in many of our nation’s supply chains, commercial explosives truly build America.”
The study was conducted by John Dunham & Associates, a prominent economic research firm, and was commissioned by the Institute of Makers of Explosives.
For more information, including industry data at the state and congressional district levels, please visit www.explosivesbuildamerica.org.
The ISEE Board of Directors met in Cleveland on July 11-12, 2024, for their mid-year board meeting.
📸 Pictured left to right: Abraham Lindo, Catherine Johnson, Frank Lucca, Shashi Kanth, Janeen Smith (President), Braden Lusk (Past President), Cara Rosen, Tom Young, Travis Davidsavor (Secretary). Also present: ISEE Executive Director Steve Shivak, MS, CAE.
Not pictured but present via Zoom: Mark Dean, Brian Lewis, Thomas Palangio Jr., John Watson (Treasurer)
