Mining Foundation of the Southwest

J. Steven Whisler was born in 1954 and was raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He holds a B.S. degree in business (accounting) from the University of Colorado, a J.D. degree from the University of Denver College of Law, and an M.S. degree in mineral economics and a D. Sc. degree in engineering (Hon.) from the Colorado School of Mines. Mr. Whisler also attended the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. He is admitted to the bar of the State of Colorado, various federal courts and the United States Supreme Court. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Arizona.

Steve joined Phelps Dodge’s corporate office in New York in 1981 and since then he has served as counsel for the company’s exploration group, as president of the Mining Company, as president and chief operating officer of the Phelps Dodge Corporation, and currently as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Steve obviously has achieved a great deal having turned 50 just this year and has already been the Chairman of PD for the last five years.

Steve has been instrumental in rebuilding Phelps Dodge and his career at Phelps Dodge has established him a mining industry leader. Throughout his career he has been passionate about safety with his declaration that Phelps Dodge is morally obligated to ensure that no employee will be harmed in the process of producing PD products. To this end, he has developed a program called “Zero and Beyond” in which no goal other than zero occupational illness and workplace injuries is acceptable at Phelps Dodge.

Steve’s other major initiative within PD called “Quest for Zero” is a performance system for creating sustainable operational improvements by achieving zero environmental incidents, zero variability in production processes and costs, zero waste, and zero product defects.

Mr. Whisler is a director of the Phelps Dodge Corporation, Phoenix, Arizona, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, Fort Worth, Texas, the America West Holdings Corporation and its principal subsidiary, America West Airlines, Inc., Tempe, Arizona, the National Mining Association, Washington, D. C., the International Copper Association, New York, New York, and the Copper Development Association, New York, New York. He is also a member of the Business Council.

Mr. Whisler is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, Arizona Society of CPAs, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, AIME, and the Mining and Metallurgical Society of America. Mr. Whisler has been awarded the Colorado School of Mines' Distinguished Achievement Medal for career accomplishments.

Mining Foundation of the Southwest
P.O. Box 42317
Tucson, Arizona 85733
Tel: 520-577-7519
Fax: 520-577-7073
E-mail: admin@miningfoundationsw.org