The Project Management Team
Executive Committee
Mark Fracchia
Chair of Executive Committee
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Chair of Executive Committee
Mark Fracchia joined the Western Potash Corp. Executive Committee board in May 2022. He also serves on the Western Resources Corp. board.
Mr. Fracchia brings over 30 years of management, executive and director experience to Western. He is well connected in the potash world and has a track record of accomplishments in leadership, strategy, vision and, in particular, innovative potash mining technology. His extensive career encompasses roles such as Technical Superintendent, General Manager at multiple Potash sites, Vice President of Safety, Health, Environmental & Security, culminating in his appointment as President, all within the organization now known as Nutrien, formerly PotashCorp.
Mr. Fracchia graduated from the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Chemical Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree. He is a registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan.
Jerry Zhang
Member of Executive Committee
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Member of Executive Committee
Jerry Zhang joined the Western Potash Corp. Executive Committee board in May 2022. He is also the Senior Vice President of Western Potash Corp.
Mr. Zhang has worked with Western Potash Corp. since 2011. He has extensive experience in management administration, both in government organizations and private enterprises, and extensive working knowledge of the projects at Western Potash. Mr. Zhang is also bilingual in Chinese and English.
Mr. Zhang holds a Master of International Communications from Macquarie University, Australia, and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Melbourne.
Technical Committee
Mark Fracchia
Chair of Technical Committee
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Chair of Technical Committee
Mark Fracchia joined the Western Potash Corp. Technical Committee board in October 2022.
Mr. Fracchia brings over 30 years of management, executive and director experience to Western. He is well connected in the potash world and has a track record of accomplishments in leadership, strategy, vision and, in particular, innovative potash mining technology. His extensive career encompasses roles such as Technical Superintendent, General Manager at multiple Potash sites, Vice President of Safety, Health, Environmental & Security, culminating in his appointment as President, all within the organization now known as Nutrien, formerly PotashCorp.
Mr. Fracchia graduated from the University of Saskatchewan majoring in Chemical Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree. He is a registered Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan.
Elmar Goldsmith
Member of Technical Committee
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Member of Technical Committee
Elmar Goldsmith joined Western Potash’s Technical Committee in May 2022.
Mr. Goldsmith is one of the world’s leading experts in potash solution mining. He is currently Vice President of Canatech Management Services. Mr. Goldsmith was Vice President of Technical Services for IMC Global Potash (the predecessor of Mosaic Company) where he was responsible for the company’s 6-Sigma initiatives for three major potash mines in Saskatchewan, and potash mines in each of Michigan, Utah and New Mexico. Mr. Goldsmith is the inventor and co-inventor on a variety of patents related to potash mining and refining and has published many technical papers. Mr. Goldsmith is widely respected and regarded as a pioneer of potash solution mining.
Mr. Goldsmith holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Regina and Certificate of Quality Assurance Management from the University of Manitoba.
Robert Plosz
Member of Technical Committee
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Member of Technical Committee
Robert Plosz joined Western Potash’s Technical Committee in May 2022.
Mr. Plosz is one of a few solution mining technical experts in the world with 40 years of hands-on experience. He is currently providing consulting services to mining companies to improve production processes and investigate growth opportunities. Mr. Plosz held senior positions at different mine sites of the world’s largest solution mining company, the Mosaic Company, respectively as Senior Director of Strategy and Technical Services, Senior Director of Supply Chain, Director of Project Evaluation, and general manager of the Belle Plaine potash mine.
Mr. Plosz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan.
Irwin Ewen
Member of Technical Committee
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Member of Technical Committee
Irwin Ewen joined Western Potash’s Technical Committee in May 2022.
Mr. Ewen brings with him over 40 years of involved experience in process engineering and solution mining. Before venturing into independent consulting services, Mr. Ewen was the process manager for SNC-Lavalin Group where he served as the process lead for multiple projects, including Western’s Milestone Project detailed engineering.
Mr. Ewen provides consulting services for processes in selective solution mines with a focus on mass and heat balance development, optimization of piping and instrument diagrams, and reporting and operating data analysis.
Brandon Bartosh
Member of Technical Committee
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Member of Technical Committee
Brandon Bartosh was appointed to the Technical Committee of Western Potash in May 2022. He is currently providing solution mining and operation related services to the Milestone Project in his capacity as Technical Adviser.
Mr. Bartosh brings over 15 years of selective solution mining and horizontal cavern development experience from the Moab, Utah Mine of Intrepid Potash where Mr. Bartosh served in progressive roles from Electrical Engineer to Process Engineer to Production Manager and then Plant Manager. In his role as Plant Manager, he led the Sylvite 9 Solution Mine development program which successfully completed multiple horizontal caverns. Mr. Bartosh’s publications include: “An Update to the History of Solution Mining at the Cane Creek Mine, MOAB, UTAH – 2006 to 2021” (SMRI Technical Conference Paper F2021 Galveston Conference, 19-22 September 2021.)
Mr. Bartosh holds a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah and an Master's of Business Administration from Colorado Mesa University.
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