Organisation president Kraig Naasz said that the group was restructured after NMA's board decided in September to adjust the group's direction to "better position the industry to achieve its public policy objectives".
NMA's Harold Quinn Jr will now serve in the position of executive vice-president and general counsel, a new seat that will focus on the day-to-day tasks of strategic policy objective implementation. A 22-year veteran of the organisation, Quinn will continue to handle its legal and regulatory projects.
Rich Nolan will now be NMA's senior vice-president of government affairs. He was formerly the vice-president of the division and will now have overall responsibility for the association's advocacy push with the nation's government.
Taking over its grassroots advocacy program as well as responsibilities acting as liaison for the nation's state-level mining associations will be Dan Gerkin, who was chosen as senior vice-president of political affairs. With 29 years of service with the NMA, Gerkin will continue to oversee the association's political contributions programs, MinePAC and CoalPAC.
The roles and responsibilities of two other members of the NMA team will also be expanded. The association has appointed 17-year veteran Moya Phelleps as the new senior vice-president of member services, where she will continue to oversee member recruitment and management. Carol Raulston, the group's senior vice-president for communications, will continue to manage media relations, statistical services and other tasks.
As the changes take shape, one seat for the team is open - that of senior vice-president of administration and finance. Naasz said an outside agency will assist with the duty.
"These changes will enhance NMA's ability to meet its public policy objectives and effectively manage the additional financial and staffing resources approved by our board of directors," he said.
"I am particularly gratified to be able to call upon the talents and experience of our existing senior staff to fill these critical roles."
