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June 5, 2020 • Media Spotlights

At the age of 27, Keaton Turner wanted to "make mining sexy again," so he decided to "take a swing" at launching a contract mining company. He said he wants people to know how "awesome" the industry is. "A lot of people think mining is the underground dirty coal mine, but it's just not."

The Indiana native with degrees from Indiana State University in construction and business administration worked for his uncle's excavating company for eight to 10 years but didn't think he'd live in "the dirt world." However, he liked traveling and being outside … and he noticed something about the mining industry that suggested an opportunity. "The mining industry is unique," he said, adding that it's rooted in tradition and has an older workforce. "The average age is 52."

At a recent roundtable, Turner confessed that at age 16, he had no thoughts of getting into the mining industry. "I grew up liking trucks and excavators, but this industry looks scary from an outsider's perspective. It looks old."

Realizing that the bulk of that workforce would be retiring before long, he left the family business. "I saw where the industry was going … and where it really needs to go." He envisioned creating a professional service to fill the gap — but he put a revolutionary spin on it, leading a new wave of young entrepreneurs destined to change the way things are done.

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