Sawtooth Mining representatives, Ryan Krebs, Operations Manager, and Jackie Spence, Human Resources Generalist, joined Great Basin College faculty and Diesel Technology students in Winnemucca to celebrate a $7,500 donation that will put industry-grade diagnostic tools directly in students' hands
Investing in Nevada's Future: Sawtooth Mining's $7,500 Gift Powers the Next Generation of Skilled Workers at Great Basin College
Building Nevada’s mining future starts in the classroom today. In Humboldt County, Great Basin College (GBC) is helping to develop the future workforce with skills that we need to build Thacker Pass.
Sawtooth Mining, LLC, the mining partner at Thacker Pass, recently donated $7,500 to GBC to purchase specialized diesel diagnostic equipment for their newly expanded Diesel Technology program in Winnemucca. It's a gift that reflects the shared belief that the future of Thacker Pass is driven by a commitment to hire locally where possible.
“These are precision tools that our students need in order to learn advanced diagnostic skills, and they mirror the equipment they'll use in the field,” said Dustin Heitman, GBC's Diesel Technology Instructor. Working closely with their tooling supplier to stretch every dollar and secure strong warranty coverage, the college anticipates maximizing the impact of the donation for years to come.
For Sawtooth Mining President Guy Guidinger, the math is straightforward. “Both Sawtooth and Lithium Americas are expected to require many long-term employees as Thacker Pass continues to progress,” he said. “We're looking for long-term, quality employees, and we recognize that GBC can have a tremendous impact on the students going through the program, helping mold them into talented future team members.”
Diesel mechanics are just the beginning. GBC offers degree and certificate programs in Electrical Systems, Instrumentation, Industrial Maintenance, Welding, and more. Together, these programs help build a robust talent pipeline for the modern mining industry, including the rapidly growing lithium sector.
“Having industry support helps higher education to improve,” said Dave Stoddard, GBC's Dean of Industrial Technology and Workforce Development. “When we improve, our technicians improve, which ultimately comes full circle, benefiting the industry with a quality talent pipeline.”
That ripple effect extends beyond the job site. For a rural college serving communities across a vast region of rural Nevada, industry partnerships are a lifeline. “Our students are the future of our communities,” said Leslie Maple, Executive Director of the GBC Foundation. “When local partners like Sawtooth Mining invest in GBC, they open doors for local students and advance our mission of transforming lives through education.”
The shared vision is a long-term one: a sustained partnership that sends a steady stream of well-trained, work-ready graduates into careers at Sawtooth Mining, Lithium Americas and beyond, keeping talent, opportunity and investment rooted right here in Nevada.