MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2016 Welcomes Attendees from 130 Countries to Las Vegas
September 29, 2016
By Elizabeth Johnson
This week, the world’s largest mining equipment, products and services exhibition was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Sponsored by the National Mining Association (NMA), MINExpo INTERNATIONAL® 2016 covered more than 840,000 net square feet, showcasing the latest mining equipment and technology from 1,900-plus exhibitors around the world.
Held every four years, MINExpo this year welcomed more than 44,000 attendees from 130 countries to the event. Several well-known figures including Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Indy 500 Champion Helio Castroneves, who stopped by to chat with attendees at the Shell booth, made appearances at the Las Vegas Convention Center throughout the event.
As an international show, MINExpo works closely with the U.S. Commercial Service, and this year it welcomed delegations from 31 countries.
“This was a record number of international delegations for MINExpo,” said Moya Phelleps, senior vice president of member services at NMA.
The opening session, moderated by Nina Easton, Fox News analyst and chair of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women International, featured top mining executives discussing the global outlook for mining equipment, coal and minerals production and the public policy environment for mining.
But, perhaps the most unexpected event took place on Tuesday evening when two employees from Komatsu were married atop one of the company’s huge mining trucks in the Exhibit Hall.
“As far as we know, this is the first wedding to take place on the MINExpo floor,” said Ashley Hurst, manager, meetings and member services at NMA.
MINExpo 2016 featured a few new operational changes. It eliminated traditional industry publication bins and replaced them with signs that allowed attendees to subscribe via QR Code in order to reduce paper on site. Additionally, its photography team used drones to create dynamic videos of the Exhibit Hall that were released on its website and social media channels.
Given both the overall size of the show and sheer physical enormity of many of the exhibits, MINExpo is set up and dismantled over several weeks and takes years of planning and coordination with the city of Las Vegas and others. NMA partners with a number of industry suppliers to produce MINExpo including Frost Miller, GES, Hall Erickson Inc. and Oscar Einzig, who work diligently for years to make the show successful.
The next MINExpo INTERNATIONAL® will take place Sept. 28-30, 2020, in Las Vegas.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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