Doe Run helps to build careers by supporting continuous education and learning through our tuition reimbursement program. In 2024, the State of Missouri awarded a $100,000 Missouri One Start grant to Doe Run to further support workforce training.

With mining and recycling operations nestled in the Southeastern Missouri area known as the Viburnum Trend, sustaining a company for more than 160 years in an area where we remain the primary employer is no small feat. At Doe Run, the ingenuity of our co-workers and their deeply ingrained knowledge passed through generations. For many families, working at Doe Run is more than just a job. It is part of their family history. Just ask the Jackson family.  For sisters Melissa Jackson Conaway, Tammy Jackson, and Sherry Jackson Jordan, that connection began generations ago.

The three sisters’ paternal great-grandfather, Elmer Jackson, was one of Doe Run’s predecessor company’s earliest employees. Their grandfather, Robert William Jackson, began working at Doe Run in the early 1950s. He spent many years at the Pea Ridge location before retiring in the mid-1980s. After serving in the military, their father, Robert LeRoy Jackson, spent nearly 30 years with Doe Run, primarily as a hoistman at the Fletcher and Brushy Creek mines. He retired in 2009.

Another grandfather, Arnold Clyde Martin, worked in what is now the Buick Resource Recycling Division (BRRD) and retired from that facility. Two uncles also spent their careers at ASARCO (a previous operator in the area) and later BRRD.

Today, members of the family continue to build their careers at Doe Run.

Melissa joined Doe Run in 2019 as an executive administrative assistant. Her husband, Shawn, is a maintenance mechanic at BRRD. Shawn’s father, Jeral, also worked at Doe Run and is now retired. Their son, Jordan, currently works at BRRD as a mobile mechanic.

Tammy has worked at the company for 24 years and is a maintenance planner at the Doe Run Southeast Missouri mining and milling division (SEMO). Her daughter, Ashley, is an accountant at BRRD. Ashley’s husband, Nick, has worked in the SEMO mines for 15 years. Tammy’s son, Isaiah, works in surface maintenance at Fletcher. And her son, Jason, once worked at BRRD.

Sherry spent 29 years with the company. She most recently served as purchasing manager at SEMO. Her son, Ryan, works at Fletcher as ground support.

“When I joined Doe Run, I saw it as a chance to contribute to a long-standing company in the community I had grown up in,” said Melissa. “I also felt the position was a good fit for my skills. Being able to work close to home and stay near family and friends was important to me, and the role offered a great work-life balance within my already established community.”

“It’s more than a workplace for us. It’s part of who we are. Being part of a company that has supported my family for generations means a lot.”

Ashley Hedrick, Doe Run accountant at Buick Resource Recycling Division

Investing in People

Workforce development can have long-lasting benefits for our employees and our company. One way Doe Run supports continuous education and learning is through our tuition reimbursement program, which reimburses employees up to $7,500 per year for college courses aligned with company needs.

Ashley Hedrick is one example of the program’s impact.  Ashley grew up in Viburnum and is part of the Jackson family. While attending Viburnum Senior High School, she enrolled in college classes, completing several courses. After graduating high school early, she began working for a nonprofit, but even while working, she knew she wanted to return to college, complete her education, and build a career in accounting, a dream she had since middle school. 

In 2018, Ashley joined Doe Run and worked underground in the SEMO warehouse. After her first year, she applied for Doe Run’s tuition reimbursement program to complete her associate degree at Mineral Area College.  She then earned two bachelor’s degrees from Central Methodist University, one in business administration and one in accounting, all while working full time.

While completing her degrees, Ashley also advanced professionally, first moving into a supervisory role at the BRRD warehouse and later accepting a maintenance planning role back at SEMO.  Today, Ashley works as a staff accountant at BRRD. She credits her career growth to the encouragement she received from her supervisors and company leadership.

Training Future Generations

In July 2024, the State of Missouri awarded a $100,000 Missouri One Start grant to Doe Run to support workforce training. The grant is part of a $1.2 million statewide initiative to support Missouri’s leadership in critical mineral and materials production.

Doe Run used the funds to expand our Mobile Equipment Training Program to include advanced simulator technology designed to prepare employees to operate heavy equipment in the field. The training replicates both underground and surface environments using realistic controls for haul trucks, loaders, and dozers. In a virtual, risk-free setting, trainees can practice safe driving techniques, navigate challenging conditions, and learn how to respond to potential hazards.

This hands-on approach helps employees develop essential skills before entering an active worksite. It also reduces wear and tear on expensive equipment, cuts down on operational downtime, and supports stronger safety performance across the company.

The program has proven especially valuable for new employees who learn best through technology-based, interactive methods. By tailoring our training to reflect how today’s worforce prefers to learn, Doe Run is not only improving training outcomes but also strengthening our ability to attract, retain, and prepare a skilled workforce.

Supporting Communities

Roadside litter cleanup is just one of the ways Doe Run employees support their communities across Southeast Missouri. Doe Run and our employees show support for local communities through food drives, event sponsorships, and charitable activities, giving more than $180,000 in donations.

In 2024, Doe Run and our employees gave more than $180,000 in donations to support communities across Southeast Missouri through charitable partnerships, volunteer efforts, and local giving initiatives that reflect the company’s commitment to meeting real needs where its people live and work.

During the holiday season, employees supported the Disabled Citizens Alliance for Independence with food and monetary donations to support their food pantry and outreach.

Through Doe Run’s annual Holiday Family Sponsorship Program, employees provided gifts and household essentials to 18 local families in the Viburnum area. In St. Louis, Doe Run employees provided gifts from seniors’ wish lists in support of the Santas for Seniors program. Team members also contributed to hurricane relief efforts and organized a winter food drive to restock local pantries. In addition to donating money and necessities, Doe Run employees volunteer to support local charities, community events, roadside litter cleanup, and more.

These efforts show that giving back is a shared value that lives in the actions of the Doe Run employees who care about their communities.

Back to Sustainability Report