Company · Leadership & Staff
Company · Mining Engineers Since 1972

Leadership & Staff

The People Behind KCA

Mining is a relationship business. The engineer who runs your testwork is on the same team that designs your plant and shows up to commission it. Below are the people who lead KCA's engineering, laboratory, fabrication, and procurement operations.

Daniel W. Kappes
President & CEO

A Mining and Metallurgical Engineer, Dan has been associated with the company since 1972. He is a recognized authority on precious metals heap leaching and has presented several technical papers on the subject. In addition to providing engineering, design work, and field construction management on numerous projects, he provides project review and oversight to help ensure that KCA's work product is of the highest professional caliber.

Randall A. Pyper
General Manager, KCAA (Australia)

Randall holds an MS degree in Metallurgical Engineering. Before joining KCA, he was Chief Metallurgist of the 2,500 ton/day agitated leach plant and 3,000 ton/day heap leach facility of Carlin Gold Mining Company (Newmont Gold). His earlier background includes production and process engineering for PPG Industries (Lake Charles, LA) and mining chemicals technical service for Dow Chemical (Walnut Creek, CA). Randall has been the General Manager at KCAA since it opened in Perth in 1987.

Carl E. Defilippi, QP
Senior Engineer & Project Manager

With KCA since 1988, Carl holds a BS in Chemical Engineering, an MS in Metallurgical Engineering, and is certified as an Environmental Manager for the State of Nevada. Prior to KCA, Carl was the General Mill Foreman at Newmont Gold Company's 9,000 ton/day CIP mill and was involved in all phases of its start-up. Senior metallurgist experience at Newmont's 2,500 ton/day agitated leach plant and 3,000 ton/day heap leach facility. Carl has managed feasibility studies on several projects from which financing was obtained and which eventually went into operation.

Timothy D. Scott, QP
Senior Project Manager

Tim holds a BS in Geological Engineering with 35 years of experience. He was the metallurgical manager for Goldfields Tarkwa gold mine in Ghana for five years and worked in operations at Barrick Goldstrike for over seven years. As an independent contractor with KCA, he was assistant project manager for Los Filos, construction manager for Pinos Altos, and project manager for La India and Dolores Pulp Agglomeration. Tim has completed numerous scoping-to-feasibility studies with KCA.

Horacio Paez
General Manager, KCN

Horacio holds a BS in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering and a BS in Civil Engineering from the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua. Horacio has 20 years of experience across exploration, feasibility studies, design, construction, commissioning, and operation. He has worked for KCA for over 12 years on projects across Mexico, South America, Europe, and Africa.

Mark Gorman, P.E.
Senior Project Manager

Mark is a Metallurgical and Civil Engineer with over 25 years of experience as a metallurgist, process operations engineer, and design engineer. Experience in precious metals, copper, and molybdenum. Mark is a Registered Professional Engineer in Nevada.

Travis Manning, P.E., QP
Senior Engineer & Project Manager

Travis holds a BS in Metallurgical Engineering. Registered Professional Engineer in Utah and Registered Member of SME. Over 10 years of experience, most recently 2.5 years for the start-up of the Kensington Gold Mine as Chief Metallurgist for the 1,250 ton/day gold flotation plant. He co-authored the Heap Leaching chapter for the SME Mining Engineering Handbook, 3rd edition. Seven years with KCA across engineering studies, project management, and EPCM.

Caleb D. Cook, P.E.
Engineering Manager

A 2010 graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno, Caleb holds a BS in Chemical Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Nevada. Caleb has been with KCA for more than 8 years working as Support Engineer and Project Manager on mining projects worldwide.

Pedro Rosales Valenzuela
Senior Engineer & Senior Designer

Pedro has over ten years of experience as senior designer and draftsman on numerous mining projects and holds a BS in Civil Engineering. At KCA he has provided engineering and design support for studies and detailed engineering on projects including Ocampo and Pinos Altos.

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Samir del Real
Metallurgical Engineer

A Mining and Metallurgical Engineer, Samir is fluent in both English and Spanish. At KCA he has been involved with modular equipment fabrication, project feasibility studies, process design and drafting, equipment procurement, construction management, project commissioning and start-up, personnel training, and mining operations for KCA's mine in Guatemala. Major projects include Soledad (USA), Dolores Pulp Agglomeration (Mexico), Ivrindi (Turkey), most recently as Construction & Commissioning Manager for the Camino Rojo Recovery Plant and Refinery (Mexico).

David A. Kruth
Laboratory Manager

Dave received an MSc in Metallurgical Engineering from Mackay Institute of Earth Sciences and Engineering and began his career at the Wharf Mine in South Dakota. In 2008 he joined KCA and has worked in the laboratory developing metallurgical test programs and conducting laboratory testwork, with a focus on HPGR comminution, flotation testing, and cyanide leaching.

Matt Wilson
Senior Engineer / Project Manager

Matt holds a BS in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Montana Tech and has worked in the mining industry for over 18 years in both industrial and laboratory settings. Matt has held positions as metallurgical superintendent, senior metallurgical engineer, and operations supervisor in precious and base metals operations. At KCA, Matt provides engineering support on various engineering projects.

Kylee Amador
Metallurgical Engineer

A University of Nevada graduate, Kylee holds a BS in Metallurgical Engineering with an emphasis in Mining Engineering from the Mackay School of Mines and a minor in Geology. Prior to KCA, Kylee worked as a laboratory technician for a local metallurgical testing company. During her 5 years at KCA, Kylee has been involved with process design, equipment procurement, fabrication and construction supervision, commissioning, and project start-up — including San Agustin (Mexico), Sopka (Russia), Missouri Cobalt (USA), and La Libertad Plantel II (Nicaragua).

John Walsh
Mining Engineer

A University of Nevada graduate (2018), John holds a BS in Mining Engineering with an emphasis in Metallurgical Engineering. While in school, John interned at KCA as a lab technician on lab and research projects including the KCA Carbon Converter before joining the engineering team. He has worked on laboratory testwork, modular equipment fabrication, feasibility studies, process design, equipment procurement, detailed engineering, construction supervision, commissioning, and operational metallurgical support.

Nick Valdez
Project Engineer

Nick holds a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. His engineering experience includes lab project management, metallurgical test program design and optimization, and process engineering. Nick currently leads KCA's research and development program.

Carter Costantino
Project Engineer

Carter holds a BS in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines (2017). He began his mineral processing career with Halliburton Baroid in Nevada on prefeasibility studies for industrial mineral applications, gaining operational experience in Karazhal, Kazakhstan, and Colony, Wyoming. In hydrometallurgy, he started as a process operator with Nevada Gold Mines at the Turquoise Ridge autoclaves in 2021, then joined the metallurgy team in 2022. At KCA, Carter provides engineering support on a number of projects.

Nicolas Rojas
Project Engineer

Nicolas holds a BS in Metallurgical Engineering from Universidad de Concepción (Chile), a Certificate in Operational Excellence from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, and growing specialization in economic evaluation from Harvard Business School Online and the Colorado School of Mines. Fluent in English and Spanish, with five years of experience in gold, silver, and copper processing as Head of Plant Operations, Metallurgical Engineer, Process Engineer, and Project Engineer. At KCA he contributes to PEA, PFS, and FS studies across multiple projects.

Jim Estes
Procurement Manager

Jim manages KCA's purchasing, shipping, and logistics, and has handled all aspects of these activities for over 100 projects worldwide. He is an expert on the sourcing of mining-specific supplies and equipment and the appropriate methods and shipping companies for moving everything from lightweight parts to heavy plant components and hazardous substances. Many overseas clients purchase US-sourced parts and supplies through KCA for this extra level of service.

Claudio Martinez
Project Engineer & Senior Designer

Claudio holds a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical and Civil Engineering and is fluent in English and Spanish. With 12 years of experience in the mining industry, he has worked as Project Engineer, Project Manager, and Senior Designer. At KCA, Claudio specializes in basic and detailed engineering design, process evaluation, feasibility studies, and project execution from construction through commissioning and start-up, primarily on processing plants for gold and silver operations. His cross-disciplinary expertise has supported successful mining projects in Mexico, Peru, Turkey, and the United States.

Isaac Lontz
Jr Engineer

Isaac is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno with a BS in Chemical Engineering. Isaac is working towards becoming a Professional Engineer in Nevada. At KCA, Isaac has provided engineering support on a number of engineering projects.

Jetro Hernandez
Marketing Director

Jetro holds a BS in Chemical Engineering and has worked as a support engineer on various laboratory and engineering projects. He currently leads marketing efforts across three key areas: engineering, metallurgical laboratory services, and fabrication. His role involves crafting targeted advertising campaigns to showcase KCA equipment while aligning with company strategic vision. Through collaboration with multiple departments, he drives brand awareness and engagement in a competitive market.

Luke Stokes
Jr Engineer

Luke holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. He joined KCA as a chemical engineer in 2023. At KCA, Luke has worked as a lab technician on many lab and research projects and is currently working towards his Professional Engineer license in Chemical Engineering. Before KCA, Luke worked at the UNR Main Station Field Lab for four years developing and maintaining several biochemistry projects.

Carmina Garcia
Purchasing Manager / Legal Representative, KCN

Carmina manages KCA and KCN logistics and procurement for northern Mexico. Involved with the mining industry since 1992, she has worked with Glamis Gold and Minas de la Alta Pimeria (now Goldcorp), providing procurement services to those companies. She now leads these efforts for KCA and KCN in Mexico.

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