More than 1,300 people from around the world met Feb. 9-12, 2014, in Denver, Colo., for the 40th Annual Conference on Explosives and Blasting Technique, the world’s largest conference on explosives engineering.

For the second consecutive year, the SEE Education Foundation live auction raised more than $20,000. Big-ticket items included a 16-piece mineral collection and a handmade Education Foundation quilt. 

The money raised through the auction will go to the Education Foundation ISEE Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to college students from across the globe who are pursuing a career in the blasting industry. 

Awards Banquet

The banquet also honored people who made outstanding contributions to the explosives engineering industry. Arlene Chafe was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for her 22 years of work in the explosives industry at ISEE. Chafe retired from the ISEE in 2013, where she wore many hats, but was primarily responsible for developing education materials, publications and textbooks for the explosives industry.

John Floyd was also honored with the Distinguished Service Award. The past ISEE board member founded Blast Dynamics, Inc., an international blast-engineering firm. Since its inception, he has assisted with projects on six continents.

The ISEE President’s Award, which is given to those who have unselfishly given their time and talents to the society, was awarded to Debra Satkowiak, ATF; Stephen Chung, author; and Bill O’Brien, ATF.

Alan Hooper, Hooper Demolition Inc. president, was awarded the ISEE Driller’s Leadership Award for the extraordinary amount of time and knowledge he has given to help fellow drillers. And John Wiegand, Vibronics Inc. president, was honored with the Blaster’s Leadership Award. 

Passing of the Gavel

After the award winners were honored, ISEE Board President John Capers symbolically passed the gavel, ending his two-year term, to new board president Mike Koehler. As an ISEE member for more than 20 years, Koehler has worked closely with ISEE staff and members on countless projects. He previously served on the ISEE Board of Directors as the vice president of administration.