USAC Management Team

Gary C. Evans began serving as CEO of United States Antimony Corporation in December of 2024 after serving as Co-CEO since March of 2024. Evans joined the Board of Directors of United States Antimony Corporation in November of 2022. Mr. Evans is a transformational leader, a serial entrepreneur, and throughout his career, he has taken three separate energy companies public on the NYSE. At present, he serves as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and is the largest shareholder of Evergreen Sustainable Enterprises, Inc. ("Evergreen") Mr. Evans launched Evergreen as an evolution from his hemp company, Generation Hemp, Inc, while developing diversified green energy plants designed to use hemp biomass as biofuel to generate power to mine Bitcoin. Throughout his career, Mr. Evans has raised various forms of capital on Wall Street that have exceeded $8 Billion. Mr. Evans has previously served for 24 years as a Director of Novavax Inc., a NASDAQ listed (“NVAX”) clinical-stage vaccine biotechnology company (Covid-19 Vaccine) which achieved a market capitalization in excess of $20 Billion during the pandemic, where he also previously served as Chairman, CEO and Lead Director.

email: gevans@usantimony.com

Lloyd Joseph Bardswich began serving as EVP and Chief Mining Officer of United States Antimony Corporation in December 2024 after serving as Co-CEO. Mr. Bardswich joined the board of directors of United States Antimony Corp. on February 9, 2021 and has extensive experience in mining, mining engineering, management, drilling, metallurgy and plant design. He is a registered professional mining engineer, can served as a QP (qualified person) regarding reporting to NI43-101 standards and has worked as a Shift Boss, Mine Safety Engineer, Mine Foreman, Mine Manager, and Mining Consultant.

Mr. Gustavsen graduated from Rutgers University in 1970 with a BS in chemistry and started work for Harshaw Chemical Company’s plant in Gloucester City, NJ (purchased by Amspec Chemical Corporation in 1983), a major producer of antimony trioxide. Mr. Gustavsen took engineering courses at Drexel University from 1976 through 1980, and became president and treasurer of the company in 1983. He attended several accounting and financial seminars, took Chinese and Japanese language courses at the University of Pennsylvania, and was promoted to CEO in 1990. Mr. Gustavsen designed a new type of production furnace for antimony trioxide that eventually produced 20 million pounds of antimony trioxide per year. Mr. Gustavsen is conversant in Spanish, and other languages, and travelled to many countries as part of his duties as CEO/President of Amspec Chemical Corporation. Mr. Gustavsen came to work at United States Antimony Corporation in October of 2011. On March 11, Mr. Gustavsen was appointed President of the Company’s Antimony Division, and he has relinquished his title as CEO of U.S. Antimony Corporation.

Rick started his career at Ernst & Young as a CPA in the assurance and advisory business services area for 12 years with extensive experience with managing public company audits and SEC reporting primarily for large, multinational companies. After Ernst & Young, Rick served in several senior leadership roles including CFO, Chief Accounting Officer, Controller, Treasurer, and Head of Investor Relations at four different companies over 20 years including Panera Bread Company, Heritage Home Group, and Merric Millwork and Seating, and Catholic Charities. He has a proven track record of leadership, strategic thinking, team development and execution, and business acumen which is welcomed at USAC during this period of change. Rick’s broad range of experience in public accounting as well as in industry, which includes strategic planning, financial planning and analysis, operational finance, cash flow optimization, customer, supplier, and third-party management, and information technology, will complement and enhance the USAC senior leadership talent and skills.

Melissa Pagen began serving as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development & Government Relations for United States Antimony Corporation in May of 2024.  Ms. Pagen built over twenty years of professional and executive experience in managerial and officer positions in several industries - both in the private and public sectors. With a demonstrated history in consumer goods, business development, investor relations, and industrial technologies within both the energy sector and water treatment sector. Ms. Pagen's work in industrial technology began as Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Sionix Corporation, a publicly traded company with patented and proprietary dissolved air flotation water treatment technology. Following the Tsunami in 2011, Melissa traveled to Japan to participate in discussions to address urgent water treatment issues and potential solutions in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. Melissa founded her own environmental remediation business in the Bakken Shale of North Dakota from 2012 - 2013, then went on to serve as Vice President of Business Development under the leadership of Gary C. Evans in the energy sector, focusing on fluids handling and treatment for E&P companies. During her time in the energy sector, Ms. Pagen presented to the West Virginia legislature and other industry groups on expanding methods of fluids handling for E&P and did several public speaking engagements for industry organizations, which helped earn her the honor of a WING Award (Women In Natural Gas) by Shale Media Group in 2014. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (summa cum laude) from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Aaron Tenesch has primarily worked as a consultant in the mining industry in the area of project development. He has served as Process Manager for both custom gravity and flotation mills where he has specialized in flotation optimization.  He previously served as Director of Plant and Milling Operations for ISR Capital from 2013 to 2015. Mr. Tenesch managed the processing of the Brucejack bulk sample for Pretium Corp which led to their final capital raise and buildout of the Brucejack mine and mill. Mr. Tenesch was Corporate Manager of three operating facilities where he supported engineering and design of novel systems associated with copper and lead recoveries. From 2010 to 2013, he served as Mill Superintendent and Metallurgist at Drumlummon Gold Corporation. From 2008 to 2010, he worked as Laboratory Production Technician & Crew Lead at Stillwater Mining. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. Tenesch was a research Assistant/Lab Manager for NASA Astrobiology Institute, NASA Exobiology Resource Group and National Science Foundation at the University of Montana. Mr. Tenesch graduated with a M.Sc. in Geosciences (geochemistry) from the University of Montana in 2009 and he also holds a B.S. Geosciences degree, also from the University of Montana. He has authored a number of publications during his academic career and was nominated as NASA McNair Scholar for outstanding research in 2003 to 2005. 

Email: atenesch@usantimony.com

Jonathan Miller brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as Vice President of Sales and Business Development at SRAX, Inc., a publicly traded SaaS & DaaS technology company. At SRAX, he led significant revenue-driving initiatives, such as the go-to-market strategy and early revenue for the BigToken data platform, and the acquisition of numerous new key business deals for the SEQUIRE SaaS platform. His expertise in securing strategic partnerships, achieving significant revenue growth, and engaging high-profile clients through innovative marketing strategies will be invaluable as he takes on the responsibilities of scaling USAC’s business and enhancing its investor relations.

Mr. Miller holds a Bachelor of Science in Interpersonal Organizational Business Communications from the University of Central Florida. His strong educational background, combined with his practical experience and proven track record of success in various sales and business development roles, positions him well to effectively communicate USAC’s financial turnaround and growth trajectory to the investment community.

Leo Jackson is the Vice President of Mexico Antimony Operations and brings extensive experience in mineral processing and operations management with a proven track record in optimizing production and supply chain logistics. He has been a contracted consultant to United States Antimony Corporation (USAC) for over 15 years and is fluent in Spanish. His leadership is instrumental in advancing U.S. Antimony's operational capabilities located in Mexico. Leo began his association with USAC as a member of the Board of Directors approximately 25 years ago. During his association with the Company, Leo has overseen permitting at the smelter at Madero in Coahuila, Mexico, and has overseen labor-related negotiations. He has been involved in the purchase of real estate for both the smelter and the flotation facility in the state of Guanajuato and has consistently been involved in logistics of importing antimony oxide and metal from Mexico to the United States as well as supplies from the United States into Mexico.

​

Mr. Jackson was born and raised in the southwestern United States. He attended Sul Ross State University in West Texas and received a business degree with a minor in Spanish. Capitalizing on his fluency in Spanish and his keen interest in geology, he has lived and worked in Mexico for over 40 years, first working in the production of industrial minerals such as fluorspar and celestite.

Mr. Rodney (Rod) Blakestad is the Vice President of the United States Antimony Corporation Mining Division. Mr. Blakestad is an economic geologist with a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alaska (1973) and a Juris Doctor in environmental and natural resources law from the University of Denver (1989). With over 45 years of experience in the hard rock mining space, he has played a key role in mineral exploration and development - including project funding, acquisitions, and management of open-pit gold and copper mines. His expertise spans porphyry systems, gold deposits, volcanic massive sulfides, PGM deposits, and brine systems, contributing to major discoveries such as Fort Knox in Alaska. Recognized as a Qualified Person under Canadian NI 43-101 and a Certified Professional Geologist, he continues to lead and advance mineral projects with a strong technical and regulatory foundation. 

Rod Blakestad brings to U.S. Antimony decades of experience in resource development and strategic growth initiatives. Mr. Blakestad oversees the Company's mining operations in the state of Alaska. His expertise in mineral exploration and regulatory compliance plays a key role in advancing the Company's long-term development plans in sourcing critical minerals. Mr. Blakestad’s extensive background in hard rock mineral development, especially in Alaska, makes him an excellent part our leadership team. His leadership is critical in optimizing our operations and ensuring we remain at the forefront of the domestic antimony market with our own ability to supply existing downstream operating facilities.

Pete was welcomed as a new Technical Advisory Director to the Company in 2024. Pete is the founder and President of ZEO, Inc. since 1982. His company is one of the largest customers of Bear River Zeolite, our wholly-owned subsidiary active in zeolite mining and processing in Idaho. His company is involved in product development and marketing of natural zeolites and allied products to both domestic and international wholesale markets. ZEO, Inc. products have applications in water filtration, animal feed, soil amendment, and specialty products.

Mr. Bunger previously held various positions and was General Manager at Occidental Petroleum from 1978 until 1982, when he started his own company. He was also previously employed at DuPont from 1967-1978 in various R&D activities. Mr. Bunger received his B.S. in Chemistry, Physics, and Math in 1963 from Austin Peay State University. He subsequently received his Ph.D. in 1967 from the University of North Carolina. His major was Inorganic Chemistry with a minor in Analytical Chemistry. Pete is universally recognized as one of the leading experts in zeolite.