Pam and Dick Backstrom

April 25, 2012-  IDEA Drilling received the Mature Entrepreneur Award as a part of the 20th  Annual Joel Labovitz Success Awards Banquet held by the UniversityMinnesota Duluth Center for Economic Development.  The award was presented to Pam and Dick Backstrom, founders of IDEA Drilling, by Tony Sertich, Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board.  This award acknowledges a company with 15 years or more of demonstrated initiative, success, and creativity in developing, growing and sustaining a business that continues to have a significant impact on the community or region.  Dick Backstrom expressed gratitude for the recognition and commented on the importance of mining to our region of the state and the great support IDEA has received from the IRRRB.

 
The Backstroms’, along with Brian McCabe (Vice President of Operations), have teamed together to build IDEA Drilling, a diamond core drilling and services company that has successfully grown to approximately 150 employees.  Backstrom states the success of IDEA Drilling has been built on a steadfast commitment to customer service and reliability, delivered through a dedicated team of employees who provide the technical expertise and who thrive on the Company’s culture of continuous improvement,  innovation and integrity.  Backstrom says the Company expects to continue to grow in 2012 and has significant long-term growth opportunities when the nonferrous mineral exploration projects in Minnesota are able to successfully go forward.

Read PR WEB  Press Release

Reprint from the Opinion/Commentary section of the March 11, 2012 edition of the Mesabi Daily News:
consistency of hypocrisy

Reprinted from February 29,2012 edition of VirginiaMN.com:
Nonferrous mining support heard

“IDEA Drilling is committed to giving back to our communities, and especially in supporting education,”said IDEA President Bill Travis. “We believe our teachers and educational institutions play an important role in building a stronger Range workforce and economy in the future. These scholarships are part of our broader plan to invest in our communities and to say thanks for all the support we receive.” The company has received great feedback from the local schools receiving the funds. “What a wonderful surprise! The VCC Foundation is very grateful to IDEA Drilling for the offer of the scholarships. Thank you so much,” said Executive Director for the VCC Foundation Patti Zupancich.

Together, the scholarships to the four schools will equal $5,000 annually. To apply for the scholarships, students should contact the appropriate school for more information.

IDEA Drilling is a core drilling services company headquartered in Virginia, MN. IDEA supports the core drilling needs of area mineral exploration and mining companies. The company has experienced significant growth in revenues and employee base over the last two years as a result of the investment activity in copper/nickel exploration and the strong market condition for iron ore mining.

New Storage Facility

IDEA Drilling has experienced significant revenue growth over the last couple of years, primarily as a result of the copper/nickel mineral exploration activities in northeast Minnesota and Michigan UP. IDEA’s shareholders made several significant investments in 2011 to capitalize on the market opportunities and to build a stronger business for the long-term. IDEA purchased 4 new drill rigs during the year to increase its fleet to 18 drill rigs. IDEA also added a number of experienced people to its team and has increased its employee base from 80 at the beginning of 2011 to nearly 140 in January 2012. All of the new jobs added were for Minnesota employees. In November 2011, IDEA completed the construction of a 7200 sf storage building at its Virginia, MN headquarters. This facility will be primarily used to store inventories and equipment out of the weather.

IDEA’s shareholders and management team are committed to being the premier exploration services and core drilling company in the midwest by providing high quality, innovative and cost effective services to our customers. We are also committed to being a proactive partner in building a stronger communities on the Iron Range. To that end, IDEA will continue to invest in its business, its people, and its communities in 2012.

The full text of the resolution is below:

“Be it resolved that the St. Louis County Board declares its support for the existing open, transparent and comprehensive environmental review and permitting process in place for various non-ferrous mining initiatives currently planned for development in St. Louis County, Minnesota, and supports the success of these projects, contingent upon the approval of all federal and state environmental permits necessary for these projects to move forward.”

Download Resolution #2011-32 by City of Ely, Minnesota.

Bill Travis, President of IDEA Drilling, states:

“We believe the nonferrous projects will provide much needed jobs and can be done in a way to protect our environment. The jobs potential is not just current jobs for construction and the future mines, but provides jobs for supporting companies like IDEA and provides much needed business for our vendors and suppliers, and the many other service, retail and restaurant businesses in our communities. Furthermore, the nonferrous projects provide long-term job opportunities for our youth and a better financial foundation for area families. We also believe in the individuals who are leading the environmental agencies and the investing mineral exploration and mining companies … we are confident that these people can and will work together to ensure that the necessary environmental permits are achieved and the necessary processes are in place to protect the long-term health of the beautiful northwoods and to retain air and water quality in our region.”

IDEA Drilling is a proud sponsor of the Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour 2011 on August 13, 2011.  Proceeds go to the Mesabi Trail and AMPERS.

Winter drilling in Michigan