Management and Directors

Eric T. Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer, brings over 30 years of experience in mining and finance and has been a key member of Thunder Mountain Gold?s leadership team since joining the Board in 2006 and management in 2008. He was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in 2011.

Mr. Jones previously served as Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Investor Relations, and Secretary/Treasurer for the Company. His extensive operational background includes serving as General Manager of Dakota Mining Corporation?s Stibnite Mine gold heap leach operation in central Idaho from 1994 to 1997. He has also held management and engineering roles with Hecla Mining Company, including positions at the Yellow Pine Mine in Stibnite, Idaho, and as Environmental Manager at the Rosebud Mine in Lovelock, Nevada.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Jones worked as a mine engineer at the Cactus Gold Mine in southern California and has been involved in precious metals and oil and gas exploration projects throughout the western United States.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering from the University of Idaho and has completed core engineering studies at the Colorado School of Mines.

Ron Espell, Chief Operating Officer, has over 30 years of experience in environmental management, permitting, and mine development. He has held senior leadership roles at major mining companies, including Barrick Gold, McEwen Mining, and Nevada Vanadium. With deep expertise in regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, and strategic mine planning, Mr. Espell has been instrumental in securing permits and advancing projects across North America and internationally. As COO of Thunder Mountain Gold, he oversees all operational aspects of the company, ensuring efficient, responsible, and on-track project execution.

 

 

Rocky Chase, Vice President of Operations, brings more than 38 years of experience in mine development, operations, closure, and permitting. Over the course of his career, he has managed exploration, production, and mine closure projects across North America, with deep expertise in regulatory affairs, mine closure and planning, mine engineering, and environmental compliance. Most recently, he served as Project Manager at South Mountain Mines, where he led successful underground core drilling and exploration programs. In his current role, Mr. Chase oversees operational execution for Thunder Mountain?s projects, focusing on efficient development strategies and strong regulatory alignment.

 

Doreen A. Leite is a seasoned senior administrative professional with over 15 years of experience supporting senior investment banking teams. She has extensive expertise in executive calendar management, complex domestic and international travel coordination, high-profile event planning, and confidential data handling. Most recently, she served as Senior Administrative Assistant at Stifel, where she supported consumer, technology, and healthcare investment banking teams. Prior to that, she was Executive Assistant at Piper Sandler, supporting senior leadership within investment banking. Ms. Leite holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Management from San Diego State University and a Human Resources Certificate from the University of Phoenix.

 

Ralph has 40 years of experience in exploration, mine and project management, executive management, junior mining company boards, and investment portfolio management. Ralph was mine geologist at the underground silver, lead zinc carbonate replacement deposit in Darwin California and the Sherman Mine in Leadville Colorado, a carbonate hosted karst deposit.

He managed Calcite Corporation’s industrial mineral mines, primarily kaolin clay, in Bishop California, the Sherman Mine with Days Mines, Inc, and Hecla Mining Company, in Leadville, the Knob Hill Mine in Republic Washington with Day Mines, and the Lucky Friday Mine in Idaho’s prolific Silver Valley.

Ralph managed projects including the redevelopment of the Blue Bell Mine in Mayer Arizona, a massive sulfide occurrence, the Thor Lake beryllium rare earths feasibility study, and the Apex Mine and hydrometallurgical germanium and gallium plant for Hecla Mining Company. With Hecla he oversaw the construction and operation of the LaChoya gold mine in Mexico.

As Manager of Mines and Vice President of Metal Mining with Hecla Mining Company, the operations in Ralph’s responsibility were Stibnite Idaho gold, Lucky Friday lead silver in Idaho, Republic gold silver in Washington, the Escalante silver mine in Utah, Hecla’s interests in the Galena and Coeur Mine in Idaho and the Greens Creek Mine in Alaska, and Rosebud in Nevada. His group discovered and developed both the Golden Promise deposit in Republic and the Gold Hunter deposit near the Lucky Friday Mine in Idaho.

Ralph spent 15 years in investment portfolio management with Salomon Smith Barney, then Wells Fargo Advisors. He worked with individuals and small businesses, specializing in working with mining executives.

Mr. Glaspey is Chief Operating Officer, and Director of U.S. Geothermal Inc. — a Boise, Idaho-based renewable energy development company that is listed on the AMEX and TSX, and is currently operating geothermal power plants at Raft River, Idaho and San Emidio, Nevada. Mr. Glaspey is a metallurgical engineer with 29 years of operating and management experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mineral Processing Engineering and an Associate of Science in Engineering Science. His experience includes public company management, mine production, planning and directing resource exploration programs, preparing feasibility studies and environmental permitting. Mr. Glaspey has held positions as president of U.S. Cobalt Inc. (a former TSX Venture Exchange listed company), project manager of Atlanta Gold Corporation of America Inc. (TSX), and president of Black Diamond Corporation, a private mineral exploration company.nstruction, operations, permitting and reclamation. He took the Big Springs mine operation from grassroots through advanced exploration to full production on schedule and at budget.

Mr. Sabala was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hecla Mining Company, a silver, gold, lead and zinc mining company with operations throughout North America and Mexico. Mr. Sabala was appointed Chief Financial Officer in May 2008 and Senior Vice President in March 2008. Prior to his employment with Hecla Mining Company, Mr. Sabala was Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer of Coeur Mining from 2003 to February 2008. Mr. Sabala also served as Vice President-Chief Financial Officer of Stillwater Mining Company from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Sabala has served as a director of Arch Coal (NYSE:ACI) since February, 2015 and currently serves as a director of Dolly Varden Silver (TSX-V: DV). Mr. Sabala graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S. Business, Summa Cum Laude in 1978, and currently resides near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Mr. Beckman is an entrepreneur and owner of Bella Vista Farms, in Eagle Idaho. Paul serves as Manager and Consultant to the Camille Beckman Corporation where he oversees technology, accounting systems, and daily facility operations. He currently serves on the Board of the Camille Beckman Foundation, and is the co-owner of two small gold mines in central Idaho.

Paul attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force where he was a Director – Contracting Automation Systems, managing over 150 personnel responsible for Air Force Contracting Systems. During his service he consolidated two major commands and served as a Missile Launch Officer, Pilot, and Contracting Officer. Paul earned his M.A., in Administration at Webster College, and a B.Sc. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho.