The event was marked by celebration and an emotional atmosphere among the participants 

Last weekend, Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) held a big get-together to celebrate the career of those who have built the company's legacy in the heart of the Amazon over four decades. Held since 1991, the traditional ‘Festa de Homenageados’ [Tribute Party] recognizes employees who have been with MRN for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years. They were honored in a ceremony full of appreciation and heartfelt emotions among those who help build the company's history. 

Among the honorees was Daniel Pimentel, the only employee recognized for his 40 years in the “house”, which was one of the highlights of the celebration. He works as a railroad operator, and recalled his career from the moment he arrived in the district of Porto Trombetas, in the city of Oriximiná, where the company is located. “My first day at work was a real joy, with an inevitable motivation to work for a big company. Even though I didn't have much schooling at the time, I managed to become an operator and I saw major changes here, such as the paving of the streets in the villages and the construction of the railroad, the airport and the hospital in Porto Trombetas. These changes have made people more engaged in their work, and I can only thank God and the company for being here,” he stated. 

After living in large urban centers and a life dedicated to mining, Fernando Trabuco decided that he needed to reconcile his career with his family and saw MRN as an opportunity to achieve this goal. After 10 years at MRN, the current Chief Financial, Administration and Human Resources Officer sees his career at the company in a positive way, with a lot of learning and progress. “Each day, I am prouder to say that I am an employee of this company, which has changed my career, my life and the life of my family. Here, the social sphere is an extension of the corporate world, and everything is intertwined. I really want to continue participating in MRN's ongoing evolution, to be part of this great company that makes me so proud and happy,” he said. 

The presence of women 

Natalina Oliveira Couto was another honoree at the party organized by MRN. Having worked for the company for 25 years, she started as a trainee and was later hired, and was one of the pioneering women in the drying department. A challenging job that, with the dedication and unity of the team, she managed to overcome, as well as breaking down stereotypes about the presence of women in mining. “I've always looked for opportunities in the job market that would balance my personal and professional life. Here, at MRN, I found a place where I was able to harmonize these two axes, which gave me a career projection,” said the employee, who is now a manager in the sector where she started in the late 1990s. 

She also highlighted MRN's concern to build an increasingly diverse workforce in leadership positions. “The programs developed by the Company promote female talent, including other pillars such as diversity, inclusion, gender, race and others. Here, we have more opportunities for professional development in positions that were previously occupied mostly by men,” she added. 

For MRN's CEO, Guido Germani, the 'Festa de Homenageados' [Tribute Party] is the company's recognition of those who help build sustainable mining in the Amazon. “Everyone is to be congratulated for building the history of this company. This party crowns the great achievements we've had throughout the year, and there's nothing better than sharing these victories with those who have collaborated for decades on an elaborate operation in the middle of the forest. MRN's history is made up of many people, and our employees are the ones who help us every day to build a positive legacy in the region,” he said.