ReElement Technologies Strengthens Commercial Operations Team as Marion Rare Earth and Critical Mineral Refining Campus Advances
Seven experienced professionals strengthen ReElement's operational and technical capabilities as the Company advances
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Seven experienced professionals strengthen ReElement’s operational and technical capabilities as the Company advances commercialization of its four permitted Phase I production lines at Marion.
FISHERS, IN / ACCESS Newswire / August 24, 2026 / American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC) (“American Resources”) through its minority holding in ReElement Technologies Corporation (“ReElement”), a leading U.S. innovator in rare earth element (REE) and critical mineral refining, today announced the addition of seven professionals bringing extensive experience across large-scale industrial operations, engineering, advanced research, human resources and international business development.
The additions strengthen the operational leadership responsible for commissioning, operating and expanding ReElement’s commercial-scale refining platform as the Company advances its Marion, Indiana refining campus toward multi-element commercial production. Collectively, the new hires bring experience from the U.S. Navy, large-scale continuous-process manufacturing, mining and process engineering, advanced chemical engineering research, manufacturing workforce development and international commercial markets.
“The strength of any commercial operation ultimately comes down to the people behind it, and this group brings an exceptional combination of experience to ReElement,” said Kirk Taylor, Chief Financial Officer of ReElement Technologies. “We are adding leaders who have managed large-scale industrial operations, worked in some of the most demanding operating environments in the world, developed advanced separation technologies, built manufacturing workforces and supported international commercial growth. That depth of experience is incredibly valuable as we continue commissioning and expanding our Marion operations. Our platform has demonstrated that it can scale commercially, and we are building the organization that will translate that capability into safe, reliable and sustained commercial operations.”
The workforce expansion follows several significant commercialization milestones for ReElement. The Company recently successfully commissioned and operated its first commercial-scale germanium production column at Marion, demonstrating the scalability and modular architecture of its chromatography-based refining platform. ReElement has also received the required air permits for all four initial production lines planned for the Marion facility, clearing an important regulatory step as the Company advances installation, commissioning and commercial operation of additional refining capacity.
Among the newest additions are seven experienced professionals who will play important roles in supporting the Company’s continued growth:
Bill Baken – Bringing more than 20 years of experience in large-scale, continuous-process manufacturing where he led operations exceeding one million tons annually. Bill joins ReElement as a Shift Operations Manager. At Marion, he will focus on safety, reliability, cost management and workforce development.
Dee Cooper – As Human Resources Manager, Dee will lead efforts to build and support the workforce at ReElement’s Marion facility. Her experience in recruiting and human resources within manufacturing environments will be particularly valuable as the Company continues expanding its skilled operations team.
Jacob Miller – Jacob brings more than 10 years of U.S. Navy experience to his new role as an Area Lead at ReElement. Jacob served with the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department. His background in high-risk, high-accountability environments adds valuable operational discipline and leadership to the Marion team.
Vedat Ozsever – With 20 years of process engineering experience in the coal mining industry, Vedat joins ReElement as Marion Plant Engineering Manager. His experience includes overseeing operations in Kentucky and West Virginia ranging from 500 to 2,000 tons per hour. Vedat holds a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering from the University of Kentucky.
Derrick Roper Jr. – Derrick joins ReElement as a Business Analyst to support business development and strategic partnerships across Africa and Europe. Previously with Novare Holdings, he brings experience and relationships across African and European markets that will support ReElement’s international growth initiatives.
Glen Stewart – More than 22 years of U.S. Navy leadership experience in large-scale operations, maintenance execution and operational readiness will inform Glen’s role as a Shift Operations Manager at ReElement. His extensive operational background will support safe, efficient and reliable operations at the Marion facility.
Eddie Tsao – Returning to ReElement after completing his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Purdue University under Dr. Linda Wang, Eddie will serve as a Senior Research Scientist. His work will focus on developing processing solutions for new feedstocks and advancing process improvements across ReElement’s operations.
Together, the new hires add significant commercial, operational and technical depth to ReElement at a time when the Company is moving additional refining capacity toward commercial operation. Their experience will support plant commissioning and operations, engineering and process improvement, workforce development, new feedstock qualification and commercial expansion.
ReElement’s Marion facility is designed around a modular, multi-mineral and multi-feedstock refining platform that enables the Company to add production capacity in alignment with customer specifications, commercial demand and feedstock supply. The platform is designed to efficiently adapt to changing customer requirements, evolving feedstock availability and future critical mineral demand through standardized, modular production lines. The Company’s successful operation of its first commercial-scale germanium production column provided important validation that its chromatography-based separation and purification technology can scale from laboratory and pilot applications to commercial-scale equipment.
With principal operating approvals now in place for all four initial Marion production lines, ReElement continues commissioning additional production capacity while preparing the facility for broader commercial production across a range of strategic rare earth and critical mineral products. Management believes the continued expansion of its operational team further positions the Company to execute the next phase of its commercial growth strategy.
About ReElement Technologies Corporation
ReElement Technologies Corporation, a portfolio holding of American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC), is a leading U.S. developer and operator of advanced rare earth and critical mineral refining capacity. The Company has developed a modular, refining-first platform that efficiently separates and purifies high-purity rare earth elements and critical minerals from a diverse range of primary mineral concentrates, recycled materials, industrial byproducts and other unconventional feedstocks.
Built around proprietary chromatography-based separation and purification technology, ReElement’s commercial platform is designed to produce specification-grade materials while reducing chemical consumption, minimizing environmental impact and enabling flexible, capital-efficient deployment. Its modular architecture allows refining capacity to expand in alignment with customer demand, feedstock availability and evolving strategic priorities.
ReElement collaborates with commercial, industrial and government partners to strengthen secure, resilient and commercially sustainable domestic and allied critical mineral supply chains supporting defense, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, permanent magnets, energy and battery technologies. For more information visit reelementtech.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About American Resources Corporation (NASDAQ:AREC)
American Resources Corporation is strategically developing an integrated critical materials ecosystem through its Platform Orchestration strategy, which brings together complementary capabilities across commercial feedstock origination, industrial processing, and advanced refining. Through this capital-efficient approach, the Company is building a flexible platform designed to adapt to evolving technologies, customer requirements, and national priorities while strengthening domestic and allied critical mineral supply chains.
The Company’s operating platforms span conventional and unconventional resource sourcing, feedstock aggregation, recycling, processing, conditioning, and advanced refining through its strategic affiliation with, and former parent relationship to, ReElement Technologies Corporation, a leading provider of high-performance refining capacity for rare earth elements and critical minerals. Together, these complementary capabilities enable American Resources to efficiently align diverse feedstock sources with growing commercial, industrial, and defense-sector demand.
American Resources’ modular, asset-light business model emphasizes disciplined capital allocation, scalable growth, and strategic partnerships. By integrating complementary operating platforms rather than relying on traditional vertical integration, the Company is positioned to expand efficiently while supporting resilient, commercially sustainable supply chains across infrastructure, defense, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, energy, and electrification markets. For more information visit americanresourcescorp.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond American Resources Corporation’s control. The words “believes”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “continue”, “seeks”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “intends”, “estimates”, or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.
Company Contact:
Mark LaVerghetta
317-855-9926 ext. 0
investor@americanresourcescorp.com
SOURCE: American Resources Corporation
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