ISOM, Ky. — John Schroder has been named president of Isom, Ky.-based Sapphire Coal Company, a subsidiary of United Coal Company.
 
Schroder most recently served as general manager of Carter Roag Coal Company, another subsidiary of United Coal based in Mill Creek, W.Va. He joined UCC in 2006 as a production coordinator, later serving as mine manager/superintendent at the Mill Creek operation.
 
“John has an impressive record of leadership – with United Coal and within the industry,” says Michael Zervos, president and CEO of United Coal Company, headquartered in Teays Valley, W.Va. “His first priority has always been his employees, and we are confident in his abilities to lead the Sapphire team to even greater achievements.”
 
Schroder has served as technical assistant to the president of UCC’s West Virginia operations, which include Carter Roag and Pocahontas Coal Company (Beckley, W.Va.). Prior to joining UCC, he was employed in leadership roles at Drummond Company, a mining operation in Adger, Ala. His experience includes coordinator and foreman positions at Oak Grove Mining, also in Adger, and at Pinnacle Mining and U.S. Steel Mining, both in Pineville, W.Va.
 
“This is a great opportunity,” Schroder says. “It is rewarding both personally and professionally to be a part of the outstanding team at United Coal. I look forward to leading Sapphire to even higher goals for safety and productivity.”
 
A native of Bluefield, W.Va., Schroder holds a bachelor’s in mining engineering from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. He is a certified West Virginia Underground Mine Foreman and Alabama Underground Mine Foreman. He and his wife, Kelli, have one son.
 
UCC has subsidiaries in West Virginia, Virginia and Eastern Kentucky. UCC’s parent company, Metinvest, is an international, vertically integrated mining and steel group of companies. Metinvest acquired UCC in April 2009.