Almost one week after the 33 Chilean miners were rescued from the collapsed gold and copper mine near Copiapo, Chile, the Chilean & American Chamber of Commerce, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the Embassy of Chile in the United States recognized Pennsylvania-based companies Schramm Inc., Center Rock Inc. and ARAMARK, and US-based company UPS for their relentless efforts to cross borders and rescue the miners at a luncheon on Friday, October 22 at the Union League of Philadelphia.
Award recipients included Edward Breiner, President & CEO, Schramm, Inc.; Brandon Fisher, President, Center Rock, Inc.; Lee White, Vice President, UPS; and Juan Pablo Contreras, Project Manager, Chile, ARAMARK.
Other special guests present were His Excellency Arturo Fermandois, Ambassador of Chile to the United States, and Wilfred Muskens, Deputy Secretary, Office of International Business Development, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development.
The initial rescue date was predicted for late December, but due to the diligence and collaboration of all involved, the mission was completed two months ahead of time. Schramm Inc. built the drilling rigs necessary to reach the miners, and Center Rock Inc. supplied the diamond-tipped drill bit. UPS arranged for the transportation of all the special drilling equipment, free of charge, from Pennsylvania to Chile, and ARAMARK provided specially prepared, vacuum-sealed meals to the miners via a long tube.
