In her own words: Katie Neddenriep of Barrick Gold

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us a about your company.

Katie Neddenriep: Barrick Gold is the world's largest gold mining company, consisting of 25 operating mines, projects located across five continents, and over 20,000 employees. Locally, Barrick has five operating mines throughout northeastern Nevada employing over 3,500 people.

NNBW: What role do you play in the company?

Neddenriep: For the Elko area, and several of our surrounding communities, I am Barrick's representative for community engagement. Our team is responsible for applying Barrick's corporate community engagement and sustainable development guidelines in all of the communities where we have a social impact in order to establish and/or sustain Barrick's reputation as a world-class, socially responsible mining company.

NNBW: How did you get into this profession?

Neddenriep: I've been involved in the Elko community for years. During my time in human resources I had opportunities to help the community relations function with events and thought it would be something I would enjoy. An opportunity arose and I went for it.

NNBW: What is something no one knows about your job?

Neddenriep: The plethora of agencies we have to coordinate with and factors we have to consider in choosing to participate in or endorse community events or projects.

NNBW: If you could have had any other profession what would it have been? Why wasn't it your first choice?

Neddenriep: I think I would have loved being an event/wedding planner! Fresh out of college, I wasn't in a position to start my own business, and there wasn't a firm in Elko offering those types of services, so it just didn't happen. However, Barrick has been a great company and I don't regret this career path at all.

NNBW: What do you like to do when you're not working?

Neddenriep: I started doing half-marathons this past year, so I like to get out and run when I have time. I'm participating in my fourth soon. It's addicting! I enjoy traveling, spending time with friends and family, photography and reading for fun. I'm also a bit of a wine enthusiast.

NNBW: Have any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?

Neddenriep: Get involved in your community now! To be successful you need to know your community and be tuned into what makes it unique, the challenges it faces, what organizations are established and what's up and coming.

NNBW: What person, living or dead, would you most like to have dinner with, and why?

Neddenriep: My dad. He died almost 10 years ago and I was just out of college, just married and starting my career. I've grown up and experienced so much, it would be good to share that with him and get his insight on what life has been so far and what's to come.

NNBW: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Neddenriep: "Be smart." My high school track and cross country coach, Mr. McConnell, used to tell us that all of the time, and not just when we were training or preparing for races. When we graduated from high school he gave us each a copy of Dr. Seuss' "Oh the Places You'll Go!" and had that written inside. I'll never forget that.

NNBW: What five words would most people use to describe you?

Neddenriep: I asked several folks and was surprised at how similar the responses were! Apparently, I am organized, personable, efficient, caring and intelligent. Whew!

The basics:

Name: Katie Neddenriep, community relations representative for Barrick Gold of North America

How long have you been in this job? Just over two years

How long in the profession? I started with Barrick in July 2000.

Education: Bachelor of business administration in Management from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., and a master of business administration from the University of Nevada, Reno

Best book you've read? I mostly read chick lit so "Bringing Home the Birkin" by Michael Tonello; for a more serious book, "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell.

What's on your iPod? A little bit of everything and a whole lot that I don't listen to that often! It's funny how you'll build playlists and the rest just sits there. Mostly I listen to jazz/lounge.

The best movie ever? Similar situation here as with books I'm a huge rom-com fan. The ones I watch over and over are "Pretty Woman," "Sabrina" (the one with Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford) and "Under the Tuscan Sun."

Spouse, kids or pets? My husband, Kurt Neddenriep (wealth advisor with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and a lieutenant colonel in the Nevada Army National Guard), black lab mix named Duke and a black and white cat named Clive.