Brandon Fisher - Topic

Brandon will explain the Center Rock Drilling Company role in the Chilean Mine rescue. The presentation will include photos and information from the rescue site as well as information relating to development of the rescue equipment at the manufacturing facility. Brandon will conduct a question and answer session at the end of the presentation including questions on safety issues at the location, as well as safety concerns faced during the rescue operation.

Brandon Fisher - Biography

Brandon Fisher founded Center Rock Inc. in 1998 at the age of 26.  After graduating from Berlin High School in Berlin, PA  in 1990 Brandon got a taste of the drilling industry and in a very short period of time, he was hooked!  Brandon worked for an Ingersoll Rand Distribution Company and moved to Arkansas to work on the Beaver Dam cutoff wall drilling project.  Upon returning to Pennsylvania, he became the company’s Eastern Oil & Gas Representative.   This young entrepreneur recognized the need for a manufacturing company that was reactive to customer needs, with innovative products and round-the-clock customer service and support.

Center Rock began as a drilling company, for which Fisher designed and built his own drilling rig.  Shortly thereafter, he began focusing on making Center Rock an air and rock drilling supplier and manufacturer. 
"I love what I do," Fisher said. "There is always a challenge in this industry to find new ways to drill into the earth, and the challenge feeds the excitement."

Brandon, along with a high-tech engineering and design team, has created a company different from its competitors, with its unique products and service capabilities. Center Rock provides 24/7 assistance to customers with sales, service, and customer support.  Drill Faster. Run Harder. Work Smarter that is Brandon’s motto along with the entire Center Rock team.

Brandon was recognized in 2008 as one of the finalists for Earnst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the upstate New York, Western PA and West Virginia regions.  Brandon was also part of a team that what was called “Driller’s Rapid Response for Mine Rescue”.  This was an effort by Fisher and other team members to proactively have MSHA recognize the need for an organized team of drillers and equipment to be on standby for such mine rescue emergencies if and when they would happen in the United States.

Brandon has been involved in several mine rescue/dewatering/degasification missions including the Quecreek 9 for 9 rescue.  We also mobilized drilling equipment to the Sago Mine Accident in West Virginia and were put on standby in case a rescue shaft was to be attempted.