PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--
Ionic Mineral Technologies ("Ionic MT"), a pioneer in developing one of the world’s most comprehensive hubs for rare earths and critical minerals, today announced the appointment of Shane Porzio as its Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective January 5, 2026. Mr. Porzio will lead the Company's operational scale-up from pilot to full commercial production of its nano-silicon, high-purity alumina, and rare earth elements derived from its proprietary Utah-based halloysite clay resources.
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Mr. Porzio brings over two decades of executive leadership in global chemical and advanced materials companies, with a distinguished tenure at BASF where he served as Vice President and Global Business Head for Kaolin Minerals. In this role, he managed a global P&L across five plants and three mines, tripling EBITDA by refocusing investments into high-growth segments and securing major capital programs. His direct experience in the mining, processing, and commercial application of kaolin clay—a mineralogically similar aluminosilicate to Ionic MT's halloysite—provides a foundational understanding critical to accelerating the Company's proprietary extraction and refinement processes.
Andre Zeitoun, Founder and CEO of Ionic MT, stated, "We are thrilled to welcome Shane to the COO role in this pivotal moment for Ionic MT. His vast experience is a direct match for our mission: he has scaled mineral processing operations and commercialized disruptive materials on a global stage. His specific background in kaolin clay at BASF is invaluable, as he understands the geology, mineralogy, and processing pathways that are directly applicable to unlocking our halloysite deposits."
At Ionic MT, Mr. Porzio will be responsible for all operational facets of scaling the Company's three core product lines: rare earths, alumina, and nano-silicon. His mandate includes leading the scale-up of commercial production in Provo, establishing rigorous EH&S and quality management systems for the automotive battery sector, and driving vertical integration from feedstock to finished battery-grade material. His proven experience in post-merger integration (PMI) and capital project execution will also be key as the Company pursues strategic growth initiatives.
"I am thrilled to join Ionic MT at this inflection point," said Shane Porzio. "The Company's technology represents a genuine leap forward in sustainable critical minerals production. My experience in taking complex mineral systems from the lab to global markets, particularly with layered aluminosilicates, at multi-million-ton scale aligns perfectly with the challenge ahead. I look forward to working with Andre and the talented team to build a reliable, scalable, and cost-competitive supply chain that strengthens American energy independence."
Mr. Porzio's career includes transformational leadership roles as President & CEO of Profile Products, where he launched and scaled a new global business unit to millions in revenue within 12 months, and as Global Senior Vice President at Vantage Specialty Chemicals. He holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Science from the University of Akron, an MBA from Wake Forest University and a B.S. in Anthropology and Chemistry from Beloit College.
About Ionic Mineral Technologies
Ionic Mineral Technologies is a U.S.-based, vertically integrated producer of advanced critical materials essential to energy storage, national defense, and clean manufacturing. Backed by permitted domestic mineral resources and proprietary processing technologies, the company is scaling production of 16 rare earth and critical minerals, Ionisil™ nano-silicon, and IonAl™ high-purity alumina—three of the most strategically important components for next-generation battery and defense technologies. Ionic MT’s asset-backed, multi-product platform offers a secure and scalable alternative to geopolitically vulnerable global supply chains. Learn more at https://ionicmt.com/.
Shane Porzio, Chief Operating Officer at Ionic Mineral Technologies
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Easter is around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about how to decorate your eggs.
Whether you're dying eggs for your table spread or planning to hide them for an egg hunt, it's important to follow food safety guidelines to minimize germs and maximize your egg quality.
Eggs are remarkably long lasting, so there needn't be a giant rush to eat them.
“Stores usually do turn over eggs pretty quickly, so the recommendations is you should consume eggs three to five weeks after you purchase them,” said Kara Lynch, food safety educator with Michigan State University Extension.
There is also a benefit in letting eggs age just a bit, as older eggs can be easier to peel. That's because eggs shrink over time within the shell, creating an air pocket between the egg and the shell.
Egg processors clean eggs before they reach store shelves, but it also is important to thoroughly cook eggs to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, especially salmonella. That bacteria lives naturally in the gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts of chickens, said Kimberly Baker, associate extension specialist at Clemson University.
To cook your eggs, place them in a saucepan, fill it with water and bring it to a boil. After that, put the lid on, turn the heat off and let it sit for about 12 minutes. Some also favor turning down the heat and simmering eggs.
You can vary the time in the hot water depending on a desire for harder boiled or slightly creamier eggs, but the yolk should be pretty solid to be safe. Boiling them for too long can risk creating green sulfur development on the outside of the yolk.
After that, Don Schaffner, food science department chair at Rutgers University, said there are two options.
You can run your eggs under cold water to reduce the temperature. From there, you can color them right away or place them back in the fridge until you're ready. Or, after you've boiled them, you can let them air dry until they've cooled.
The boiling process sanitizes the eggs, and as long as they are kept out of water, Schaffner said, they will remain safe to eat.
“You’ve boiled the egg, you’ve gotten rid of any bacteria that might be in the egg. And now you’ve air-cooled it, right? So it’s going to cool more slowly, it’s probably going to cook more,” he said. “But most importantly, you don’t have to worry about any bacteria from the water getting internalized into the egg.”
Either artificial or natural food dye is OK as long as the dye label says it's food grade. For those keeping track, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been updating its guidance and regulations regarding certain dyes.
And no, it's not a problem if the dye seeps through the shell.
“Eggs kind of naturally have their own abilities to absorb only so much,” Baker said.
As you're decorating the eggs and have the eggs outside, she suggested keeping your eggs in an ice bath, so they can stay at a cooler temperature while you're decorating.
Eggs should generally be kept at or below 40 degrees (4.4 degrees Celsius) to minimize the risk of contaminants.
Cooked eggs that weren't air-cooled should spend no more than two hours at room temperature. And that's cumulative, including the time spent decorating and the time spent hiding during the Easter egg hunt.
But if it's particularly warm, then that two-hour rule may be shortened to one hour, Lynch said.
Hard boiled eggs are generally good for about a week in the fridge.
Be careful with your eggs as you handle them.
One of the biggest concerns is making sure your eggs haven't cracked during an Easter egg hunt, making them vulnerable to contaminants. And once the egg has been hard boiled, there's no way to kill bacteria that get inside, Baker said.
“We don’t want to be putting them in the soil or in lawns where pets have gone to the bathroom,” she said.
Whether the eggs are hidden outdoors or in a corner of your home, you should rinse them in cool water before you peel them. And wash your hands, too, just in case the eggs have picked up something.
If the Easter egg hunt means your eggs will be at room temperature for longer than two hours, experts recommended using plastic eggs for the hunt instead of real ones to minimize food safety risk.
“If it’s an outdoor Easter egg hunt at any time, I would say go with the plastic eggs and be safe,” Baker said. “And use your dyed Easter eggs as your centerpiece on your table or your buffet, and enjoy them that way.”
FILE - Painted Easter eggs hang from an Easter Tree in Saalfeld, central Germany, March 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, File)
