March 2012, Vol. 239 No. 3

Features

Business Relationships Guide And Inspire

Jordy Ensio is President of Universal Minerals International, Inc., which is based in Tucson, Arizona. Universal Minerals International, Inc. and its affiliated companies (UM Limited, Ballast Technologies, Inc., and Minerals Research & Recovery, Inc.) have served the Oil and Gas Industry for over 40 years, providing iron ore and heavy aggregates for concrete weight coatings, fixed ballast for ships and deepwater platforms, and crystalline silica-free abrasives for sandblasting.

Jordy earned a BA degree in Marketing from the University of Arizona in Tucson and a MBA degree in Business Administration from Auburn University in Alabama. He has worked in the industry since 1992. Family patriarch Dr. P.J. Ensio, pioneered the use of iron ore as a means to provide negative buoyancy to subsea oil and gas pipelines in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s and Universal Minerals International, Inc. and its affiliates have been leaders in these industry segments ever since.

Manjit Chopra, who has worked with the group of companies since the 1970’s, has always served as Jordy’s mentor. Not only is Manjit one of the most knowledgable people in the minerals business, but Jordy also considers him as like a second father. Having taken many trips around the far reaches of the globe together, the two have developed a very close relationship that goes well beyond the workplace. Jordy attributes any skills and wisdom that he has gathered over the years to his real father, Paavo, and to Manjit.

Working in partnership with mines in Sweden, South Africa, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Canada, U.S., and other countries, Universal Minerals International, Inc. and UM Limited supply from an established, worldwide network of iron ore sources. The companies also take pride in their excellent long term record of being specialists in turning slag waste into value-added aggregate products. Having been focused on this environmental recycling approach long before the all important “green movement” became so popular and widespread, they have developed long term enduring partnerships with slag producers in Greece, Macedonia, Canada and the U.S.

Jordy and others from the companies have attended NAPCA gatherings regularly since 1998 and Universal Minerals International, Inc. has been proud to financially sponsor the annual meeting since 2003. In addition to keeping up with the industry, he has also made some important, enduring friendships through these NAPCA conferences.

A member of Catalina Foothills Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Jordy counts his faith as the cornerstone of his life and says that it serves as his foundation not only personally but in his work as well. He highly values the close relationships he has developed with customers and partners around the world and hopes to be seen as a positive influence on all who know him.

Jordy’s wife Tera is from Clanton, Alabama and also attended Auburn University. The two met while attending the 1996 Auburn/Florida football game in Gainesville, Florida. They have three wonderful children: Baie, Sevy and Lex ages 8, 7 and 5. Life is obviously very busy, but when he has time to get away, his favorite pastime is to play golf with friends. Favorite courses include Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Shadow Creek and the home course, La Paloma. Jordy also enjoys reuniting yearly with his high school and college friends to attend Auburn football games and also cheering on the University of Arizona Wildcats at home.