Decades of Expertise.
Focused on Your Future.

President & Founder

Mitchell L. Spencer is President and Co-Founder of Polaris Rare Earth Materials, LLC since January 2001. Polaris Rare Earth Materials imports and distributes rare earth materials and magnetic products into North America from China. Mr. Spencer is also currently Co-Owner and Chairman of Ningbo NorthStar Electromechanical Co., Ltd, a Chinese - USA joint venture which he founded in March 2007. The company produces automotive related magnetic assemblies for brushless DC motors and sensor assemblies. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Spencer was an Engineering Manager for Magnequench International, now a subsidiary of Neo Material Technologies, where he oversaw the design and build of a large manufacturing facility in Tianjin, China for producing NdFeB bonded magnet materials. Mr. Spencer is recognized as an industry expert in the alloying of Rare Earth Metals, and Rapid Quenching of Rare Earth Alloys. He has engineering and operations experience in automotive components including starting motors, alternators, and NdFeB magnetic materials. Mr. Spencer holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and a M.S. in Engineering Management from Stanford University, where he was a recipient of a GM Fellowship for graduate studies.

Executive Assistant

Brenda has worked with the Polaris team from the beginning in 2001. She is a native Hoosier, and a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. Previously, she worked as a Process Engineer for Delco Remy Division, General Motors. Brenda has also served as a teaching assistant and piano teacher. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening. She and her husband, Mitch, are the parents of one son.

VP, Business Development

Trent Powell brings over 30 years of mechanical engineering and manufacturing experience to Polaris. A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee trained mechanical engineer, he excels at troubleshooting and application engineering, with deep automotive industry background as a program manager supplying machined castings for transmission components to OEMs. At Polaris, he leverages his expertise to support customer development and drive growth by bridging technical capability and commercial opportunity. Outside work, Trent is a devoted husband to Larissa and proud father of three; he enjoys the outdoors, cooking, working on cars, and time with friends.

Director of Quality & Supply Chain

Jeffrey Mills joined Polaris Rare Earth Materials in April 2025 as Supply Chain Manager, bringing 28 years of experience across the automotive industry. His career spans a wide range of leadership roles, including Quality Engineer, Quality Manager, Purchasing Manager, Senior Manager of Planning, Production Control, and Accounting. He also broadened his professional background outside manufacturing as a licensed New York Life Insurance Agent. A graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, Jeff has built a reputation for strengthening operations, improving cross functional processes, and leading teams through complex supply chain challenges. Outside of work, he and his wife, Kelly, enjoy a full and lively family life with their five children and eleven grandchildren.

Inside Sales & Logistics

Gary joined Polaris Rare Earth Materials in February 2015 as a Project Engineer, with 40 years of experience across the automotive industry in the areas of engineering, program management, sales and shipping and logistics. A graduate of Purdue University with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. Proud father of 3 sons and a daughter.

Manager of Materials & Logistics

Cynthia Tang joined Polaris team in 2009. She serves as scheduler, manager of materials and logistics. Cynthia earned her B.A in English from Renmin University in China and a master certificate of Procurement and Contract Management from University of Maryland. She is certified CPIM with ASCM. With her Chinese background, she brings in invaluable input and experience to Polaris’ supply chain management.