While you're here, meet a few people who are in the industry and see what they have to say about their careers.
| Annie C. | Chad M. | Cristin L. | David G. | Daniel I |
| Hiep S. V. | Jay R. | Kristin W. | Mary Beth F. | Tandis B. |
| Tara W. | Timothy F. | Timothy L. | Veronica M. |
Q. What is your current position with the Industry?
A. Chemical Engineer.
Q. Where did you obtain your undergraduate/graduate degree(s)
and in what fields?
A. I received an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the
University of Calgary in Canada. I received a Masters degree in Chemical
Engineering from Auburn University in Alabama. I was able to obtain my Master’s
degree while working full time through Auburn’s distance learning program.
Q. What subjects/courses were instrumental in helping you
gain your current position?
A. Oil refining is a conventional industry for chemical engineers, so the
most valuable courses were those that form the backbone of chemical engineering
education including material/energy balance and transport phenomena.
Q. How many years of education were needed in order for you
to enter the industry?
A. I completed four years of education after high school before entering
into the industry.
Q. Were any summer internships or advanced learning
opportunities helpful in entering the industry?
A. In the mid-1990s I worked at an oil sands processing plant in northern
Alberta between my 3rd and 4th years of my undergraduate degree. Not only did
this provide me with valuable process plant experience but that experience has
also allowed me to have an insightful perspective into a sector of the industry
that has become increasingly important as a domestic source of oil for North
America.
Q. Does your current position allow you to travel? If so,
what was your favorite location?
A. I am not required to travel very much in my current position. I travel a
couple times per year to attend continuing education classes or to collaborate
with other employees within Marathon on special teams but my job is primarily
focused at the refining asset. My favorite location that I have had the
opportunity to travel for work is Denver.
Q. What opportunities do you see for yourself in the
industry?
A. The demand for consumer fuels has provided almost unlimited opportunities
for people in the industry – it is really a matter of defining what you want and
then putting forth the effort to achieve it. I am personally looking forward to
finding innovative ways to manage refining assets to meet this demand.
Q. What are some of your favorite aspects of your job?
A. My favorite part of my job is the variety of challenges that I may face
on any given day. There is nothing routine about my job and it is exciting to be
faced with new problems to be solved on a daily basis.
Q. What are some of the most surprising aspects of your job?
A. Most people are surprised by the level of sophistication and complexity
that is involved in making consumer fuels. The general public often assumes that
since consumer fuels have been available for hundreds of years that the process
is simple, however the technology continues to improve and the logistical and
environmental challenges are greater than ever.
Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A. The most rewarding part of my job is observing change initiatives that
the entire workforce embraces and helps to move forward. At Marathon’s St. Paul
refinery, significant improvements in both safety and environmental performance
have resulted from the workforce getting behind a clear vision for improvement.
Q. What are some of your interests outside of your position
responsibilities?
A. I enjoy many of the outdoor activities that Minnesota has to offer
including hiking, camping and fishing.
Q. What is the most exciting technological tool that you have
either used or helped to develop in your job?
A. Three dimensional computer models of new process units are a relatively
new tool that is used on all major projects in refineries. These models allow
designers and operators to observe equipment layout exactly as it will appear in
the field and can lead to identification and resolution of design problems in
the early stages of projects. I have been involved in reviewing several such
models in my job.
Q. Do you speak any foreign languages? If so, were they
helpful in your position?
A. I don’t claim to speak any foreign languages fluently, but I did study
French from elementary school into high school. I had an opportunity to use some
of what I remembered on a job assignment offshore of the former French colony of
Gabon, Africa. I was the Marathon representative on a floating storage and
offloading (FSO) facility and my language skills (limited as they may have been)
did help me build relationships with some of the locals while I was there.
