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 earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from The Georgia Institute of
Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta, Ga. Go Jackets!
Q. What subjects/courses were instrumental in helping you
gain your current position?
A. Everyone will agree that the math, science, and engineering courses are
some of the most important in our industry, but I have found my Economics and
Engineering Ethics courses to be quite valuable. Today’s energy challenges go
far beyond the discovery, production and refining of petroleum products. The
energy industry must perform these core functions while satisfying the demands
of global markets, international stock exchanges and sensitive environmental and
political situations.
Q. How many years of education were needed in order for you
to enter the industry?
A. I spent a total of five years in college. During that time, I earned my
four year degree and participated in the Cooperative Education Program (Co-op).
Q. Were any summer internships or advanced learning
opportunities helpful in entering the industry?
A. Absolutely. I participated in Georgia Tech’s Co-op program. The Co-op
program allowed me to alternate semesters between school and work beginning in
my sophomore year and running through my junior year. While employed as a Co-op,
I was able to experience many facets of engineering ranging from research and
development to manufacturing and support engineering. The experience helped me
understand what I enjoyed about my field of study and identify the type of role
I desired for full-time employment.
Q. Does your current position allow you to travel? If so,
what was your favorite location?
A. Yes. Industrial lubricants are used in a number of interesting
applications and I have been fortunate to travel all over the United States to
witness our products at work. Notable destinations have included: underground
coal mines in West Virginia, power generation plants in South Carolina, gas
compression stations in Texas, aircraft manufacturing facilities in Washington
and Georgia, open pit coal mines in Wyoming, gold mines in Nevada, final
assembly plants for heavy trucks in North Carolina, and copper mines in Utah.
Q. What opportunities do you see for yourself in the
industry?
A. I feel that my opportunities are unlimited. During my short time in the
industry, I have held positions in business optimization, technical sales, and
project management. My engineering background not only prepared me to tackle
technical problems, but also gave me analytical and problem solving skills that
can be applied anywhere.
Q. What are some of your favorite aspects of your job?
A. I enjoy the opportunity to interface with every segment of our supply
chain, start to finish. I regularly meet with suppliers, research and
development, manufacturing, logistics, marketing, sales, and most importantly
our customers and the end users of our products.
Q. What are some of the most surprising aspects of your job?
A. Arriving at work and not knowing what to expect. Projects and priorities
are always changing with market conditions and customer needs. I am constantly
on my toes and ready to react to changing conditions.
Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A. At the end of the day, it is all about taking care of the customer. Some
days my customer may be the manufacturing group asking for assistance with
product formulations, other days an end user may have a question about product
application. Going home at the end of the day with a big thank from a customer
is rewarding not only for me, but for the entire organization.
Q. What are some of your interests outside of your position
responsibilities?
A. I work with our corporate recruiting office to develop and maintain
relationships with students at my alma mater. We sponsor presentations and
events geared toward developing student interest in the industry and looking for
the next generation of employees for the company. I also coordinate company
representatives for the career fair and on-campus interviews.
Q. What is the most exciting technological tool that you have
either used or helped to develop in your job?
A. Analytical chemistry plays a significant role in the quality control and
troubleshooting of our products both in manufacturing and in service. We utilize
advanced viscometers and spectrometers to analyze the physical properties and
compositions of our products before use, while in service and after use to
characterize their performance. For example, we can analyze product samples
taken from field applications and determine the product performance as well as
predict impending system failures based on the presence of foreign materials and
their composition.
Q. Do you speak any foreign languages? If so, were they
helpful in your position?
A. No, but foreign language skills would certainly open doors to additional
opportunities.
