Brad sums up Lyondell’s culture in one word: safe.
Location: Equistar Chemicals, Clinton, Iowa
Year joined Lyondell: 2005
Education: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Fall 2005
After hours: golf, tennis, racquetball, basketball and boating
TV pick: Married With Children
On his cone: Hershey’s Moose Tracks
He should know – as a maintenance engineer, his primary responsibility is maintenance at the olefins plant where he troubleshoots equipment issues, serves as a project/technical manager for a $1 million environmental emissions reduction project and implements equipment upgrades through corporate best practices.
The organization’s focus on safety isn’t the only value Brad has embraced. After only a short time at Lyondell, Brad could see the company’s emphasis on people and performance in action.
“The company is team oriented and rewards the accomplishments of employees who work as a group, rather than individually – the notion is no one person has all the answers,” he said. “And I see the results of the projects I work on implemented in our operations.”
The company is team oriented and rewards the accomplishments of employees who work as a group.
Key to effective, results-oriented teams is communication, which is the foundation of Lyondell’s Dialog.
“Dialog is valuable because it gives every one an opportunity to sit down with peers or management and discuss improvements,” he said. “It also focuses on strengths and is a channel to discuss areas for opportunities in the future.”
Building a professional future starts at the beginning, which is why Brad advises new employees to “work with the people who have been here a while.
“Specialists in the units are seasoned and their knowledge provides a great start to learning plant operations,” he said.
“The specialty engineering group conducts training sessions for young engineers and is always available to provide technical knowledge and support for my projects. Lyondell has a strong technical foundation with our specialty engineering group, which is made up of professionals skilled in their field.”