Not so long ago, Katy was a busy Lamar University senior, her nose buried in her chemical engineering books before the next big exam.
Location: La Porte, Texas
Year joined Lyondell: 2005
Education: B.S. Chemical Engineering, Lamar University, 2005
After hours: Volleyball and traveling
TV pick: American Idol
On her cone: Cookies ‘n’ cream
As a student, she could count on tidy textbook problems with all the solutions conveniently located in the back of the book. But she soon learned, “in the real world, you must have a good feeling for what answers make sense, know whether you’re on the right track and what questions to ask in order to reach a solution.”
Here in the “real world,” Katy is a Lyondell production engineer who manages projects required for the company’s environmental compliance; monitors and investigates quality issues; and provides operations support for the modifier recovery column, environmental emissions reporting and associated software. Since joining Lyondell, she’s already benefited from the opportunities afforded many young graduates when they come aboard.
“One of my projects is a multi-million dollar project that significantly impacts my unit,” she said. “The work I am responsible for is value-added, and I feel like my opinion counts. I’ve only been out of school a year, and I’m already involved in day-to-day decision-making.”
Every person I’ve worked with has left a lasting impression on me. I am a better person, a better engineer because of the people who have taken the time to work with me and teach me.
Katy encourages new employees to do the same, to “be involved” and to use every opportunity to learn something new. Of course, as Katy – and many other Lyondell employees – found, getting “involved” can take a fun, unexpected twist.
“I became a member of the volunteer outreach committee at the LaPorte plant,” she said. “I’ve participated in company-sponsored Easter egg hunt, tree planting and Global Care Day. I was a core team member at Global Care Day …what a way to make a difference.”