Ergon Names Whit Hughes VP of Public Affairs and Government Relations

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Whit Hughes has been named Vice President of Public Affairs & Government Relations for Ergon Inc., a Mississippi-based company serving industries essential to global manufacturing and infrastructure.

Hughes will serve as strategist and lead advocate on local, state and federal policies. His responsibilities include forming and strengthening relationships with elected officials, regulators and other business and community leaders.

“Whit brings almost 25 years of experience in a variety of public and private sector leadership positions to Ergon,” commented Kris Patrick, President & Chief Executive Officer of Ergon and its affiliated companies. “He is an excellent fit for this new role in our company, creating more business opportunities and strengthening our mission of meeting needs, supporting families and serving customers.”

Hughes earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration from Mississippi State University. He joined Ergon in 2020 as Business Development Executive for Alliant Construction, Ergon’s commercial construction and contracting company, supporting Alliant’s growth as a leading general contractor in Mississippi.

About Ergon

Ergon is a group of privately held companies that operate under four primary business segments: Energy & Specialty Solutions, Pavement & Coating Resources, Integrated Services & Logistics, and Exploration & Production.

Contact Information

Kathy Potts
Vice President of Marketing Communications
601.933.3000
kathy.potts@ergon.com

Meet Jamian Rush, Sustainability Specialist

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Making sense of sustainability within the industries Ergon serves is not always simple. Here to help us unpack the term is Jamian Rush, Sustainability Specialist in Ergon’s Product Stewardship Department, who suggests that we not only take a step back and consider how our contributions positively impact society but also remember Ergon has been built on a foundation of doing the right thing since the very beginning.

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Sustainability is the practice of balancing the needs of the present with those of future generations and is a critical consideration for solution-oriented companies like Ergon. Using sustainable practices such as reducing waste and eliminating inefficiencies, Ergon is able to protect its resources, environment and the trust it has earned among a wide variety of stakeholders. Sustainability and Doing Right extend beyond Ergon’s commitment to delivering the highest standard of products and customer service, all the way to contributing toward a sound business strategy that is continually supported.

I have had the opportunity to visit several facilities across various business units within Ergon and have witnessed what we call One Ergon in full effect. That is where each area of the organization comes together, taking the synergistic approach to ensuring high-value solutions for our customers across various industries. I have visited some sites alone and others with Bonnie Chapman, Mary Ellen Snow, Lakeisha Jones and David Warden of the Product Stewardship Department. During my visits, I interact with Ergon’s Operations and Product Development personnel, which allows me the opportunity to be a student again and become familiar with Ergon’s beautiful complexities. Throughout these visits, I continue to gain additional insight into how I can aid with sustainability advisement and assist in collecting and reporting on sustainability-related stories. My work supports the implementation, execution and evolution of Ergon’s sustainability strategy, including aiding in developing our third annual Doing Right Report.

Built Around Doing Right
My passion for sustainability was realized during my studies at York University in Toronto, Ontario, where I obtained my bachelor’s degree and continued to evolve as I pursued my Master of Science in Sustainability Management from the Kogod School of Business at American University in Washington, D.C. My research and experience at American University showed me how sustainable actions can create value for many industries. During my studies, I was enrolled in an International Practicum in Stockholm, Sweden, in which I advised on long-term strategic development for Hexicon, a floating offshore wind farm company. The lessons I learned at Hexicon revolved around having a holistic view and a keen sense of detail that I carry with me every day. However, it was the opportunity to intern at Ergon that elevated these qualities. At Ergon, I saw how our products contribute significantly to society and that we are more than an oil and gas company — we are an “ease-of-life” company. By reducing friction, pioneering pavement preservation and providing durable coatings that protect offshore wind assets, we positively impact society. As a graduate student, I felt my duty was to educate my classmates and professors that sustainability does not mean eliminating our industry. Suggesting that they take a step back, I asked them to consider how our contributions positively impacted their way of life. Sustainability is about what Ergon has been dedicated to since the very beginning: meeting needs, supporting families and serving our customers.

Committed to Excellence
I am excited to be part of the Ergon family! Beginning as an intern in October 2020 while completing my bachelor’s degree and since joining the Product Stewardship team full time in December 2022, Ergon has helped me better understand the importance of the role we play in society. I appreciate the opportunity to work with members of the Ergon family and look forward to supporting the organization’s sustainability strategy and helping us all to remain mindful of how our actions will impact future generations.

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Staying informed is a great way to recognize and appreciate the positive impact Ergon has had on society for decades and helps us remain committed to our mission of Doing Right for future generations. Part of our commitment to doing right includes attracting, retaining and supporting knowledgeable employees like Jamian whose passion and dedication to their work help ensure the continued success of Ergon around the world.

To learn even more on how we are doing right with our products, for our planet, by our people and through our principles, click the link to view or download a PDF of Ergon’s 2022 Doing Right Report — https://ergon.com/sustainability.

From the Heart for the Heart — Ergon’s First Healthy Heart Campaign

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On February 3, 2023, during American Heart Month, Ergon kicked off our first Healthy Heart Campaign created to increase awareness of the causes and symptoms of heart disease and stroke, provide employees with healthy heart tips and raise funds on behalf of the American Heart Association (AHA).

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The campaign began with an organization-wide Wear Red Day celebration as well as a video message to the Ergon family from Lee Lampton, son of Ergon founder Leslie Lampton Sr. In the video, Lee shared the story of how his battle with heart disease began and the steps he has taken to ensure he stays on top of his heart health to date. Ergon employees were encouraged to share their heart stories as well throughout the campaign period, some of which helped others identify symptoms they may not have known were connected to heart disease.

Lee Lampton shares his heart story with the Ergon family.

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Each week of the campaign, employees had the opportunity to donate funds toward the AHA Go Red for Women/Woman of Impact initiative for a chance to win a raffle prize for that week. All donors were then entered into a grand prize drawing. While the campaign included all Ergon companies, Ergon Corporate also incorporated Food Truck Days in which a portion of the proceeds from food truck sales went to the AHA. Over the nine-week campaign, Ergon raised approximately $27,000.

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Healthy Heart Ambassador
Ergon Board Member Amy Walker served as our Healthy Heart Ambassador and was one of AHA’s Metro Jackson (Mississippi) Go Red for Women/Woman of Impact representatives. For Walker, heart disease is an issue she is all too familiar with, which has driven her motivation for wanting to do her part to help others. “Heart disease has greatly impacted my family,” said Walker. “My father Lee Lampton’s struggles with heart disease began at age 52. I lost my maternal grandfather to a heart attack when he was just 52 years old as well. Also, my father-in-law and sister-in-law died of heart attacks.” In addition to heart disease hitting close to home, Walker’s motivation for her involvement includes being able to enhance research on how to help women specifically, as heart disease and stroke claim the life of a woman every 80 seconds.

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Did You Know?

According to Go Red for Women, men have historically been the subjects of research on heart disease and stroke, making them the basis for treatments and guidelines and leaving a gap in education on the impact of heart disease and stroke on women. Funds donated by the Ergon family went toward the AHA’s Go Red for Women/Woman of Impact initiative to help ensure more balanced measures to treat and/or reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. “I’m proud to be part of the network of women leaning into our power to help transform lives and mitigate the risk of heart disease,” said Walker.

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Metro Jackson Go Red for Women Luncheon
Following Ergon’s Healthy Heart Campaign, Ergon was honored to attend the 2023 Metro Jackson Go Red for Women Luncheon where Walker was named the Woman of Impact runner up. “I share this recognition with the entire Ergon family for their efforts and generous donations,” said Walker, “Thank you.”

Also, during the luncheon, Cindy Wagner represented Ergon as she cat walked down the Heart Disease Survivor Fashion Show runway. Cindy is a heart attack survivor who is passionate about encouraging women to take care of their hearts.

 

“The symptoms of women’s heart attacks are so different than men,” said Cindy. “My pain was in the middle of my back and my right jaw — no chest pain, no left arm pain. It turned out I had 98% blockage and had to have a stent put in.” We are grateful to Cindy for sharing her heart story and for being an advocate for women’s heart health.

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Donations to the AHA go toward funding research and education initiatives, supporting advocacy of healthier communities, improving patient care and more.