Ergon to Adjust Naphthenic Prices in North America

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Flowood, Miss. — Ergon has announced a decrease in pricing of naphthenic oils in the North American market by $0.30 per gallon effective Friday, August 5, 2022. The decrease will apply to all viscosities.

About Ergon  Ergon is a group of privately held companies that operate under six primary business segments: Refining & Marketing, Specialty Chemicals, Asphalt & Emulsions, Oil & Gas, Midstream & Logistics, and Construction & Real Estate.

Contact Information 
Kathy Potts 
Director of Marketing Communications 
601-933-3000 
kathy.potts@ergon.com
ergon.com |  ergonspecialtyoils.com

Supporting Professional Development at Ergon

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The idea of purposeful growth has been driving change within Ergon for decades. Whether attracting the right talent or developing our talent within, both are focused on meeting needs for future growth.

Ergon management has always been passionate about creating opportunities to further develop our talented workforce. In this blog post, Blaine Totty, Vice President –Organizational Development, highlights a few of these opportunities Ergon provides to support the professional growth of our workforce.

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I have wondered many times why Ergon is a place that naturally retains its employees. Even if employees leave for greener pastures, many find their way back. That’s because at Ergon, we care for our people and want the best for them. Not only that, but we demonstrate it by providing resources to help strengthen skillsets and support advancement. This aspect of our culture is important when we recruit candidates to work at Ergon; we want the people that we hire to become future leaders who will care for their employees and develop them the same way they were developed. Hiring people who embody the values Ergon holds dear — Empowered Service, Selfless Leadership, Respectful Relationships and Purposeful Growth — and honing those values through training and development sets us up for a sustainable future. That’s why we often say that company growth and employee growth go hand in hand.

How We Encourage Growth
Ergon has a myriad of ways we help develop employees once they become part of the family. Leaders throughout the organization are constantly providing resources to help with this development. Such resources include free access to courses through LinkedIn Learning, Dale Carnegie Training and the Rapid Learning Institute. We have also implemented a Learning Management System complete with various training opportunities on a variety of topics related to various fields and Ergon operations, and we host Lunch and Learns and webinars in which employees are able to increase their industry knowledge and know-how. These are just a few of many ways Ergon is intentionally investing in the advancement of our people.

A Learning Culture
Continuing to develop a learning culture is possibly the best way that we can continue to prepare for future challenges. Our leaders are constantly looking for new ways to strengthen our employee’s abilities and to challenge them. One way we do this is through a monthly LinkedIn Learning challenge created to encourage employees across the Ergon organization to complete as many courses as possible on the platform within the month. Courses can be filtered according to employees’ specific interests. I am personally encouraged by reports I receive from employees about lessons learned through the challenge.

Currently, we are developing a management training program to ensure we give managers the right tools to succeed in their jobs. Part of this program is a curriculum on coaching and the development of people. Additionally, a new performance management system is rolling out so employees can have clear expectations in their roles and set goals for professional and personal development. We are increasing transparency in job opportunities so that internal candidates are given chances to challenge themselves in a new role and gain valuable experience. All of these ways are just the start of our continued effort to embody the value of purposeful growth across our organization.

If you’re interested in working for a company that invests in your professional growth and challenges you to reach your potential, visit our careers page and find out how you can join the Ergon family. We’d love to have you.

 

Ergon is Doing Right by Our Planet Through Energy Efficiency

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A commitment to energy efficiency means a commitment to preserving Earth’s atmosphere for future generations. At Ergon, we are doing right by our planet by implementing new assets designed to reduce energy consumption.

To see the results of our commitment, look no further than our corporate headquarters at Mirror Lake Plaza in Flowood, Mississippi, where we have invested over $1 million in energy-efficiency since 2014. To date, this investment has resulted in an 18% reduction in kWh usage. According to electicityplans.com, a kWh (kilowatt-hour) is “a measure of the amount of energy a certain machine needs to run for one hour.”

By reducing energy usage at our headquarters, we are also helping to reduce greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions. Greenhouse gases “trap radiation from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere,” causing accelerated warming, which can be harmful to the environment and the global population — both human and non-human. This warming effect increases the risk and severity of natural disasters, including storm surges and prolonged heat waves.

A Breakdown of Energy Conservation Efforts at Mirror Lake Plaza
One significant energy conservation upgrade was the installation of automatic on/off LED lighting throughout the Mirror Lake Plaza campus. According to energy.gov, switching to LED lights can result in up to 90% less energy usage than incandescent lights.

We also installed more efficient elevator motors as well as energy control technologies, including new chiller systems, Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) on air handlers and an Energy Management System (EMS).

  • Variable Frequency Drives: With VFDs, HVAC motors are controlled based on function and load requirements, which lead to significant reductions in energy usage.
  • Energy Management System: An EMS is a type of technology that controls multiple sources of energy and temperature settings throughout our headquarters. “It controls the HVAC system, turning it on and off as needed; manages air pressures; and controls outside air for economizing when in season,” said Andy Measells, VP & General Manager of Alliant Construction, a division of Ergon Construction Group Inc. “You can save a lot of energy and money when the building systems are under control.”

These facility upgrades have resulted in a $39,000/year savings from 2018 – 2021.

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Learn more about how we are doing right for our planet, by our people and more in our first ever Doing Right Report here. From that page, you can also sign up for our quarterly newsletter, eNews, to read how we are making a positive impact in our communities and ways you can start doing the same through your organization.

Emmitte Haddox Announces Retirement as Ergon CEO

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Ergon’s Board of Directors announced on June 20, 2022, that Emmitte J. Haddox plans to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ergon Inc. effective September 30, 2022. He will remain on Ergon’s Board of Directors for the foreseeable future.

“On behalf of the Lamptons and the entire Ergon family, we want to thank Emmitte for his decades-long service and dedication to the company,” commented Bill Lampton, Director. “Emmitte has been a friend and trusted counsel since the 1960s, and Leslie, Lee, Robert and I have found his leadership to be invaluable since our father passed away in 2018.”

After serving as a financial advisor to the company for six years, Haddox accepted the position of CEO of Ergon Inc. and its subsidiaries in 2016 and currently serves on the Board of Directors, the Executive Management Team and as President of the Ergon Foundation Inc. He is the former Managing Partner of Haddox Reid Burkes Calhoun, PLLC, an accounting and audit firm based in Jackson, Mississippi. A native of Columbia, Mississippi, Mr. Haddox holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Southern Mississippi.

“Emmitte has led the successful transition of this organization since 2016, and Ergon’s growth and performance have been nothing less than stellar during his tenure,” said Tom Amonett, Chairman of the Board. “Emmitte has epitomized the character and values of Ergon, and we will forever be grateful for the many contributions he has made to this organization.”

KRIS PATRICK APPOINTED AS ERGON CEO

Kris Patrick, Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of President and CEO on October 1, 2022. Patrick’s introduction to Ergon came as a Co-Op while studying at Mississippi State University (MSU), and he joined the company in 2000 as a Process Engineer. He served as Senior Vice President of Refining, Planning and Supply from 2000 through 2017, when he was named President of Ergon Refining Inc. and Ergon – West Virginia Inc. He was named COO of Ergon Inc. in 2018. Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration with a specialty in Project Management from MSU and completed the Leading Global Business program at Harvard Business School.

“The Board and I have been impressed by the strong management and leadership skills Kris has brought to the table,” Haddox said. “He has taken advantage of every opportunity to prepare for this role, strengthening the organization and making real strides in Ergon’s strategic planning, safety systems and processes. I have no doubt that Kris’ desire to honor Ergon’s history while focusing on innovation and expanding opportunities will take this organization to even greater heights.”

World Blood Donor Day: Ergon Corporate Supports Mississippi Blood Services

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On this World Blood Donor Day, Ergon’s Dave Pekol, Director of IT Operations, shares the importance of donating blood and how Ergon supports Mississippi Blood Services at our corporate headquarters.

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Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, and our entire country’s blood supply is provided by volunteers.

Giving blood is a good thing to do. Donating provides a way to give of yourself for the sole benefit of helping someone else. You may never know how you saved or improved the life of a trauma victim, a cancer patient or a child with sickle cell anemia.

Quarterly blood drives at Ergon headquarters. There are around 40 volunteers at Ergon’s corporate headquarters who give blood regularly during our quarterly blood drives, but we are always looking to improve that number while encouraging the public to donate blood at their local blood services centers, if possible.

“But I don’t’ like needles!” That’s a common response of people who are fearful of getting shots or donating blood. You may not find too many people who “like” skin pricks, but I challenge you to think about this another way:

If you needed blood right now, would you be worried about the needle prick you’d need to receive it?

A legitimate fear of needles is justifiable and should never be taken lightly. You should always do what makes you comfortable. But if there’s a chance you can comfortably set aside your dislike for needles for the sake of saving lives, please consider donating blood at your local blood center. You can find locations near you here. You never know who may be on the receiving end of your generosity.

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The next blood drive at Ergon’s headquarters at Mirror Lake Plaza will be held July 14; However, you can donate today, wherever you are. According to Martone and Page (2019), “Blood donors are able to give one pint of blood every 56 days — the time it takes for an adult’s body to return to normal levels.”

Reference: Martone, J., & Page, D. (January 2, 2019). 5 things you never knew about donating blood. Retrieved June 13, 2022, from https://thewell.northwell.edu/feel-good-stories/5-things-you-never-knew-about-donating- blood.

Evotherm – Environmentally Friendly Warm Mix Technology

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Ergon is committed to creating innovative solutions to meet customers’ needs while maintaining an environmentally conscious mindset. In recognition of World Environment Day (which was June 5, 2022), we’re highlighting Evotherm — a patented green paving solution for road agencies developed by Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (EA&E) and Mathy Construction Co.

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The Green Solution
One of the ways EA&E has sought to reduce our carbon footprint is through the development of Evotherm warm mix asphalt technology, formerly known as REVIX™. “The need for such a product arose out of desire to reduce the risk of exposing road crews and the environment to hydrocarbons,” explained Dr. Gaylon Baumgardner, EA&E Executive Vice President – Technical Operations. EA&E and Mathy Construction Co. joined forces to patent this technology in 2007.

Benefits
Evotherm is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional hot mix applications. The warm mix additives in Evotherm allow for a reduction in temperature during both asphalt production and application. The result is a reduction of hydrocarbon fumes. Evotherm can be hauled longer distances while maintaining workability, and it allows for paving in cooler weather while still obtaining density.

An additional benefit of Evotherm is the technology does not alter mix design. It simply enhances the traditional asphalt binder (Reinke & Baumgardner, 2007).

Environmental Impact
In addition to reduced carbon emissions, Evotherm’s environmental impact includes a significant reduction in volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxide, dust and more. This is in keeping with results from the Federal Highway Administration’s 2008 SCAN report that showed the environmental impacts of warm mix asphalt technologies. The following are a few results from the report:

  • CO2[e]* reduced 30- 40%
  • SO2 reduced 35%
  • VOC reduced 50%
  • CO reduced 10-30%
  • NOx reduced 60-70%
  • Dust reduced 20-25%

Since its development, Evotherm has been used on asphalt projects around the world, in both hot and cold climates, with the U.S. being the largest market. “Texas, in particular, has been a leader in the use of this green technology,” said Andrew Crow, Vice President, Pavement Technologies for Ingevity, the exclusive global marketer of Evotherm.

Promoting Sustainable Solutions
Evotherm is just one of many results of EAE keeping sustainability at the forefront of innovation. “There is a shift to an even greater focus on sustainability around the world,” said Crow. “Promoting paving technologies that reduce greenhouse gases is the next logical step.”

*CO2e is the designation for global greenhouse gases, or CO2 and its equivalents.

Reference
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. (February 2008). Chapter 2: Benefits of WMA warm-mix asphalt European practice.

Reinke, G., & Baumgardner, G. (2007). REVIX™ BDP.

Ergon Family Supports the American Cancer Society

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Since 2020, Ergon has continued to raise funds annually on behalf of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) breast cancer awareness initiatives. Read the article below to find out how we got started making our own strides against breast cancer. This article was written in 2022. Since that time, our organization has raised $185,000 in 2023 and $225,000 in 2024 on behalf of the ACS.

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The Ergon family was introduced to the American Cancer Society’s Real Mean Wear Pink (RMWP) campaign when Larry Tomkins, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions VP – Southeast Region, was nominated to serve as a RMWP ambassador in 2020. RMWP campaign ambassadors across the nation commit to raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, and the organization has raised more than $40 million since its inception. In just two years, Larry and Ergon have raised over $100,000 in the ongoing campaign for breast cancer research and patient support.

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In early 2022, Ergon received four awards from the American Cancer Society in recognition of funds raised for the 2021 breast cancer campaigns. In addition to company awards, Tomkins received ACS recognition for ranking fifth in the nation among individual contributors for his efforts in steering our 2021 fundraising initiatives. “None of this would have been possible without the Ergon family, our partners, our friends and other generous donors,” Tomkins said.

A Fundraiser Close to the Heart
Tomkins had never led a personal fundraiser before his RMWP nomination. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it, but then I thought about my mother-in-law,” he commented. Tomkins’ mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, just before he married his wife, Tracy. “That took a toll on the whole family, but I’m glad to say she’s a survivor and has had the opportunity to have a wonderful relationship with my children. We have been blessed, but for some families, that hasn’t been the case.”

Tomkins used his opportunity as an RMWP Ambassador to get Ergon Corporate involved. Upon receiving the OK for Ergon’s participation, Tomkins enlisted others at the corporate headquarters to be part of a committee to help with fundraising.

Ergon Employees Dare to Care
One of the fundraisers the committee came up with was the 2020 Dare to Care Halloween Costume Contest in which employees could dress up in their favorite workplace-appropriate costume in exchange for donations toward Tomkins’ RMWP campaign. This was the first contest of its kind at Ergon, with winners receiving certificates and everyone getting to let loose and laugh a little for a good cause. In addition to the contest, those who donated $10 were entered in a drawing for a pink YETI cooler.

Thanks to generous donations during the costume contest, as well as countless others who donated on behalf of Tomkins, Ergon raised nearly $46,000, and Tomkins was recognized as number eight in the nation for individual contributors for 2020.

The Tradition Continues
The Ergon family had come to look forward to donating for a cause while dressing up for a laugh. The Dare to Care contest resumed in 2021, and although Tomkins was not officially a part of the RMWP campaign, he did enter Ergon as one of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraising teams.

This time around, in addition to raising $62,000, many Ergon family members also came out to participate in the ACS-Mississippi’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. “The teamwork and dedication have been mind blowing to witness,” said Tomkins.

For the Love of ACS
Ergon and other top performers of the 2021 donation year participated in an additional fundraiser to kick off 2022 called “For the Love of ACS.” Ergon was recognized as a top performer of the top performers, contributing $5,440 in donations. “We really want to break last year’s $62,000 record,” said Tomkins. “This fundraiser provides us the opportunity to get an early start on fundraising and has already been a great help toward us reaching this goal.”

National Cancer Survivor’s Awareness Day is June 5. If you would like to contribute toward Ergon’s 2022 breast cancer awareness fundraiser, email Larry.Tomkins@ergon.com.

Doing Right: Helping Employees Beat the Heat This Summer

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On this Heat Awareness Day, we introduce Ergon’s 2022 Heat Awareness Program. Corporate Health & Safety Manager James Upton shares the importance of heat safety awareness in organizations such as Ergon, where employees work in extreme temperatures year-round.

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The past few years have shown that the risk of heat illness from high temperatures is one of the most serious challenges to the health and safety of workers. In 2019, despite widespread underreporting, 2,410 workers in the U.S. experienced a heat-related injury or illness, with 43 workers even dying from a heat illness. The real tragedy is that heat illness is almost always preventable.

High heat impacts everyone, and we can’t afford to ignore its effects on health. This year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has implemented a new national emphasis on heat stress, prioritizing heat-related interventions and workplace inspections on days when the heat index exceeds 80°F. This is in addition to their campaign to educate and assist employers on heat illness prevention.

ERGON’S HEAT AWARENESS PROGRAM:

Recognition is critical; prevention is key. Ergon’s Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Team has initiated an organization-wide Heat Awareness Program (HAP). The goal is to educate the Ergon Family on ways to recognize heat/temperature hazards and prevent related illnesses.

Here are some things we’ve done to help spread awareness so far. In May 2022, all Ergon facilities received HAP boxes with heat safety awareness information, OSHA posters in English and Spanish, and chill-its (evaporative cooling bandanas) for all employees.

We’re communicating heat safety awareness through digital monitors at all facilities and an organization-wide Heat Awareness Webinar series developed to provide tips on how to recognize and treat heat-related illnesses, including what to do to if you or a coworker start to experience symptoms.

Can you recognize the signs of a heat illness? The following graphic includes quick tips on how to recognize the symptoms and/or signs of one common heat-related illness — heat exhaustion.

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Whether you work for Ergon or another company, we want to be sure you know how to avoid heat-related illnesses. We encourage you to refer to your company’s health and safety policies and guidelines, as well as any local, state and federal safety organizations with which you comply, for details on best practices for your organization.

If you’re interested in ways you can promote relevant heat safety awareness within your organization, email us and we’ll be in touch. Stay cool!

Selfless Leadership — Ergon Focuses on the Greater Good

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We lead with compassion and put those around us before ourselves. We don’t say we’re the experts; we demonstrate it through technical expertise, category innovation and genuine care for what we do.

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Selfless Leadership is a core value of Ergon and has been an integral part of our business model for the past 68 years. We got our start in 1954 in the petroleum industry’s service sector — with service being the operative word.

Ergon has always been a company that has anticipated and put the needs of those we serve above our own interests. We look outside of ourselves for the greater good of our family of employees and our customers. It’s what sustains us. And we employ over 3,200 people who embody this same ideal in their everyday work.

Watch as members of the Ergon family explain our collective commitment to the value of Selfless Leadership below.

Ergon is cultivating leaders at every level of our organization. By empowering our employees to be compassionate leaders, we are able to broaden our capabilities and capacity to provide the exceptional customer service that has become synonymous with the Ergon name.

We don’t boast about our successes in the industries we serve, but if we could attribute them to one thing, it would be that we operate simply as a service company with a decades-long mission of meeting needs, supporting families and serving customers.

We thrive by championing our people, and by being available and being responsive when needed the most. That’s the Ergon way.

If you’re interested in a company that thrives off of being available and helping others, then Ergon is the place for you. Visit our Careers page for more information on how and why you should join the Ergon family.

Empowering Employees to Lead, Innovate and Serve

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Putting our best foot forward to anticipate and meet customer needs and then exceed their expectations has been a driving force in Ergon’s commitment to empowering our family of employees.

Regardless of role or location, empowered service means being trusted to do your job and being prepared to contribute to the success of Ergon’s customers through training, proactive learning and curiosity.

“My favorite thing about working at Ergon is the endless opportunities,” said Andrew Rigaud, Maintenance Engineer at Ergon – West Virginia. “I really love learning, and so the opportunity to go out and pick up a new skill, learn a new program, learn a process within the refinery, is something I cherish, and that really excites me.”

Learn how we embody Empowered Service — the Ergon way — in the video below, part of our Culture & Values video series.

Nurturing the passion and curiosity employees have about processes and technologies in their respective fields has been key in Ergon’s development of innovative products in the asphalt and specialty oils industries. And the ongoing learning opportunities we provide have helped foster the cream of the crop of confident and competent leaders in the industries we serve.

“We have very extensive training programs because we want our people to be all they can be,” said Roger Harris, Senior VP – Marine Operations for Ergon’s Magnolia Marine Transport Co. (MMT). For decades, MMT has provided training opportunities for employees, including those joining at entry-level.

While empowering employees is a benefit to them and to Ergon, the ultimate goal is woven into the fabric of the organization — serving customers. “We want to make sure that every interaction has the customer in mind, and that we’re exceeding their expectations,” Brody McCreary, Production Leader – Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions.

Interested in working for a company that thrives off of investing in your professional growth? Visit ergoncareers.com today, and search for job openings within the Ergon family of companies.