Ergon’s Mark Ishee Elected President of FP2 Inc.

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Mark Ishee, Vice President of Pavement Preservation & Specialty Products for Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (EAE), has been elected President of FP2 Inc.

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Mark Ishee joined the Ergon family 42 years ago and has held various roles, including the distinction of being EAE’s original Technical Marketing Manager. His dedication to helping agencies understand how to get maximum performance out of their roadways through strategic and cost-effective pavement preservation and maintenance practices has earned him a reputation for being a dependable resource in the quest to improve infrastructure throughout the U.S.

ABOUT FP2
Formerly known as the Foundation for Pavement Preservation, FP2 supports the adoption of pavement preservation at all levels of government and works to ensure that pavement preservation becomes a part of road programs from coast-to-coast. It also supports valuable research in pavement preservation and works in close cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the National Center for Pavement Preservation (NCPP), and regional pavement preservation partnerships and state-based pavement preservation centers.

For years, Ishee has upheld Ergon’s mission to meet needs and serve customers by extending his knowledge of pavement preservation, serving as a resource to various associations within the asphalt industry. His work with FP2 began in 2004. He has since served on various committees and task forces and held roles such as secretary/treasurer, vice president and now president of the organization. In addition to his contributions to FP2, Ishee has also served in varying capacities with the International Slurry Surfacing Association and held multiple roles with the Asphalt Emulsions Manufacturers Association, including president (2017 – 2019).

Read the FULL RELEASE here:  https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/mark-ishee-is-new-president-of-fp2/59803.

 

Ergon’s Griffin Burk Named Chair of ASTM D27.01 Subcommittee

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Congratulations to Griffin Burk, Ph.D., senior research chemist at Ergon Inc., on being named chair of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D27.01 Subcommittee.

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D27.01 is a Subcommittee of the ASTM Committee D27 on Electrical Insulating Liquids and Gases, which provides specifications and test methods for all types of insulating liquids. ASTM D27.01 covers the mineral insulating liquids standards, including Standard D3487, which provides specifications for unused mineral insulating liquids; Standard D5222, which provides specifications for unused less flammable high molecular weight hydrocarbon mineral electrical insulating liquids; and a new standard, Standard D8180 (approved January 1, 2023) which provides specifications for re-refined mineral insulating liquids.

About ASTM
ASTM International, chartered in 1902, publishes production and testing standards covering a variety of materials, systems and products in order to encourage safety and consistency among manufacturers. It has grown to encompass over 12,500 standards and more than 30,000 members.

Ergon’s Commitment to ASTM
Prior to Burk’s appointment to chair, ASTM D27.01 had been under the chairmanship of long-time Ergon employee Jimmy Rasco since 2004. Prior to his retirement, Rasco was instrumental in shepherding important standards and was the recipient of ASTM’s 2011 Distinguished Service Award, the 2015 Charles A. Johnson Award, and ASTM D27’s top annual award  — the Award of Merit, which he received in 2017.

“Ergon has a deep history in the D27.01 Subcommittee,” said Burk, who played an active role in the group for over a year before being appointed chair. “I have some pretty big shoes to fill, but I am ready for the challenge and excited about being able to contribute to the global market on behalf of Ergon.”

Burk joins Ed Casserly, Ph.D., senior scientist at Ergon, as part of the ASTM D27 Executive Committee. Casserly currently serves as vice-chair of ASTM D27.

As senior research chemist at Ergon, Burk serves as part of the technical team responsible for developing and helping to maintain the quality of the company’s products worldwide. His main area of focus is Ergon’s HyVolt brand of dielectric fluids developed to meet insulation and cooling needs in electrical equipment applications. Products that fall under ASTM D27 include HyVolt® II mineral insulating liquid (ASTM D3487), HyVolt® NE natural ester insulating liquid (ASTM D6871), and HyVolt® SE synthetic ester insulating liquid (ASTM D8240). Burk is a graduate of Mississippi College and earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from Mississippi State University.

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The Ergon family of employees is encouraged to contribute time and service to associations relevant to our business in order to grow personally while carrying out our legacy of nurturing thought leaders who positively impact the industries we serve. Want to work for a company that wants you to grow? Visit our careers page for job openings.

Yulia Austin Named Ergon EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer

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Yulia Austin joined Ergon as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) on December 19, 2022. She will be based at Ergon’s headquarters in Flowood, Mississippi.

The creation of the new CHRO role extends from our commitment to Doing Right by Our People. We are investing in present and future generations, working to improve Ergon’s family business culture as we continue to grow the business.

Yulia has over 20 years of experience leading human resource efforts for major industry organizations. Most recently, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Acuren, which has 80 locations and 6,000 employees throughout North America and the United Kingdom. She has also held senior roles with Ingersoll Rand, Cameron and Baker Hughes companies. Yulia has a master’s degree in human resources development from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media from Azerbaijan State University.

She will be responsible for further evolving Ergon’s human resources strategy and operations, including talent management, recruitment, leadership development, compensation, benefits and payroll.

In her first six months on the job, Yulia will focus on learning about Ergon’s business landscape and operations as she travels to facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, meeting with as many people as possible.

Please join me in welcoming Yulia to the Ergon family.

Kris Patrick
President & CEO
Ergon Inc.

Ergon Employees Giving Back to Communities

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From fundraising events involving entire facilities to individual efforts, employees throughout the Ergon family give generously of their time, talents and blessings to help their communities and people in need.

One great example is the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program, which Ergon’s Information Technology Department began supporting in 2017 and now is an annual fundraising event for the corporate office. According to Jana Branham, Ergon Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, “We love this charity because it meets needs of the community where we live and serve … and all the donations go directly to children in need.” When Ergon’s CEO asked for ideas for giving back to communities on an enterprise-wide level, Jana suggested Toys for Tots, and employees in the corporate office were quick to join in.

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Each year, employees have an opportunity to purchase toys or provide monetary donations for a toy drive on behalf of the program. Ergon has matched employee donations annually. This year, Ergon was proud to present a check to Toys for Tots for $17,299.71, bringing the total contributions since 2020 to $49,182.58.

Not only do employees donate toys and money, but they really get in the Christmas spirit to encourage each other to participate. Groups of Ergon Elves volunteer to collect donations while others volunteer to shop for toys for children from newborn to age 12. Outside of corporate efforts, volunteers from various Ergon locations also support the Toys for Tots Program, like Juan Torres, who helps set up toy drives in Texas on behalf of the organization.

In addition to Toys for Tots, Ergon employees volunteer their time and resources to support a wide variety of causes, just a few of which are listed at the end of this story.

Ergon’s Refining & Marketing segment is living out company values through a variety of initiatives. Employees at Ergon – West Virginia in Newell, West Virginia, committed to increasing their number of work-sponsored community service hours from 180 to approximately 300 in 2023. Ergon Refining in Vicksburg, Mississippi, has already surpassed their 2023 goal of 1,000 hours, which comes to five hours per employee.

The R&M Mirror Lake Plaza team developed a Community Outreach Program which offers at least four community outreach events each quarter. Their goal for 2023 is 400 volunteer hours and $25,000 in charitable giving. Recently, the group spent time at the Boys & Girls Club of America in Jackson, Mississippi, where they hosted a career panel. Nine Ergon employees were able to share their respective career paths and encourage, inspire and pour into more than 30 teens and preteens.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is another important charity to members of the Ergon family — especially Larry Tomkins, Vice President – Southeast Region for Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (EAE). Larry has championed the Ergon family in raising $150,000 for ACS in the ongoing campaign for breast cancer research and patient support. EAE recently launched the Road to Recovery campaign, partnering with companies within the asphalt industry to ensure the provision of complimentary rides for cancer patients to get to their treatments.

As our CEO, Kris Patrick, mentioned in his recent message in Ergon’s Doing Right Report, “More dots on Ergon maps and more products in our portfolios are exciting, but I believe even more important is the positive impact we have on the lives of people around the world. May we never lose our focus on the fact that while we should strive to be profitable in our business, our higher calling is to impact the lives of employees, customers and communities we serve in a positive way.”

Happiest of Holidays from the Ergon Family!

Some of the causes supported by Ergon employees:
Adopt-A-Highway
Andre House
Baptist Children’s Village
Boys & Girls Clubs
Broadway Wharf Cleanup
Canopy Children’s Solutions
Chambers of Commerce
Chester and Newell, WV, Volunteer Fire Departments
Children’s Hospital of Mississippi
City of Chester Beautification Committee
Dempsey Centers for Quality Cancer Care
Extra Table
Feeding America
Gracious Givers of Arizona
Habitat for Humanity
House of Grace
Hurricane Disaster Relief Efforts
Idaho Coastal Conservation Association
International Ballet Competition
Jackson, Mississippi, Water Relief
La Vernia Community Food Bank
Mentoring College Students
Mississippi Blood Services
Mountaineer Food Bank
Rescue Mission of the Mahonig Valley
Salvation Army Family Store
Shower Power
Stewpot Community Services
Sunnybrook Children’s Home
Supporting Local First Responders
Teaching STEM Classes at Richland
Upper Elementary
The Brightside Project
The Lily Pad Foundation
The Little Light House, Central Mississippi
Title 1 School Volunteer Programs
Toys for Tots
Truckers Against Trafficking
Valley of the Sun United Way
Vicksburg Warren College and Career Academies
Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Foundation
Warren Central High School Life Skills Class
Youth Outdoors Unlimited

Purposeful Growth Profile: John Finley Achieves Safety Certifications

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We believe the Purposeful Growth of our family of employees lends to our continued success in the industries we serve. That’s why Ergon management encourages employees to seek opportunities to grow professionally. We want every employee, from the veteran to the new hire, to feel empowered to reach their potential and be the best they can be. In this Purposeful Growth Profile, we highlight the recent accomplishments of John Finley, Senior Environmental, Health & Safety Technician for the Operational Excellence Department at Ergon – West Virginia (EWV).

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John Finley recently completed courses at West Virginia University to become a Certified Safety Specialist – General Industry and a Certified Safety Trainer – General Industry.

While these highly sought-after certifications are not required for John’s position, he took the initiative to seek out and complete the courses to further educate himself and also to further impact Ergon’s goal for every employee to return home safe every day. “John truly embodies the values of Purposeful Growth and Empowered Service,” said Jack Azar, EWV Continuous Improvement Manager. “He is a driven individual who wants to learn and grow in his position and find ways to best serve, support and ensure the safety of others.”

John’s journey to obtaining the certifications did not come without challenges, as it was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he remained focused through over 150 core and elective course hours. “The courses were originally intended to be taught in person, but because of the pandemic, courses were switched to an online format,” said Chip Roush, EWV Environmental, Health & Safety Supervisor. “This was out of John’s comfort zone, but he persevered.”

John joined EWV on October 11, 2010, as an Oil Movements trainee in the Operations Department. He has since held roles as Area E Operator, Area D Operator, Health & Safety Technician and now Senior Environmental, Health & Safety Technician, overseeing the provision of safety, first aid, CPR, fire brigade, rescue and training services for EWV personnel.

Veterans Day Profile: Juan Torres, Selfless Leadership and Service

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Ergon is proud to have United States military Veterans as part of our family of employees who are committed to meeting needs for our customers and in communities we serve. On this Veterans Day, we celebrate all who served and also highlight a Veteran who exemplifies our core value of Selfless Leadership in his local community.

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Selfless Leadership is not just a value of Ergon alone, but a shared value among military personnel who willingly give of themselves for the common good.

Juan Torres is Lead Operator for Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions’ Manor, Texas, facility. He has volunteered for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation since he joined the United States Marine Corps in 2011. While he left active duty in 2018, Torres continues to support the Foundation by volunteering or setting up donation drives for the Toys for Tots Program every year during Christmastime.

Servant Hearts
Torres joins many members of the Ergon family who lend their time and resources on behalf of the Toys for Tots Program. Each year, employees at our corporate headquarters in Flowood, Mississippi, provide toys and monetary donations to support the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation’s goal of ensuring children of disadvantaged families are able to receive gifts and experience the joy of Christmas. Over the past five years, Ergon has raised $63,000 toward this effort.

About the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Established in 1991, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to provide toys and send a message of hope to less fortunate children at Christmas. Through their program, the Foundation distributes approximately 18 million toys to 7 million children annually.

The Foundation welcomes support from various organizations to help provide toys and other resources for the children. To learn how you can help, visit https://www.toysfortots.org.

 

A Culture of Respect, Diversity and Acceptance

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Watch the video below and learn how our commitment to the value of Respectful Relationships helps ensure Ergon is a place where you can feel welcomed to contribute, collaborate and succeed as part of a team dedicated to meeting needs, supporting families and serving customers around the world.

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Ergon is committed to fostering a culture of respect. We welcome ideas and opinions, regardless of role, empowering our family of employees to contribute meaningful work that impacts the industries and communities we serve.

“I think that it’s incredibly important to respect everybody’s different opinions, and that’s something that I’ve learned at Ergon, that has carried over into my daily life,” said Samantha Patterson, Division Order Analyst for Ergon Oil Purchasing Inc.

We are One Ergon: United by Service. Driven By Solutions. That means we value input from each other, understanding that from the CEO to the intern, the sum of all of our efforts is far greater than our individual endeavors. We are united in a shared purpose to provide innovative solutions our customers need and the support they need to succeed.

At the heart of this unity is Respectful Relationships among team members, who are treated as family. And like family, each employee is valued and encouraged to add value to the Ergon organization. “What brings me back to work every day is, hands down, the family culture,” said Samantha. “The moment you start working for Ergon, you just feel accepted. You feel like a part of the family, whether you’ve been there five minutes, whether you’ve been there 10 years.”

Respectful Relationships are not limited to employees. Ergon seeks to build strong relationships with customers as well. We know that part of providing solutions for our customers is listening to first understand what they need now and then listening to determine how we can anticipate and meet future needs. Meeting these needs takes an “all-hands-on-deck” approach, and we believe the greatest ideas come from intentional collaboration and open communication.

“It really is encouraging to be able to sit down and dialogue with a group of people who are very talented, very smart and also are very helpful to each other’s efforts and goals,” said Ken Cooley, President of Resinall Corp.

Work Where You Belong
Want to work for a place that respects and supports the diversity of ideas and of people? Visit ergon.com/careers to learn how you can become part of the Ergon family.

Kris Patrick Named President and CEO of Ergon

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The Board of Directors of Ergon Inc. has announced that Kris Patrick has been named President & Chief Executive Officer effective October 1, 2022. Emmitte J. Haddox, who has served as President & CEO since 2016, has retired and will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.

Patrick has 22 years of experience with the Mississippi-based company that services industries essential to manufacturing and infrastructure needs around the world. His roles with Ergon have included Process Engineer; Senior Vice President of Refining, Planning and Supply; President of Ergon’s refineries; and member of the Operations and Executive Management teams. He has served as Chief Operating Officer since 2018.

Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration with a specialty in Project Management from Mississippi State University and completed the Leading Global Business program at Harvard Business School.

“Kris’ experience with all facets of Ergon, coupled with his strong management and leadership skills, make him the perfect candidate for this role,” commented Tom Amonett, Ergon Chairman of the Board. “He has taken advantage of every opportunity to prepare for this position, strengthening the organization along the way and making real strides in Ergon’s strategic planning, safety systems and processes. The Lampton family and the Board have no doubt that Kris’ desire to honor Ergon’s history while focusing on innovation and expanding opportunities will take this global organization to even greater heights.”

“I am grateful for the investment Ergon has made in me,” commented Patrick, whose first experience with the company came as an Engineering Co-Op while he was a college student. “I hope to make that sort of investment in the Ergon family as we continue our mission of meeting needs, supporting families and serving customers.”

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

Engineers at Ergon: Innovating Solutions for Customers Around the World<

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Changing the way we live through technology and service to people is at the heart of engineering and explains why engineers can be found throughout the Ergon organization. Across our business segments, Ergon is innovating solutions for people around the world, and roles are available for more engineers to help in this quest.

There’s Real Opportunity with Ergon
Ergon started seven decades ago with two employees. Today, four business segments comprising more than 60 companies are powered by over 3,500 employees around the world. Family owned and operated, the value Ergon places on its employees and on the communities where it operates is evident in the company mission of meeting needs, supporting families and serving customers. And Ergon has made a commitment to growing the pool of engineers in its home state.

Smoothing the Education-to-Workforce Pathway
A global community dependent on engineering is seeing students leave engineering for other career paths. Daunted by the rigors of engineering coursework, many students leave engineering majors prior to graduation. To combat this trend, Ergon has partnered with the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University (MSU) as a sponsor of Summer Bridge, a residential experience designed to help underrepresented students bridge the transition from high school to college.

For five weeks, Summer Bridge aims to grow the pool of engineering graduates by providing newly admitted students with an integrated opportunity to develop academic and life skills critical to achieving success. A team-based engineering design project and site visits to Ergon facilities help students discover potential future engineering career paths. Peer mentoring, soft skills training and social activities are also part of the program that is fully funded by Ergon.

Engineers at Ergon
In a world that is increasingly interconnected, engineers are needed now more than ever. But it’s not their expertise alone that is needed to tackle the world’s greatest challenges. “We need their curiosity, too,” says Blaine Totty, Program Director for Ergon’s Operational Excellence Department. “Ergon is a relationship-driven company that looks to the characteristics engineers typically have in addition to their expertise in a certain field. This allows them to move into a variety of areas,” said Blaine who holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from MSU. “Many engineers have a natural curiosity to learn new things, which is a real benefit when you come into an organization like Ergon. Combine that urge to know with the breadth of opportunities Ergon’s wide variety of businesses have to offer, and there’s no telling where your career path may take you,” he added.

And Blaine is not alone.

Where Skill Meets Opportunity
Chief Administrative Officer, Paul Young, earned his Chemical Engineering degree from MSU and his Environmental Engineering degree from the University of Mississippi and has served in a variety of roles during his 37 years with Ergon. He is responsible for oversight of corporate functions ranging from product stewardship to risk management.

Ergon’s Vice President of Product Stewardship, Bonnie Chapman, received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MSU. Bonnie joined the company in 2011 as Ergon’s Refining Business Coordinator and was appointed to Director of Refinery Planning and Economics shortly thereafter. Bonnie now leads the team responsible for ensuring products are produced, utilized and managed at the end of life in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Incredibly active within Ergon, Bonnie leads the subcommittee responsible for Ergon’s sustainability initiatives, and serves as liaison to the MSU Engineering Summer Bridge Program.

Ergon’s President & Chief Executive Officer, Kris Patrick, started his career as the company’s first Chemical Engineering Co-Op. His roles have included Process Engineer; Senior VP of Refining, Planning and Supply; President of Ergon Refining and Ergon – West Virginia, and then Chief Operating Officer before being named President & CEO on October 1, 2022. Kris’ B.S. in Chemical Engineering was earned from MSU.

If you are interested in joining the Ergon family, we would love to hear from you. We are actively looking for project engineers, process engineers and maintenance engineers, just to name a few! For a list of current job openings, visit ergoncareers.com.

Article updated on February 19, 2024, to reflect new job titles and structural changes within Ergon.

Summer Bridge: Creating Opportunities for Engineering Students

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Career opportunities for engineers abound, yet for certain underrepresented groups, these opportunities can feel beyond reach. For businesses, finding qualified engineers to fill positions while developing a diverse workforce can often be a challenge. Ergon is proud to sponsor the Summer Bridge Program at the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University (MSU), along with the Louis Stokes Mississippi Alliance for Minority Participation (LSMAMP) and the National Science Foundation — bridging the gap for underrepresented groups one summer experience at a time.

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Creating Bridges
As the name suggests, MSU’s Summer Bridge Program is designed to bridge the transition from high school to college. This period is often challenging for students who struggle with adapting to increased workloads and higher academic standards. Ergon covers the cost of the five-week residential program which offers students the opportunity to adjust to university life and includes coursework in mathematics, science and computer programming. Peer mentoring, soft skills training and social activities are also part of the program.

Many higher education researchers attribute the lack of workforce diversity within science and engineering disciplines to underrepresented student groups switching majors and/or dropping out of these programs. For five weeks, Summer Bridge aims to grow the pool of underrepresented engineering graduates by providing newly admitted students with an integrated opportunity to develop academic and life skills critical to achieving success.

The Summer Bridge Experience
Summer Bridge 2022 welcomed 18 future engineers (10 young women and eight young men) to the program. As part of the full immersion experience, participants received on-campus housing, access to class instructors, peer mentors, textbooks and materials, and meal stipends.

The program is led by Dr. Jean Mohammadi-Aragh, Director of Diversity Programs & Student Development for the Bagley College of Engineering, as well as Undergraduate Program Coordinator and Associate Professor in MSU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The experience started off with students hitting the ground running. Students visited Ergon’s Paragon Technical Services lab, Ergon Marine & Industrial Supply, and Ergon Refining, which provided an initial real-world glimpse into the Ergon family of companies.

In addition to required coursework, students assembled into teams to complete an engineering research project aimed at providing students the opportunity to learn engineering design while working to solve a real-world engineering challenge. Ergon employees from Corporate Engineering and Business Process Management departments, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (EAE), Ergon Refining and Ergon Terminaling tasked students with designing a new asphalt and emulsion tank for an EAE facility. Each team determined the best material for improving Mississippi’s road networks based on research and asphalt tests conducted in the Civil Engineering labs at MSU. With the asphalt selected and the design completed, the students learned computer modeling skills through the 3D printing of their storage tanks. The engineering research project was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Isaac Howard of MSU’s Rula School of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Jessica Lewis, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship recipient; and Dr. Bill Elmore of MSU’s Swalm School of Chemical Engineering.

While the final days of Summer Bridge arrived much too quickly, the program’s mission of producing lifelong friendships and strong support networks was realized. A final project presentation competition, a celebratory lunch and a fitting challenge to “excel in the years to come” from Ergon Chief Operating Officer, Kris Patrick, rounded out the program.

Often, it is a simple question that gets the ball rolling. “How do you hire what doesn’t exist?” was the question Ergon’s Vice President of Product Stewardship and Ergon Summer Bridge liaison, Bonnie Chapman, posed to her team. Her answer?  “You create bridges.”

This was our first year to be involved with MSU’s Summer Bridge Program, but definitely not the last. By investing $900,000 in a three-year sponsorship, the Ergon family is committed to making a difference in the lives of these students and their families while also increasing the pool of engineers in Mississippi.