Ergon’s Doing Right Report

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Ergon is proud to share the organization’s first Doing Right Report, a celebration of the many ways we are committed to doing right with our products, for our planet, by our people and through our principles.

You can find Ergon’s 2021 Doing Right Report on ergon.com.

“Doing the right thing is nothing new to the Ergon family,” commented Kris Patrick, Chief Operating Officer. “It’s what our culture and values were built upon.” As interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) grows and our customers, suppliers and financial institutions are asking about steps Ergon is taking, it is important that we share our sustainability story.

The report celebrates the uniqueness of the Ergon organization — the things we’ve been doing right for decades. It highlights innovative ways our companies are already working together to impact sustainability. We are creating cleaner products, supporting and protecting our people and our communities today and for future generations, and ensuring the continued success of this organization upon which so many people around the world depend.

In this report, you’ll learn how we are Doing Right:

  • With our PRODUCTS throughout the organization, including warm mix from Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Ergon Refining & Marketing’s base oils used to reduce friction and improve efficiency, Crafco’s ground tire rubber use, and many more examples

  • For our PLANET with information on energy consumption, greenhouse gas data, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste

  • By our PEOPLE through initiatives like Target Zero and training, highlighting our total recordable incident rate, age and gender metrics, and low turnover rate

  • Through our PRINCIPLES, including our management structure, training record and continued focus on community service and volunteerism

The report also sets a baseline for key metrics we will be reporting on in the future, and it allows our businesses to actively work toward setting goals to be shared in 2022.

Kris Patrick’s Story: From Engineering Co-Op to Ergon CEO

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  • UPDATE: Kris Patrick was named Ergon President and CEO on October 1, 2022. “Kris’ desire to honor Ergon’s history while focusing on innovation and expanding opportunities will take this global organization to even greater heights,” commented Board Chair Tom Amonett. Click HERE for the full press release.Read about Kris’ transition from Chemical Engineering Co-Op to Executive Management below.

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    A self-described country boy and family man, Kris Patrick grew up on a small farm near Pelahatchie, Mississippi. His parents and most of his extended family were educators, and his sister decided to stick to the family tradition of teaching. Kris, however, was a bit of a black sheep. “I was not one of these kids that knew exactly what they wanted to do growing up, but I had an affinity for math and chemistry,” he explained. “It’s probably genetic since my mother taught sciences and math.”

    Mentors Help Lead the Way

    Kris had a chemistry teacher — one of many mentors who invested in him along the way — who took an interest in his future. “He kept asking what I wanted to do in life, and I kept answering ‘I don’t know,’ until he finally said, ‘I think you’d make a really good chemical engineer.’ That was all the motivation I needed, and I enrolled in chemical engineering at Mississippi State University (MSU) after graduating from Brandon High School in 1995.”

    While still at MSU, Kris had a chance meeting with Jimmy Rasco, who recently retired as Ergon’s Vice President of Global Base Oil Technology. Jimmy told Kris Ergon Refining was considering a co-op program for chemical engineers and asked if he would be interested. The rest is history.

    Ergon’s First Chemical Engineering Co-Op

    Being the company’s first Chemical Engineering Co-Op, Kris has always been proud of the investment Ergon makes in its employees. The program has grown over the years, with 12 to 15 Co-Ops currently rotating through three cycles at any given time.

    Growing Up at Ergon Refining

    Kris graduated one Friday in May of 2000 and was at work the following Monday morning. His first role at Ergon was Process Engineer, and he worked his way through all the different processing units. “This role does everything from optimizing and finding ways to make products better and more efficiently, all the way to troubleshooting in the plant,” he explained. “Figuring out exactly what wasn’t working and how to fix it occupied a lot of our days.”

    Again, Kris happened to be in the right place at the right time. “I was fortunate to be working in Vicksburg just as the fundamentals of the business were changing. We were changing crudes, and the whole business model was changing,” he said. “A lot of the design work and strategic thought centered around how to get from where we were to a better scenario.”

    He was also in Vicksburg when one of the most significant investments in Ergon’s history was made, as the startup of Ergon Refining’s second hydroprocessing unit, propane deasphalting unit, and a third hydrogen gas plant increased the refinery’s capacity and made ERI the world’s leading naphthenic producer in 2009.

    Kris served with Chad Stewart, Drafting and Design Supervisor, to manage implementation of these projects. “It was a really interesting experience getting to see a capital project implemented from the execution side, and I gained some valuable exposure,” he said. “This experience helped me to be more well-rounded and a better employee. It is just another example of how Ergon has always invested in employees. I got to grow up in Ergon in that environment, listening and learning and soaking up knowledge,” he explained. “There was no better place I could have been at that point in my career. I got to work with some terrific people, and the Vicksburg plant still feels like home when I’m there.”

    That same year, Kris was pulled from capital projects and reengaged with process engineering to help solve a corrosion issue in the vacuum tower in the crude unit. “I have a lot of gray hair to this day because of that stressful time,” he said. “Catalyst that was supposed to last four years was lasting about one month, and we were looking at millions of dollars in expense and lots of downtime. Fortunately, we were able to solve that issue.”

    On to the Corporate Offices

    In January of 2010, Kris started working with Don Davis, former President of Ergon Refining & Marketing, and Craig Busbea, Ergon’s Vice President – Business Development, on economic payout projects and short- to mid-term planning. In 2012, he moved into the role of Planning & Economics Manager and started getting some exposure to the people and processes at the Ergon – West Virginia refinery. He was named Vice President of Refinery Planning & Economics in 2014 and then held various Senior Vice President positions related to Economics, Refining, and Planning & Supply, until he was named President of the company’s refineries — Ergon Refining and Ergon – West Virginia — in January of 2018.

    Putting the Puzzle Together

    When Kris was named to the Operating Committee in 2014, he began to learn more about all the different Ergon companies and how they work together. “That’s when I really developed an appreciation for the profound wisdom Mr. Lampton had when he built these companies,” he explained. “It’s pretty easy now to sit back and see how they work together, but it is amazing how he put the different pieces together. You can see his fingerprint on the intelligent design of all of the Ergon companies.”

    One of Mr. Lampton’s greatest lessons for Kris came just after he completed his MBA with a specialty in project management and the Leading Global Business program at Harvard Business School. “I had all these great academic ideas, and we were developing some profitability targets and goals when Mr. Lampton walked in my office,” Kris said. “When I explained what we were doing, he asked me if these plans were around how much money we were going to make. After some discussion, Mr. Lampton said, ‘Let me tell you what we’re going to do. We’re going to work hard, we’re going to do things with the customer in mind, and if we do all that stuff right, we will make money in the end.’”

    When Kris moved into the role of Senior Vice President – Refining, Planning & Supply in 2016, he started working closely with Jimmy Langdon. Kris admired Jimmy’s ability to guide employees in subtle ways without being too critical or intimidating, pointing out areas for improvement without the need to tear someone down. “I will be forever grateful for that period from 2016 until Jimmy’s untimely passing and the opportunity to get to know him like I did. His loss was tragic for the company and tragic for so many people here personally.

    “I’ve been so blessed throughout my career,” Kris continued, “but one of the greatest blessings has been working with people like Mr. Lampton, Jimmy, Don, Ed Hudgins, Ken Dillard, Ricky Allen, Bill Jones, Lance Puckett and Craig Busbea. This group was willing to invest in somebody who was young, and they made a concerted effort to help me develop. I’m so grateful for the investment they made in me, and I have no doubt the impact that they made on me personally and professionally is immeasurable. One of my hopes is that I can make that sort of investment in the people I work with today.”

    Transitioning to COO

    The Ergon family was fortunate to be able to rely on Kris Patrick through a time of transition — following the unexpected loss of the company’s Chief Operating Officer Jimmy Langdon in 2018 — to help maintain stability and continuity in our business operations.

    “His experience with Ergon, coupled with his strong management and leadership skills, made Kris the obvious choice to fill the role of Chief Operating Officer,” said Emmitte Haddox, Ergon’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our Board had no doubt that Kris would honor Jimmy’s legacy and build upon Ergon’s strong foundation, leading to continued growth and future success.”

    Kris expressed his appreciation to Mr. Haddox and the Lampton family, as well as all the employees who have accepted him in his new role as COO since August of 2018. “I can’t say enough about how the companies have helped me understand each business — particularly Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions,” he explained. “The company has had very intelligent growth over the years, and I am impressed with the way they think about their customers and the service they are providing.”

    His immediate plans call for building on Ergon’s strong foundation. Kris says one of the challenges with growth, regardless of business strategy, is reaching a complexity and scale where systems and processes are needed to support that growth. “Across Ergon, not just relative to Ergon A&E, we will be working to maximize the return on our current assets, leveraging the fantastic acquisitions that we’ve made,” he added.

    “We’ve got some really strong business segments, a great management team and outstanding business strategy,” Kris commented. “They have been operating somewhat autonomously. I think it’s a good time for us to look at what we do together and evaluate that space in between what we do where we have natural growth opportunities. It means working together again, much like we did during the early years when Mr. Lampton was building the Ergon companies.”

The Ergon + MSU Connection

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For Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (EAE), serving as a resource goes far beyond meeting the needs of customers. We strive to be leaders in the development of improved products and technology, and the relationships we have cultivated with university engineering departments play an important role in industry advances. As we provide support needed to educate students in fundamental ways, we are also supporting research that benefits the entire industry.

Ergon’s longest relationship has been with Mississippi State University (MSU). It began informally in 2006, when Isaac L. Howard, Ph.D., P.E., F. ASCE, MSU’s Interim Director, Materials and Construction Industries Endowed Chair and Professor, crossed paths with Ergon’s Vice President of Paragon Technical Services, Gaylon Baumgardner, Ph.D. “We were introduced at a Mississippi Asphalt Pavement Association meeting and just started expressing common interests, and from there we started working on projects together,” Dr. Howard said. “Early work included polymer field trial data, more sustainable asphalt mixes and recycling. As the relationship started to expand, we began to partner more strategically on all sorts of work.”

Following Hurricane Katrina, MSU’s Construction Materials Research Center, APAC, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Ergon joined forces to conduct a full-scale demonstration for the Department of Homeland Security. The purpose was to prove that the asphalt industry could aid in expediting the rebuilding process after natural disasters by using warm mix technologies in ways they had not been used in the past — for recovery — and that the use of additives would allow asphalt to be hauled extremely long distances while still being suitable for temporary applications. A parking lot was paved with 12 strips of asphalt with different combinations of materials, haul times and compaction levels.

“As we neared completion of this paving demonstration, we realized the value of the site as a tool to study longer-term aging,” Dr. Howard said. “We just started collecting measurements. Literally thousands of them. There are dozens and dozens of different combinations out there, just aging in the field. We have been able to evaluate the effect of construction practices, of additives, and of using several types of recycled materials. All of these variations have been, and continue to be, evaluated in a very controlled, systematic way. We aren’t relying on anything but the truth, which is outdoor aging, when it comes to evaluating how these materials change properties over time. Nothing simulates a Mississippi climate like the Mississippi climate!”

Since 2011, there have been multiple funded studies on how mixtures at the parking lot are aging. Results have been presented and published at conferences and in multiple journals and magazines. Overall, the collaborative efforts with MSU-CMRC and Ergon have led to opportunities for several dozen students, dozens of publications/presentations, and multiple national recognitions.

“We look for opportunities to help mentor those students, to make them champions of our products,” Dr. Baumgardner explained. “We are already seeing students working as university professors. One is actually working for the competition, but that’s ok because we prefer ‘good’ competition. Others are working for the Corps of Engineers, some in really responsible positions. You feel good seeing people you’ve helped along the way.”

Ergon’s reputation in the industry is a major factor in a university’s decision to partner with the company. According to Dr. Howard, Dr. Baumgardner is a big part of Ergon’s reputation. “Gaylon is known for being very honest about his findings, very thorough and competent. If he tells someone they should modify their asphalt a certain way, they are going to believe him because of his track record. People tend to listen to people’s accomplishments more than the people themselves, and in Gaylon’s case, he is an extremely well known and respected asphalt person on an international level.”

Dr. Howard added that he can always rely on Dr. Baumgardner to be there when needed. “Gaylon’s level of involvement is directly proportional to the complexity of the problem,” he said. “The harder the job gets, the more involved Gaylon gets.”

Bill Lampton, Ergon Director, and Baxter Burns, EAE President, are important resources for Dr. Howard and MSU-CMRC. “Bill keeps a fairly close eye on the overall program and helps as needed to keep things running smoothly,” Dr. Howard commented. “Baxter helps us evaluate how we are performing and what we need to be planning down the road to keep the program strong, i.e., the big picture. His interests lie in the quality of the students, the value of the research, and in helping us to continue moving forward.”

Other EAE team members play important roles. Larry Tomkins, EAE Vice President – South Region, often lectures classes at MSU. Larry, Amy Walker, EAE Area Sales Manager, and Stan Williams, EAE Technical Marketing Manager, work with Dr. Howard on various industry-related issues, oftentimes leading to topics for presentations he gives to professional societies. Mark Ishee, EAE Vice President – Pavement Preservation, works with Dr. Howard frequently, as do almost all of the Paragon staff, including Scott Watson, Senior Vice President; Mike Hemsley, Technical Director/Field Services and Mix Design; Codrin Daranga, Technical Director/Asphalt Binders, Emulsions & Technical Coatings; and Trey Jordan, Mix Design Engineer. These relationships elevate the reputation of CMRC and the quality of the asphalt industry as a whole.

Show Me the … Time

In closing, Dr. Howard explained that MSU’s relationship with Ergon is about more than money. “Money is good, but Ergon is also investing the thing that is often the hardest to get from people, and that is time. Without Ergon supporting us the way they do, what I do here would not be possible.

“Through this partnership, a regional future workforce of students has been taught about asphalt — many of whom are still in Mississippi, working in the roadway construction industry,” Dr. Howard commented. “We’re trying to raise the value of the whole industry. We are developing tools that are good for everybody and developing a workforce that’s good for everybody.”

Ergon Committed to Customers Around the World

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Providing a secure supply of specialty oils for customers around the world is a top priority for Ergon.  Ergon International Inc., headquartered in Waterloo, Belgium, is home to customer service, supply and distribution, and administrative teams that market and distribute the company’s specialty oils throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, Indonesia and Asia. Ergon International is supported by facilities in Singapore, Indonesia, and other locations around the world, as well as a global workforce of more than 3,000 employees.

A recent expansion of Ergon’s Antwerp facility is evidence of the company‘s commitment to serving the international market well into the future. The addition of three storage tanks increased the facility’s total capacity by 9,000 cbm (8,300 MT), creating a total storage capacity of 39,000 cbm (35,600 MT). Ergon’s HyVolt dielectric fluids, HyPrene process oils, and HyGold base oils — all well known for their consistency and reliability — are shipped to international customers from Antwerp. These specialty oils are produced at the company‘s refinery in Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA, which is the leading naphthenic producer in the world. They are then exported globally from Ergon’s terminal in Gretna, Louisiana, (New Orleans).

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Ergon Refining, Inc. – Vicksburg, MS, USA

Looking forward, the need for Ergon’s oils is expected to increase thanks to refining trends and the continuing shifts in solvency and viscosities available in oils produced in regions outside the U.S. Refineries that produce base oils and process oils have been slowly redirecting their focus toward the production of highly saturated Group II and Group III lubricant oils. This is resulting in a decrease in the solvency and viscosities required by the rubber industry and other process oil and base oil applications. Large shifts to Group II and Group III base oil production have already led to the closure of many U.S. Group I refineries that had provided paraffinics with a level of solvency and high viscosity as well as aromatic extracts with a high level of solvency.

Ergon’s commitment to servicing the international market with dependable and ratable supply is especially important since there is currently only one naphthenic producer in Europe. The ability to quickly respond to customer needs is enhanced not only by Ergon’s bulk tanks in Antwerp, where the company is able to keep inventories on the continent, but also by the international connection of Antwerp harbor to Asia and MEA, which offers additional capabilities and flexibility for global operations. The company’s technical sales team is able to provide the right chemistry for customers’ key applications.

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Antwerp, Belgium Terminal

“Our foremost goal is to be a solutions provider for the market,” commented Per Dahlstedt, Managing Director of Ergon International. “This recent expansion in Antwerp is one more step in our process of ensuring that we have the assets in place to serve our customers’ growing needs.”

About Ergon:
Ergon Inc. is a privately owned company that operates in seven primary business segments: Refining & Marketing, Specialty Chemicals, Asphalt & Emulsions, Midstream & Logistics, Oil & Gas, Construction & Real Estate, and Corporate.

 

Ergon’s Area Sales Managers – The Industry Resource

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Whether you are planning for an upcoming paving season and researching options to get the most mileage out of your budget – or looking for assistance with techniques and technologies of pavement preservation and maintenance – Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (EAE) Area Sales Managers (ASMs) are prepared to serve as your resource.

With individual experience in the asphalt and emulsions field ranging from one to 41 years, this team has amassed nearly 900 years of collective industry experience. And they put all of that knowledge to work every day, serving customers throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

According to Patrick Nation, EAE Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Ergon’s ASMs have a real desire to create genuine relationships with customers. “Their ability to listen closely and then act upon what the customer is communicating help make the customer successful,” he explained. “That’s what Ergon has done so well for all these years.”

That is actually the mantra of the entire Ergon organization, which was founded in 1954 by Leslie Lampton Sr. He often said, “Ergon’s success is based on our ability to understand the needs of our customers.”

What Sets Us Apart

“Our commitment to our customers sets us apart from the competition, along with our efforts to share experiences and knowledge,” said Bear Horne, ASM in Mississippi. If you ask Ralph Meeks, ASM in New Mexico, what it is that sets EAE apart from the competition, he will tell you, “It’s that we do what we say we will do.” Customers know they can depend on Ergon’s ASMs, and they appreciate the fact that they are not constantly upselling. Their credibility stems from a real desire to help customers find the right product for the right distress at the right time.

Support When and Where You Need It

“We are really the only asphalt company out there, at least out in our markets, that provides any sort of technical service, support or field support on projects,” said Larry Erickson, Vice President – Western Region. Ergon’s ASMs often field calls from contractors and agencies seeking advice for products Ergon didn’t supply because other companies will not visit jobsites to support their own products.

Beyond their day-to-day responsibilities for pricing asphalt products and providing customer support, ASMs follow up on technical issues as needed. They also provide information ranging from product specifics to industry trends and assist customers as they attempt to project how market prices will impact future costs. No matter what kind of issue or question might arise, someone on the Sales & Marketing Team will know how to handle it.

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Support of a World-Class Lab

All regions throughout the U.S. have an open communication line with Paragon Technical Services, EAE’s laboratory and product development arm which designs, develops and tests formulations. Paragon provides proven, real-world data to maximize product efficiency and performance while helping to maintain product integrity.

“If we are having issues on a job and we are struggling to figure it out locally, we schedule a conference call with Paragon to solve issues in the field and make adjustments to the formulas or whatever we have to do to make the product work better,” Larry added.

Answers Based on Experience and Training

“We are able to offer the resources of a tremendous number of people with varied experiences in all aspects of the business,” Alvin Alexander, ASM in Texas, added. “Our answers to problems are based on past experiences and we offer information on how to use certain products and sometimes just which products to use.”

“When it comes down to what really sets Ergon apart from the competition, it’s not only the experience that our ASMs possess, but their professional acumen as well,” said Tim MacDonald, Vice President – Mid-Continent Region. “Many of them have engineering or business backgrounds. They have been in the industry for a long time, and they can actually apply their business experience to industry-specific issues.”

On Tim’s team alone are two former department of transportation employees: one engineer and another employee who ran crews for several years and has onsite project experience with equipment and products. This knowledge helps minimize resources needed to solve problems.

“The experience we have working with our products and knowledge of the various processes our products are used for are very important,” explained Cody Chambliss, ASM in Texas. “Our willingness to provide educational sessions or go out on projects with our customers to make sure they understand the processes helps them to succeed.”

And Ergon is committed not only to serving customers, but to contributing to advancements for the industry as a whole. The disciplinary sharing between EAE Sales and Operations, Technical Operations, and Paragon is fed by knowledge contributed by the ASMs. The information that they feed back into this the team is incredibly important and leads to improvements for the entire industry.

The Ergon Way

Continuing the Ergon way of focusing on relationships has become more of a challenge throughout the pandemic, when face-to-face time with our customers is not easy. But they will always be a top priority for Ergon’s ASMs. “We have always been known as a value-added company,” Larry Tomkins, Vice President – Southeast Region, commented. “We are all about the customers and how we can help make them more successful.”

At the end of the day, Ergon’s ASMs are the ones who make that happen. “They do so much more than sell,” Patrick added. “They are a true resource because they have a real desire to create genuine relationships with customers. Ergon’s ASMs are the representatives on the front line who allow us to continue Mr. Lampton’s legacy at every turn.”

Women in Science and Technology at Ergon

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On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Ergon is delighted to celebrate some of the many amazing women throughout our organization who contribute to the fields of science and technology.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE

In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to establish an annual International Day to recognize the critical role women and girls play in science and technology communities. These efforts are designed to support and promote access and participation for women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, training and research activities.

According to UN statistics, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women, and only 30% of female students select STEM-related fields in higher education. The UN reports that only 5% of female students globally choose to study natural science, mathematics and statistics, and 8% choose the fields of engineering, manufacturing or construction. These are all areas with opportunities for employment in organizations like Ergon, and it is our hope that you will join us in supporting and celebrating the women and girls who are leading innovation.

SOME OF THE WOMEN INNOVATING AT ERGON

Ergon’s Refining & Marketing (R&M) Technical Team offers guidance for both internal stakeholders and customers, driving technical initiatives that touch the daily lives of people all over the world – improving the world around us through technical service and expertise. They include process technologists, pilot plant operators, and engineers; global product support teams of product services and technical marketing managers; and a research and insights group of scientists, chemists and laboratory operations.

In R&M’s Research & Insights Laboratory:

  • Dr. Kristie Armstrong has an A.A. degree in Chemistry and Physics, a B.S. in Chemistry, and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry. As the R&M Technical Projects Manager, she is responsible for coordinating and facilitating initiatives that support R&M’s strategic imperatives.

  • Stephanie D.H. Wilson has a B.S. and Master of Science in Biology. As Ergon’s Research & Insights Lab Manager, she is responsible for assisting with project/product development and providing insights into analytical methods.

In R&M’s Product Services Department:

  • Silvia Carvalho, with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, serves as Market Technical Support Representative – Process Oils. She is responsible for providing technical support and product expertise to Ergon’s global process oil customers and sales team.

  • Ashmita Niroula has a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, and as Market Technical Support Representative – Insulating Oils, she is responsible for supporting Ergon’s global insulating oil customers and sales team, as well as product development.

  • Mary Lou Cupp has a degree in Chemistry and serves as Quality Assurance Representative – Ergon – West Virginia.

  • Lisa Burkhalter serves as Quality Assurance Manager. She leads a team of professionals ensuring that Ergon’s quality standards are maintained from the point of refining, throughout the supply chain and to the customer.

  • Snigda Thummalapalli has her Bachelor in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Technical Entrepreneurship & Management. She recently joined the team as Technical Support Specialist.

The Quality Assurance Laboratory at Ergon Refining, an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, primarily serves Ergon Refining as well as some of Ergon’s sister companies. The QA Laboratory is responsible for providing data for refinery process samples, analyzing samples from Ergon’s waste water treatment plant, certifying terminal product tanks, and certifying product shipment samples.

  • Leeann Boutwell has a B.S. in ACS Biochemistry with a Masters of Business Administration. As the Laboratory Quality Administrator for Ergon Refining, she is responsible for maintaining laboratory quality through quality control testing, accreditations, laboratory technician training and competency evaluations, and managing the Laboratory Information Management System.

  • LaShawn Brown has a B.S. in Analytical Chemistry and as a QA Laboratory Technician II for Ergon Refining, she is responsible for providing quality data for refinery process samples and certifying terminal product tanks and shipments.

  • Verinda Waters has a B.S. in Biology and as a QA Laboratory Technician II for Ergon Refining, she is responsible for providing quality data for refinery process samples and certifying terminal product tanks and shipments.

  • Jessica Quinn has a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Biochemistry. As a QA Laboratory Technician I for Ergon Refining, she is responsible for providing quality data for refinery process samples and certifying terminal product tanks and shipments.

In R&M’s Finance & Business Optimization Department:

  • Ashley Yonker has a B.S. in Mathematics and Chemical Engineering and serves as Planning & Coordination Specialist. She is responsible for facilitating the Executive Sales and Operations Planning (ES&OP) process within R&M, as well as running and improving the linear programming application to optimize business planning, including third-party purchases. Also, she supports S&D on the Master Schedule with production model optimization and inventory control.

  • Rhyan Plumlee serves as R&M Strategic Market Analyst. She is responsible for analyzing both short- and long-term global market trends, forecasts, and historical data to support strategic sales opportunities. In addition, she manages R&M’s relationships with industry publications and provides support for various cross-functional projects. Rhyan has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering.

Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (EAE), the largest asphalt emulsion marketer in North America, is the industry’s resource leader and a pioneer in pavement preservation.

  • Renea Thompson, Regional EHS Compliance Specialist for EAE’s North Texas Region, has B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Finance and a Master’s in Engineering Technology. In addition to supporting employees in the field in her region, Renea is also deeply involved in corporate initiatives related to continuous improvement of Ergon’s EHS culture.

  • Mandy Monjaras has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and serves as Technical Operations Manager. She supports plants in three of EAE’s four regions with formulation and process support, specification review and quality guidance.

  • Amy Perry serves at Laboratory Technician/Operator in EAE’s Roswell, New Mexico, plant, where she is responsible for testing and quality control in the lab.

Paragon Technical Services (PTSI), a division of Ergon’s Asphalt & Emulsions segment, offers analytical testing, instrumental analysis and chemical analysis from its state-of-the-art laboratory. They develop new products for customers in the petroleum refining, roofing, waterproofing, protective coatings, specialty asphalts and asphalt paving industries. An important service provided by PTSI is continuing education and training on industry advancements.

  • Shelly Cowley has a B.S. in Chemistry and Biology. As Technical Director of the Asphalt Emulsion Group at Paragon, she and her team are responsible for the development and support of Ergon’s emulsions. Shelly has over 20 years’ experience in the asphalt paving industry focusing on the development, manufacture and quality control of polymer modified binders and asphalt emulsions.

  • Charity Cook has a degree in Chemistry and as a Group Leader at Paragon Technical Services, she provides instruction and guidance to the Asphalt Emulsion Team while managing the workflow of plant support and product development projects.

  • Katie Adams has a B.S. degree in Forensic Chemistry and serves as Analytical Chemist. She is responsible for all chemical analysis of asphalt binders, such as acid number testing, salt content, asphalt composition analysis and metals analysis.

  • Ashley Gilmore has a B.S. in Biological Science. As an Emulsion Chemist, she is responsible for research and development of asphalt emulsions.

  • Angela Crosby has a B.S. in Forensic Science with Chemistry and Biochemistry, and as an Asphalt Binder Chemist at Paragon Technical Services, she is responsible for Plant Support and Research and Development of Asphalt Binders.

  • Alexus McDonald has a B.S. in Civil Engineering. As an Emulsion Chemist working in mix design and field services, she is responsible for the application testing of asphalt products.

  • Rachel Stephens has a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Biology. As an Asphalt Binder Chemist, she is responsible for plant support and research and development of asphalt binders.

Paragon Technical Services – Specialty Coatings Group is responsible for testing, developing, and improving products to support ErgonArmor’s adhesive, coating, and industrial wear and protection products.

  • Rebekkah Lively has a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of South Carolina in Analytical Chemistry. As Technical Manager – Epoxy Coatings, she is responsible for ErgonArmor’s Novocoat product line.

  • Jennifer Sasser has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering. As a Coatings Development Specialist, she is responsible for ErgonArmor’s  Ertech and Blackhawk product lines.

Ergon’s Product Stewardship Department ensures products are produced, utilized and managed at the end of life in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. The team seeks sustainable solutions across Ergon’s businesses, provides oversight to fuels regulatory transactions, facilitates Ergon’s relationships with government relations lobbyists, and guides strategy for the company’s Odyssey platform.

  • Bonnie Chapman, Vice President – Product Stewardship, leads the Product Stewardship Team, driving Ergon’s sustainability initiatives and facilitating government relations contacts. She has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an MBA.

  • Mary Ellen Snow has a B.S. in Chemistry with a Master’s in Chemistry, and as Global Product Stewardship Manager, she oversees regulatory programs related to the domestic and international distribution and registration of products manufactured by Ergon companies.

  • Lakeisha Jones, Product Stewardship Specialist, has a B.S. in Chemistry. She is responsible for keeping up with the hazards of chemicals Ergon produces, ships or sells, as well as creating labels and safety data sheets conveying relevant dangers to customers while helping to minimize impact on the environment.

Ergon’s Corporate Engineering Department works from design to execution to ensure the efficient operation of Ergon facility projects across the country. Serving the department as a Project Engineer is Allison Wallace, who has a degree in Civil Engineering. She is responsible for management of capital projects with a primary focus on projects within Refining & Marketing, Asphalt & Emulsions and Transportation & Terminaling segments.

The Business Process Management Department works with Ergon companies to provide services for managing and optimizing business processes including document management, procedures, training and development, management system implementation, audits and inspections, root cause analysis and incident investigations and more.

  • Megan Ancelet has a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering. As an Industrial Engineer at Ergon, she is responsible for assisting facilities in optimizing business processes.

  • Maris Risinger, with a degree in Industrial Engineering, also serves as an Industrial Engineer. She is responsible for providing services for managing and optimizing business processes.

Ergon’s Information Technology Department strives to provide all services required to meet the company’s current and future information systems needs.

  • Jana Branham, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer and a member of Ergon’s Executive Management Team, has a BBA in Management. She leads the IT Department and is responsible for all aspects of information technology and driving change for process improvement as she works with business leaders at Ergon.

  • Kim Ladd, Director of Enterprise Systems Solutions, is a change agent working with business leaders to drive continuous improvement for business processes and challenges.

  • Kristi Horton is a Senior IT Project Manager and has a BBA in Business Information Systems, an MBA in Project Management and is a PMI certified Project Management Professional. She plans, coordinates and manages IT projects working with Ergon businesses to ensure projects are completed on target, on time and within budget.

  • Kristen Hoover is an SAP Business Analyst and has an associate degree in Technology. She partners with the business to design, test, and implement functionality to streamline business processes in inventory management.

  • Katherine Easterling is an SAP Business Analyst who partners with the business to design, test and implement functionality to streamline business processes in Sales & Distribution. She has a B.S. in Accounting and a Master’s in Taxation.

  • Gloria Lamb has a Master’s degree in Network and Communication Management and Business Administration. She is responsible for Crafco’s information technology. Her department recently became part of Ergon’s Corporate IT Department.

The Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Department provides assistance to the Ergon family of companies for all local, national and international EHS-related regulatory issues. EHS strives to have proactive, innovative and collaborative partnerships throughout the organization, enhancing Ergon’s performance by providing innovative solutions that protect people, the environment and assets.

  • Katelan Crain and Rebekah Phyfer both serve as Environmental Engineers in EHS, responsible for providing support to Ergon and its subsidiaries on environmental programs and compliance. Katelan has a degree in Biological Engineering, and Rebekah has a degree in Petroleum Engineering.

  • Kelly Meeks, with degrees in Risk Management, Insurance and Financial Planning, serves as a Health & Safety Specialist. With a scientific approach to hazard recognition and behavioral psychology, Kelly is working to promote a culture at Ergon where every employee returns home each day, whole and healthy.

  • Samantha Garner has a Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and serves as a Health & Safety Specialist.

Join us in celebrating these and all the women at Ergon who strive daily to help us meet needs, serve customers and support families — and join the conversation on social media with #WomenInScience.

Ergon’s Culture and Values Campaign Celebrating the Legacy of Our Founder Leslie Lampton Sr.

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As Ergon launches our Culture and Values Campaign, we celebrate the legacy of our founder, Leslie Lampton Sr. Through his entrepreneurial spirit and under his leadership for more than six decades, our organization developed a culture where character, honesty, respect and service were valued above everything. The Ergon Family lives the traits Mr. Lampton exhibited daily, and they are what make us unique.

In order to ensure that we carry into the future the values that have served us so well in the past, two years of research and development have been completed, and we are proud to announce the newly defined values that are shared across the entire Ergon organization: Empowered Service, Selfless Leadership, Purposeful Growth and Respectful Relationships.

Join us as we celebrate the contributions of our founder, not only to Ergon, but to our country and to countless others. Mr. Lampton truly epitomized the “Greatest Generation,” serving in two wars and coming home to build a company that would grow steadily and strategically to become a well-diversified global organization. Like other heroes of his generation, he was a man of honor and integrity who put his family, his employees and his faith above all else.

How it All Began

Orphaned as an infant, Mr. Lampton was adopted by a family in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1954, after his service in the Navy and managing a tire store, still in his 20s, he started Lampton Oil Company with a few thousand dollars in savings, two employees and a used fuel transport truck. He began by delivering fuel after hours to highway construction companies in the Jackson area. When crude oil was found nearby, Mr. Lampton began making daily deliveries of fuel and chain oil to the rigs. He learned producers were struggling to get a pipeline built, so he leased trucks and trailers to move the crude to market, a move which established a trajectory for future business.

His commitment to service and the growth of Lampton Oil Company resulted in a successful bid for a contract to provide standby fuel oil for Mississippi Power & Light Company’s generating plants, which prompted the beginning of a barge transportation business. When power companies and large industries moved from natural gas to fuel oil in the late 1960s, Lampton Oil Company experienced exponential growth. Mr. Lampton continued adding boats and barges to the fleet, even working personally with engineers and builders to improve barge design and oil heating processes.

The organization expanded under his direction to include seven primary business segments: Refining & Marketing, Specialty Chemicals, Asphalt & Emulsions, Oil & Gas, Midstream & Logistics, Construction & Real Estate, and Corporate & Other. Ergon companies are engaged in a wide range of operations, including sophisticated crude oil processing; producing and marketing naphthenic and paraffinic specialty oils, thermoplastic resins, specialty asphalt products, road maintenance products and machinery; transporting and terminaling crude oil, petrochemicals and refined products; propane marketing; oil and gas exploration; and commercial construction and real estate development.

Today, Ergon employs more than 3,000 people and serves customers in more than 90 countries around the world. Mr. Lampton’s four sons, who are now Directors, have served in various businesses throughout the organization, and several members of the third generation of Lamptons are following in their footsteps today.

The Ergon Family

No doubt because of his beginnings, Mr. Lampton had a desire to create a true family through his business. When talking about Ergon’s history, he was always quick to point out that the story was never about him. “Our story has always been about people – the Ergon Family,” he would say. Even in his 90s, Mr. Lampton made time to walk the hallways of the Ergon offices and visit facilities, and he knew employees and many of their family members by name. He believed in leading by example, and he was usually the first to arrive at work and the last to leave.

As Mr. Lampton often said, “Ergon’s success is based on our ability to clearly understand the needs of our customers, both today and in the future.” And the Ergon Family is honored to have the opportunity to continue his vision to create a bright future for Ergon, our communities, and our customers around the world.