Ergon Finalizes Acquisition of Blueknight Energy Partners, L.P.

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Ergon’s agreement to purchase all of the common and preferred units of Blueknight is approved by unitholders; Blueknight operations include 9 million barrels of liquid asphalt storage capacity across 54 terminals in 26 states

Flowood, Miss. — Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Inc. (Ergon) has announced that the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement with Blueknight Energy Partners, L.P. (BKEP), was completed on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. This transaction takes BKEP from a publicly traded company to a private company solely owned by Ergon. Ergon purchased the General Partner interest and approximately 26% of the limited partner units of BKEP in 2016 and, as of August 17, 2022, has acquired all outstanding common and preferred units of BKEP.

“The acquisition of the largest independent asphalt terminaling network in the country further strengthens Ergon’s long-standing position as the industry’s resource leader. The Blueknight assets remain a key component of our overall strategy and growth plan,” commented Baxter Burns, President of Ergon.

BKEP facilities will continue with business as usual under the new structure. “We are excited to welcome Blueknight operations personnel into the Ergon family and look forward to continuing our quest to provide customers with the highest quality products and services,” Burns added.

Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Inc., the largest asphalt emulsions marketer in North America, has facilities from coast to coast in the U.S. and Mexico. Additional information about Ergon can be found at ergon.com, and information regarding BKEP facilities can be found at bkep.com.

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
Vice President – Marketing Communications
601-933-3000
kathy.potts@ergon.com
ergon.com

Ergon Refining & Marketing Supports Advancement, Professional Growth Among Employees

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At Ergon, we believe purposeful growth starts with the individual desire to learn more, be more and contribute more. Ergon Refining & Marketing (R&M) is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and nurturing this desire, helping employees reach their professional potential. The following are just a few of many who have benefitted from Ergon R&M’s commitment to professional development. Learn about their transitions from entry level to management positions. If you’re interested in a career where you can learn and grow personally and professionally, visit ergoncareers.com today.

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Kristie Armstrong, PhD, PMP

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Kristie Armstrong, PhD, PMP, is Technical Projects Manager for Ergon’s Refining & Marketing (R&M) segment. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing various technical development projects that support the strategic goals of the business unit. This includes developing methodologies and processes to help manage workflows and communication, ensuring technical development teams’ efforts are aligned with business needs/requests.

Armstrong joined the Ergon family in February 2015 as Senior Project Chemist for Ergon Refining Inc. Since 2015, she has held various managerial positions, including Ergon Refining Lab Manager, R&M Technology Research & Insights Lab Manager and now Technical Projects Manager. Armstrong’s background in analytical method development and prior lab management experience has served her well in her roles with the company.

Armstrong received her Associate Degree from Hinds Community College, her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Mississippi State University and her PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. While she has reached the pinnacle of her academic career, Armstrong continues to embrace learning and has taken advantage of the opportunity to participate in various management courses.

The Path to Advancement
“Since working at Ergon, I have had the opportunity to take industry-related and project management courses,” said Armstrong. “I’ve also taken advantage of LinkedIn Learning courses to add to my project management skillset.” Ergon has provided every employee with the opportunity to take LinkedIn Learning courses about various topics of their choice for free. It’s one of many ways the company encourages personal and professional growth.

Armstrong always knew she wanted to advance in her career as a chemist, and seeking new ways to utilize the knowledge she gained opened doors to opportunities to learn new skills. “I sought to learn skills and take on new responsibilities, which opened my eyes to a world of opportunity in the industry, and particularly, with Ergon.”

In June 2022, Armstrong received her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. “Ergon Leadership has always supported my desire to grow,” said Armstrong. “I’ve had some wonderful managers while working at Ergon, including Jermaine Cooley, who have always supported my career growth.”

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Jermaine Cooley

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Jermaine Cooley is Director of Product Technology for Ergon’s R&M business unit. In this role, Cooley leads two groups that support strategic growth for R&M. This includes the Research & Insights Team whose laboratory skills and product knowledge support Ergon’s specialty oils and product development. The next group Cooley oversees is the Products Services Team. Product Services is the voice of the customer within R&M, representing customer interest while ensuring product quality. This team also serves as a direct contact for customers’ technical support needs.

Mastering His Role
Cooley joined Ergon in 2012 as a Project Chemist. Since that time, he has been promoted to various leadership roles, including Senior Project Chemist, Product Services Manager and now Director of Product Technology. Cooley came to Ergon wanting to be challenged and make an impact on the company.

“Transitioning to Ergon was a career advancement for me,” said Cooley. “I joined wanting to master my role and, in doing so, make a positive contribution.”

Cooley noted he has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience while working for Ergon and feels supported by management in his efforts to enhance his skillset. “Throughout my time here, Ergon has done a great job of keeping me challenged and offering opportunities for growth,” said Cooley.

Cooley attended Mississippi College, where he earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in chemistry. In 2021, Cooley completed Cornell University’s Performance Leadership course.

“Developing and implementing a plan to grow the company and employees is the epitome of the Ergon value of Purposeful Growth,” said Cooley. “Part of this strategy includes managers being intentional about providing opportunities and resources for direct reports to grow.” Cooley is paying the support he has received from Ergon management forward by supporting aspirations for advancement among his own direct reports, including Kristie Armstrong.

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Dylan Beech

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Dylan Beech is Vice President – Refining for Ergon – West Virginia (EWV). In this role, Beech is responsible for providing guidance, direction and leadership, as well as for overseeing capital and expense budgets for the company’s’ paraffinic refinery in Newell, West Virginia. He refers to himself as the person responsible for the care, well-being, growth, and development of the 200+ people at the facility.

Beech first came to Ergon as a process engineering Co-Op in 2012. He was hired as a full-time Process Engineer in 2015. Since that time, he has held roles as Operations Manager, Assistant Operations Manager/Hydroprocessing Unit Area Manager and Laboratory Manager, his most recent position prior to becoming EWV’s VP – Refining in July 2022.

Positioned to Learn
During his time as a Co-Op, Beech quickly decided a full-time career with Ergon Refining was where he wanted to officially start his career. “As a Co-Op, I was surrounded by amazing people and was empowered to tackle problems and make decisions, even though I was not yet a degreed engineer.”

Beech attended Mississippi State University (MSU) where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. It was through MSU where he learned about and was accepted into Ergon’s Co-Op engineering program.

“Since I started at Ergon, my desire has been to be where I believe I can help people the most,” said Beech. This desire led to career opportunities outside of process engineering, including working in the Operations Department at Ergon Refining. Being where he is most needed also opened the door for his current position. “I have been so blessed by the opportunities I have received at Ergon,” said Beech. He expressed the company has provided opportunities most people with his age and experience level would not be allowed to have at other companies.

“I’m thankful, first, to work for a company that embraces the idea of establishing and maintaining relationships with employees, customers and in communities, and second, to work with people who, from entry level to management, consistently express genuine interest in each other’s well-being and evolution,” said Beech.

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

Employees Celebrate 50 Years at Ergon’s Newell Refinery

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As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ergon – West Virginia, we are honored to commemorate a special milestone for three employees who have been with the refinery since its beginning in 1972. Doug Burdick, who retired July 1 as Vice President – Refining at EWV and worked with these men for many years, had the following to say in recognition of Steve Murray, Dan Foltz and Nick Kalinski’s 50 years of service:

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“Steve Murray (or Sugar Bear, as he is affectionately known) has been a staple in the conversion area for over 50 years. Kind, soft spoken and always looking out for those he works with, Sugar Bear is admired for the patient and kind way he takes new unit employees under his wing to impart some of his vast knowledge. He is dependable, dedicated and a pleasure to be around … and he keeps his fellow employees supplied with donuts.

“Dan Foltz’s knowledge of the crude separation area is second to none. Over the last 50 years, he has been the one everyone turns to when the need to learn and understand something in the crude area arises. Dan’s dependability is unmatched. If he is on the schedule, you can be sure he will show up. He is also the first person to arrive in a crisis or when extra help is needed.

“Nick Kalinski has been a leader as an Outside Operator for as long as anyone can remember. Operators breathe a sigh of relief when they see Nick scheduled for shutdowns and startups. Every B & C Operator in the crude separation area can say they learned from Nick. He has been a wealth of knowledge and experience and has always been willing to share those attributes with up-and-coming operators.”

Steve, Dan and Nick get the occasional “Man, you’ve been doing this since before I was born” comments from coworkers. They have actually worked alongside multiple generations of families from the Newell area.

“We’ve been through a lot of changes over the years, especially after Ergon took over,” Steve said. They went from working for a union for 25 years to working for a privately owned company, which all agree has been a positive experience. They also helped with changes Ergon made at the refinery, including increased capacity and the addition of important safety features. “The biggest thing probably was changing from pneumatic instruments over to DCS, which allows us to open and close valves from inside in the control room,” Steve added. “Before, everything was manual.”

One thing that hasn’t changed is their appreciation for their coworkers. All agree that the Ergon family is what makes the job something they would want to do for so many years, from bosses who treat employees well to coworkers who are “amazing.“

Thank you, gentlemen, for your dedication and service to Ergon!

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 Asphalt is Developing the Next Generation of Leaders

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Purposeful Growth is a core value we hold dear at Ergon. We are dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for employees to reach their full professional potential because we understand employee success and organizational success go hand in hand.(You can read more about our organization-wide commitment to Purposeful Growth value here.)

“People are Ergon,” said Patrick Nation, Ergon A&E’s Senior VP – Sales & Marketing. “They make the place what it is today. We have to encourage our employees and provide opportunities for them to grow, not only technically but personally, with leadership development pathways. These pathways will lead to a consistent culture and continued success of this great company we work for.”

Ergon has long embraced the value of Purposeful Growth from within the organization as a way to nurture future leaders of the company. Our COO Kris Patrick began his career with Ergon as a young Co-Op at Ergon Refining Inc. And many who started out with entry-level positions as Ergon’s asphalt operations took shape in the early ’80s have gone on to hold various management positions within the company, even the President of Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (Ergon A&E), Baxter Burns.

Purposeful Growth Series

Throughout the month of July, we will be highlighting ways we exemplify the Ergon core value of Purposeful Growth.

In today’s post, we introduce you to three individuals from Ergon’s Asphalt & Emulsions unit who have taken advantage of our career advancement opportunities and demonstrated high competencies in key areas along their paths from entry level to management positions.

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Charles Taylor

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Charles Taylor was named Ergon A&E Regional Technical Operations Manager (RTOM) for facilities in the North Mid-Continent Region in January 2022. In this role, Taylor serves as the liaison between the Ergon A&E facilities and Paragon Technical Services. He assists with technical issues, helps implement new product formulations and ensures current product formulations and specifications are updated to reflect the most accurate information.

Taylor attended Mississippi State University, where he earned a civil engineering degree. One of the classes required to complete his program piqued his interest. “We had to take a pavement class in order to graduate,” he said. “I became very interested in the subject, and the professor and I began to talk a lot; we just had a connection.” That professor was Dr. Isaac Howard, Director of the Richard A. Rula School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and friend of Ergon. Over the past several years, Dr. Howard has worked with Ergon to help educate, mentor and even employ the next generation of leaders in the asphalt industry. In fact, it was Dr. Howard who introduced Taylor to the Ergon family.

Taylor joined Ergon in 2017 as an Emulsion Chemist at Paragon Technical Services, the research and development arm of Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions. He noted one thing he appreciates about his former managers at Paragon is they encourage growth among employees from day one. “That was one thing we did talk about when I first started — that they want to see employees grow and move up in the company in order to be an even greater resource.” When the opportunity presented itself for Taylor to apply for the RTOM position, he took full advantage with the blessing and backing from his then managers, Shelly Cowley and Scott Watson, Senior VP – Technical Operations. Taylor has fully embraced the opportunity to challenge himself, grow professionally and build new intercompany relationships.

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Sean Robbins

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Sean Robbins was promoted to Facility Manager for EA&E’s Lawton, Oklahoma, facility in November 2021, after seven-and-a-half years serving as an Operator at EA&E’s Saginaw, Texas, facility. Robbins and his wife, Stacia, had begun to expand their family right around the time he started at Saginaw, which motivated him to seek opportunities to grow within the company — an aspiration he shared with his Manager, Nathan Swearingen.

When a Facility Manager position came available within the EA&E network, there were many factors that led to Robbins being selected for the job. “Sean came to us from a different background, not related to asphalt, but that did not stop him from putting his best foot forward on the job,” said Swearingen. “He is always hungry to learn and always willing to help. I wish him good luck in his new and well-deserved position.”

So far, Robbins has settled into his position nicely, attributing this to the training he received in Saginaw from Swearingen and Assistant Manager Jordan Haith, as well as the group of people he currently oversees who, in his own words, make his job easier because of their drive.

“Until joining Ergon, I didn’t really have a specific job I wanted to do,” said Robbins. “I just wanted to do what my father did — he provided for us.”

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John Hallford

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John Hallford was promoted to Facility Manager of EA&E’s Mount Pleasant, Texas, facility in 2019. Prior to accepting this position, he worked at Ergon’s Halstead, Kansas, facility (formerly SEM Materials). He began working at Halstead in 2007 and quickly became known for his drive and persistence. “I probably called Tim Weatherman, the Facility Manager at that time, once a week and bugged him until he gave me a chance,” he said.

Drive and persistence have continued to be determining factors as Hallford has climbed the ladder to leadership. He had been in regular talks with his manager about wanting to move to a higher position in the company, which was met with on-site training and development to put him on the path to advancement. Since 2007, he was promoted from Operator to Production Leader and eventually amassed skills needed to qualify for the Facility Manager position that had come available in Mount Pleasant.

Like Sean Robbins, Hallford also did not have a background working with asphalt and emulsions prior to joining the Halstead Team. However, that didn’t stop him from doing what he needed to do to make an honest living, which has earned him much respect within Ergon. “I think it is important to understand that our leaders come from all walks of life,” said Greg Hilton, Regional Manager – North Texas. “If someone has the fortitude to put in the hard work and dedication, anything is possible.”

Greg noted that Hallford sets a positive example in the workplace and does a good job of encouraging and teaching his crew — all good qualities Ergon looks for in future leaders.

“As soon as they know you have an aspiration to advance within the company, Ergon tries to provide opportunities to develop or improve your skills to prepare you for what you want to do,” said Hallford. “The only thing that limits you here is the drive that you have.”

Ergon Adds Esters to HyVolt Product Portfolio

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Ergon is proud to announce the addition of natural soy-based and synthetic esters to the HyVolt product portfolio. HyVolt NE and HyVolt SE are engineered with high fire point and excellent moisture tolerance, making them an ideal choice for applications that require increased fire safety and/or biodegradability.

Natural and synthetic esters are readily biodegradable dielectric fluids capable of temperatures greater than 300° C. Ergon’s ester products have been developed for transformer applications in highly populated areas or with footprint constraints, for mass transit, for customers faced with extreme ambient temperatures or proximity to water, or for those who value a biodegradable product. They are also an excellent cooling medium for large data centers.

HyVolt NE and HyVolt SE have been developed to complement Ergon’s existing mineral oil portfolio. Development of these biodegradable alternatives is an example of Ergon’s commitment to evolving for the future.

For decades, Ergon has earned the reputation as a global leader in the mineral insulating fluids industry. Mineral oils have been used as insulating liquids in transformers since the 1880’s, with proven performance as the most cost-effective dielectric fluid in the majority of applications. They will continue to be the primary solution for the vast majority of transformers. Ergon’s HyVolt products meet the latest requirements of IEC 60296:2020 general specifications and special applications, ASTM D3487:2016, as well as CSA C50-14 Class A and B standards. They have very low pour points, excellent oxidation stability and electrical properties, making them suitable for the most demanding requirements established by leading global transformer manufacturers. No recylced oils are used in Ergon’s productions. Ergon holds both ISO 9001 quality and ISO 14001 environmental management standards accreditations.

The HyVolt team offers important resources including field fill tips, information on negative gassing, impregnation rates, the history and future of mineral insulating oils, and more here.

Founded in 1954, Ergon is a family-owned organization with a reputation for unparalleled service and the flexibility to cultivate solutions for customers across a broad spectrum of markets. The company has a long history of making decisions based on outcomes that will protect the sustainability of the organization in order to ensure reliable, consistent supply for customers around the world; provide a safe and secure environment for employees; contribute to the economy and quality of life in communities in which they serve; and serve as good stewards of the planet. In addition to dielectric fluids, Ergon’s refineries produce naphthenic and paraffinic specialty oils used in long-life, non-combustible applications around the world, including tires, adhesives, metalworking, polymers, roofing, compounding, greases, waxes, white oil feedstocks and more.

Ergon is excited to offer customers more liquid options to meet their unique application needs coupled with the highest level of service and supply security. To learn more about HyVolt NE and HyVolt SE, contact your Ergon – HyVolt representative or email specialtyoils@ergon.com.

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.

Ergon to Adjust Naphthenic Prices in North America

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FLOWOOD, Miss. — Ergon has announced an increase in pricing of naphthenic oils in the North American market by $0.45 per gallon effective Friday, July 1, 2022. The increase 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

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.”