World Blood Donor Day: Ergon Corporate Supports Mississippi Blood Services

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Evotherm – Environmentally Friendly Warm Mix Technology

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ergon Family Supports the American Cancer Society

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Doing Right: Helping Employees Beat the Heat This Summer

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

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

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

ERGON’S HEAT AWARENESS PROGRAM:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Public Awareness and Pipeline Safety, Priority for Ergon Terminaling

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A key responsibility for Ergon is operating our facilities in a safe manner — a manner which protects our facility teams, the local community and the environment.

This is certainly true for Ergon Terminaling – Magnolia, which operates a 38-mile, 8” pipeline (Magnolia Pipeline) that begins at our terminal in Magnolia, Ohio, and ends at Ergon-West Virginia (EWV) in Newell. The pipeline delivers crude oil to EWV through Carroll and Columbiana counties in Ohio, as well as Hancock County in West Virginia. Because this pipeline runs through privately held land and near residential areas, it’s imperative that we maintain open lines of communication with the local landowners and residents.

Public Awareness
In order to accomplish this, we developed a Public Awareness Safety Program. Through this program, Ergon Terminaling – Magnolia conducts annual public safety campaigns to reach the affected public living and working along the pipeline. This is to ensure residents understand pipeline operations and are aware of who to notify in the event of a pipeline emergency. Helping the public understand their significant role in preventing accidents caused by third-party damage and right-of-way encroachment will decrease the amount of pipeline hazards each year.

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The objectives of the Public Awareness Safety Program are to:

  • Improve public safety, property and environmental protection through increased public awareness and knowledge.
  • Make residents aware that pipelines are in their community.
  • Ensure stakeholders know how to recognize, react and report pipeline emergencies.
  • Educate emergency response agencies of the proper actions to take in response to a pipeline accident or emergency.
  • To educate excavators of the steps they should take to prevent third-party damage and respond properly if they cause damage to a pipeline.
  • To educate public officials of the presence of liquid pipelines in their community, hazards that they present and prevention measures to be taken in the event of a pipeline incident or emergency.

As part of the Public Awareness Safety Program, Ergon Terminaling – Magnolia also participates in the Ohio One Call Program, where landowners and residents can call to be notified of work along the pipeline.

Through our safety program, we are taking a proactive approach to minimizing accidents and third-party damage. This is an important part of our goal of doing right and protecting our family of employees and those in our communities.

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 $0.30 per gallon effective Friday, May 27, 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

Paula DeYoung Joins Alliant Construction as Preconstruction Director

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Alliant Construction, a Division of Ergon Construction Group Inc., is pleased to announce Paula DeYoung has accepted the position of Preconstruction Director. In this role, Paula will lead all preconstruction service activities while maintaining client, architect, and subcontractor relations through the design, budgeting and construction phases.

Paula has over 25 years of construction-related experience in the public and private sectors. Her most recent position, before joining Alliant, was Assistant Deputy Director and CCID Project Director for the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration.

A native of Clinton, Mississippi, Paula earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design from Louisiana Tech University. In addition to being a Certified Interior Designer, Paula is also National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certified and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Accredited Professional (LEED AP) certified.

Nathan Witt, President of Ergon Construction Group, stated, “We are excited about welcoming Paula to Alliant. She is well-respected, both personally and professionally, and her track record of success speaks for itself. Paula’s presence sends a strong message about Alliant Construction’s commitment to being a market leader in anticipating and meeting the needs of our customers and partners.”

Kris Patrick, Ergon’s Chief Operating Officer, added “Paula is an excellent addition to the Alliant Construction team and Ergon family. Her attention to detail, exceptional customer service and solutions-driven approach to doing business fit perfectly within our organization. We look forward to Paula’s leadership and contributions in the years ahead.”

About Alliant Construction:
Alliant Construction is a commercial general contractor offering experience and expertise in designing, estimating, building and managing commercial construction projects. Alliant is a division of Ergon Construction Group, which specializes in general contracting, industrial maintenance and specialty construction services.

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:
Kathy Potts
Vice President of Marketing Communications
Ergon Inc.
601-933-3000
kathy.potts@ergon.com
ergon.com  | alliantconstruction.com

Selfless Leadership — Ergon Focuses on the Greater Good

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Empowering Employees to Lead, Innovate and Serve

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Crafco Recycling Project Reduces CO2e Emissions

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Crafco Inc., a division of Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Inc., has a long history of environmentally friendly projects. Over 40 years ago, Crafco developed and patented an effective solution for sealing pavement cracks and joints using a blend of reclaimed rubber from recycled car tires and asphalt. This flexible sealant was the first of its kind. Beyond its role in helping transform the industry, this specialized material also helps protect the environment.

By blending scrap tire rubber into its sealant, Crafco is recycling over one million tires every year, reducing waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. Reusing and repurposing used tires versus virgin polymer modifiers reduces crude oil consumption by over one million gallons each year.

For Fiscal Year 2021, Crafco’s consumption of crumb rubber equated to reducing CO2e emissions by approximately 30 million pounds versus using virgin materials in the company’s finished product.

“Tire rubber already contains the oils and antioxidants required for effective sealant performance, thus reducing the need for using more natural resources,” stated Gary Johnson, Crafco President. “By using post-consumer recycled tire rubber, Crafco sealants save energy and resources by reducing the amount of polymers and chemicals consumed.”

The team at Crafco is committed to finding ways to have a positive impact on the environment. A few examples include:

  • In 1982 Crafco introduced an innovative way to package sealant by replacing metal pails, the standard at the time, with boxes manufactured from recycled cardboard. The cardboard is fully recyclable after it’s emptied, decreasing the waste stream by approximately 4,000,000 metal pails each year.

  • Dedicated to leading the way with its innovative, fully consumable packaging, Crafco currently holds two patents on processes to package sealant in a container that itself becomes part of the sealant. Both Pleximelt and NO BOX packaging options are fully consumable and create zero waste.

  • On Crafco’s equipment manufacturing side, all application equipment worldwide has Tier 4 diesel engines. These engines support the lowest emission requirements in the U.S.

Thanks to Crafco’s environmentally friendly focus, customers have access to sealants that are long lasting and budget friendly. Crafco is reducing its carbon footprint while helping to preserve not only our roads, but also the planet.