Ergon’s 2023 Doing Right Report

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Ergon’s 2023 Doing Right Report is now available at ergon.com/sustainability. We began producing these reports to celebrate the many ways Ergon is committed to Doing Right with our products, for our planet, by our people and through our principles.

Doing Right is not a new concept for Ergon. It is foundational to who we have always been and who we will always be. We are excited to build on an already incredibly strong foundation. Since our first report, we have enhanced our environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts throughout the organization, and we are happy to share these updates with you.

The 2023 report includes in-depth stories highlighting our commitment to Doing Right, including our focus on innovative products, waste minimization, operational excellence objectives and the Purposeful Growth of our family of employees.

Feel free to share with others so they can see how we are Doing Right to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

A Captain’s Career — Meet Magnolia Marine Transport’s David Hays

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Captain David Hays is retiring from Ergon’s Magnolia Marine Transport Company (MMT) after over 45 years of service. Read about his journey from Green Deckhand to retired Captain.

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“My dad paid $90 for me to go to Deckhand school in Greenville, Mississippi. After I finished, MMT called me and offered me a job on a petroleum barge,” said Captain David Hays.

Captain Hays has been on the water almost his entire life, but his journey with MMT began on February 27, 1978, along the Arkansas River with a busted suitcase.

“The first boat I stepped on was at Lock No. 4 on the Arkansas River. I threw my suitcase on the boat, and it busted wide open,” Hays said, foreshadowing the difficulties he would face while adjusting to life as a 19-year-old Deckhand.

“After my first stint on the water, I called my dad and told him it wasn’t for me, and he said, ‘You can handle it,’” said Hays. His father’s words were motivation enough for him to continue tow boating, which turned out to be a lucrative career that has taken him far, figuratively and literally speaking. “I’ve been just about everywhere you can take a towboat with Magnolia Marine,” said Hays.

By 1992, Hays had advanced to the position of Captain, steering the M/V Dorothy Lee. “As Captain, I was responsible for everything, including company equipment, crew welfare and safety, and boat and tow safety for 24 hours a day, six hours on, six hours off,” he said.

Hays held the position of Captain for 31 years and is a testament to MMT’s commitment to purposeful employee growth. Those who want to advance in their careers at MMT are put on a clear path from Green Deckhand to Captain/Pilot.

When asked about his experience with MMT, Hays responded, “I think Magnolia Marine is an excellent company. They will do anything to make your job better, easier and safer. They have taken care of me over the years.”

Now, 45 years later, Hays is sailing into a well-deserved retirement. He made his final voyage recently and exited the M/V Mari Lampton for the last time as Captain in Cairo, Illinois. We’re proud to have been a part of this chapter in Hays’s life and wish him well.

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Reflecting on a Career Well Spent

According to Hays, his favorite river to travel is either the Ohio or Tennessee River because of the calmer atmosphere of the journey and the beautiful views of nature. His favorite day on the water was steak day each Saturday.

When asked what advice he would give to Green Deckhands aspiring to be a Captain one day, Hays said, “If you’re having trouble adjusting, hang in there, because things change and you’ll get new opportunities.”

Hays’s legacy lives strong in the lives of those he impacted during his tenure as Captain for over three decades. He is looking forward to a relaxing retirement in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

If you are interested in a career with MMT, visit magnoliamarine.com/careers/.

Message from Ergon CEO Kris Patrick

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As we head into the new year, I’d like to reflect on Ergon’s work as we continue to lead with compassion, expertise and care for our employees around the world, the industries we serve and the communities we support:

  • We continue to develop, produce and provide long-lasting, high-value solutions for our customers, improving the performance of products people around the world use every day.
  • Our asphalt solutions continue to strengthen and extend the life of North American roadways.
  • Our logistics companies continue to be essential to the manufacturing supply chain.

I’m looking forward to leading this company into 2024 as we continue our work toward being the world’s preferred partner for innovative and specialized solutions that drive our customers’ success.

Thank you, to the Ergon family for another year of success, to our clients for their invaluable trust in us, and to our communities for being an inspiration to us. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year!

Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Purchases Associated Asphalt Companies

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Ergon family,

I am pleased to announce that on December 15, 2023, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. purchased the Associated Asphalt family of companies (Associated). The acquired companies will continue to operate under the Associated Asphalt name. See full press release here: https://ergon.com/updates/ergon-asphalt-amp-emulsions-purchases-associated-asphalt-companies-15-12-23.

This acquisition positions Ergon to serve new markets and support and meet the needs of current and future customers throughout the Atlantic Coast region.

The Associated acquisition is part of Ergon’s ongoing commitment to strategic growth and innovation across our business segments. All of our efforts are centered on the mission that has and will continue to sustain our organization well into the future: meet needs, support families, serve customers.

Thank you,

Kris Patrick
President & CEO
Ergon Inc.

Doing Right in the Driver’s Seat

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Ergon’s truck drivers do a remarkable job of representing our organization and driving our legacy of quality products and exceptional service. In recognition of December as National Giving Month, we highlight Ergon Trucking’s Randy Shelton and share how he exemplifies our core value of Selfless Leadership. He is a shining example of how our drivers go the extra mile for others.

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Randy Shelton of Flowood, Mississippi, has been a professional truck driver for 32 years. It’s all he’s ever wanted to do. “I’ve wanted to do this since I was a child,” said Shelton. He joined Ergon Trucking in 2019 as a driver for the Vicksburg, Mississippi, terminal. “I love Ergon,” said Shelton. It’s a great company. I learned that firsthand. There are a lot of really good people who work here. We also have the best customers.”

While Shelton is quick to praise the generosity of his fellow coworkers, Ergon is equally as proud to have him as part of the family. Shelton has been praised by employers, coworkers and strangers for his giving heart. His desire to give back and help others is in keeping with Ergon’s mission to meet needs, support families and serve customers.

“I always try to give in a lot of areas in my life — I’m blessed,” said Shelton. “I try to take care of people when I can. When I’m provided with the opportunity to give back, I take it. The Lord and Ergon take care of me, so I can take care of others.”

As a driver, Shelton is provided with many opportunities to give back to people. And he has taken full advantage of these opportunities in recent weeks. Shelton was recently provided with a situation to give back when a wreck occurred on the road. He pulled over and stopped to help a group of women stay calm after the accident, and he changed their tire. He worked with the officer on the scene to transfer their groceries and call their loved ones for help.

From helping stranded motorists to honking the horn on his big rig and putting smiles on the faces of children he passes on the road, Shelton is able to connect his profession and passion for people, making for a fulfilling life. “You’re put in situations every day; it’s how you react in those situations that makes the best of it,” said Shelton.

When asked about advice he would give to the new generation of truck drivers, Shelton said, “Be courteous to the other drivers. Slow down, be cautious, be safe.”

Interested in working for Ergon Trucking where you’re guaranteed great pay, benefits and frequent home time? Visit driveforergon.com.

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Shelton Off the Road

Shelton loves to drive through Arizona and the western United States. His favorite meal on the road is hamburger steak with potatoes and gravy. To pass time on the road, he listens to movie soundtracks.

When he is home, Shelton loves to spend time with his wife and practice his music. “I’m a musician, I love music and I’m an 80s child,” said Shelton. “I’ve been playing guitar since I was 14 years old. I can play bass guitar, piano and the drums.”

Ergon to Decrease 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 effective Friday, December 15, 2023.

–   HyVolt Dielectric Fluids will be reduced by $0.15 per gallon

–   Ergon’s HyPrene Process Oils, HyGold Base Oils and HyPrint Ink Oils will be reduced by $0.20 per gallon

About Ergon
Ergon is a group of privately held companies that operate under four primary business segments: Energy & Specialty Solutions, Pavement & Coating Resources, Integrated Services & Logistics, and Exploration & Production.

Contact Information
Kathy Potts
Vice President – Marketing Communications
601-933-3000
kathy.potts@ergon.com
ergon.com |  ergonspecialtyoils.com

Juan Acosta Promoted to VP of Sales – Asia

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Ergon has announced that Juan Acosta has been promoted to the position of VP of Sales – Asia for Ergon Refining Inc. In this role, Acosta will drive strategic initiatives to meet sales targets, develop distributor and supplier networks, identify opportunities to strengthen the company’s brand presence and establish regional market leadership in Asia.

Acosta joined Ergon in 2019 as Global Technical Marketing Manager – Dielectric Fluids. Prior to Ergon, he worked for Siemens for 15 years, holding various positions within the Energy Division in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree. Acosta is also a Certified Project Management Professional and has a certificate in Product Management from Cornell University and a Mastering Sales – Kellogg Credential.

About Ergon
Ergon is a group of privately held companies operating under four primary business segments: Energy & Specialty Solutions, Pavement & Coating Resources, Integrated Services & Logistics, and Exploration & Production. Within the Energy & Specialty Solutions business segment, Ergon Refining Inc. is the world’s leading producer of specialty naphthenic oils and Ergon – West Virginia Inc. is a major manufacturer of Group I and Group II paraffinic base oils. Product lines include HyGold base oils, HyPrene process oils, HyVolt dielectric fluids and HyPrint ink oils.

Contact
Kathy Potts
Vice President – Marketing Communications
kathy.potts@ergon.com
601-933-3000 
ergon.com | ergonspecialtyoils.com

Our Industry Involvement

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A Commitment to the Industries We Serve

Ergon has made a commitment to be actively involved in the industries we serve. This involvement is important because our subject matter experts have a wealth of knowledge to contribute to their respective fields. The Ergon family’s participation in the advancement of our industries further emphasizes and extends our core value of Purposeful Growth and our knowledge-sharing culture for a greater impact. The following are just a few of many associations in which employees across Ergon business segments are a part.

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Leaders within Ergon’s Energy & Specialty Solutions (ESS) and Integrated Services & Logistics business segments are involved with a variety of associations, including but not limited to the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) trade association, the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) International and the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA).

AFPM

AFPM is the leading trade association representing fuels, petrochemicals and midstream companies. Through AFPM, members have access to information and updates on how to ensure improved, safer and more sustainable products that keep America moving forward. Ergon is proud to contribute to the pool of industry leaders dedicated to advocating and establishing guidelines to help businesses navigate the petroleum refining and petrochemical sectors well into the future.

ASTM International

Leaders of companies within Ergon’s ESS business segment serve on committees and subcommittees for ASTM International, which is an association that publishes production and testing standards covering a variety of materials, systems and products to encourage safety and consistency among manufacturers. Learn about Ergon’s Dr. Griffin Burk and his appointment as Chair of the ASTM D27.01 subcommittee here: https://ergon.com/updates/ergons-griffin-burk-named-chair-of-astm-d2701-subcommittee-27-01-23.

ILTA

Members of Ergon’s Integrated Services & Logistics (ISL) business segment are actively involved within ILTA, an organization that serves as an advocate and asset for the liquid terminal industry. ILTA represents the interests of this industry in Congress and federal agencies. Joel Pastorek, Executive Vice President – Integrated Services & Logistics for Ergon Inc., is one of a few active members of ILTA. Read his spotlight feature here: https://www.ilta.org/News-Resources/Press-Releases/ArtMID/15134/ArticleID/2508/Member-Feature-Joel-Pastorek.

Improving America’s Infrastructure

Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions employees are involved and hold positions within various city, county, state and national roadway infrastructure associations. Additionally, these leaders have been instrumental in advocating for pavement preservation across the United States since the 1990s. This advocacy includes contributing time, knowledge and resources to various associations committed to helping agencies understand pavement preservation principles and adopt the strategic and cost-effective approach to improving their roadway networks. Such organizations include FP2, formerly known as the Foundation for Pavement Preservation, of which Ergon’s Mark Ishee is President, the Asphalt Institute, of which Ergon’s Baxter Burns and Patrick Nation are past Chairs, the Asphalt Emulsion Manufacturers Association, the International Slurry Surfacing Association and the Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association, to name a few. By utilizing pavement preservation treatments, agencies can extend road life, save tax dollars and improve quality of life for residents. We are happy to encourage and help agencies start their preservation journeys.

The Ergon family’s involvement spans across countless industries and impacts millions of lives. Organizations featured here only scratch the surface of our commitment to being an asset in the industries we serve. If you are interested in working for a place that encourages employees to get involved and make an impact, visit our careers page at https://ergon.com/ergonCareers.

Ergon Acquires EnLink Midstream – Ohio River Valley Operations

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Flowood, Miss. – Ergon, Inc. (Ergon) has purchased EnLink Midstream – Ohio River Valley Operations (EnLink – ORV), which will now operate as Ergon Midstream, LLC (Ergon Midstream). The transaction is effective as of today, November 1, 2023.

EnLink Midstream – ORV has provided crude and condensate midstream services to Ergon and has been integral in delivering a significant portion of our crude supply to our existing terminal network to optimize crude deliveries to Ergon’s Newell, West Virginia, refinery (Ergon – West Virginia, Inc.). This acquisition positions Ergon to continue expanding our midstream services to support and meet the needs of current and future customers in the Ohio River Valley and Appalachian Region.

Joel Pastorek, President of Ergon Midstream, said: “Ergon has been committed to serving the Ohio River Valley and Appalachian Region since 1997, and we have continuously expanded our midstream service offerings via crude purchasing, trucking, terminaling, barging and crude stabilization services. This acquisition expands our footprint and strategically aligns our companies while further demonstrating our commitment to the region.”

About Ergon
Ergon is a group of privately held companies operating under four primary business segments: Energy & Specialty Solutions, Pavement & Coating Resources, Exploration & Production, and Integrated Services & Logistics, of which Ergon Midstream is a part.

Contact Information
Kathy Potts Vice President – Marketing Communications
601-933-3000
kathy.potts@ergon.com
ergon.com

Meet Chanita Ward — Ergon Driver and Breast Cancer Survivor

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In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, we are featuring a breast cancer survivor who has recently found a home among the Ergon family and is living life to the fullest while encouraging others to do the same.

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MEET CHANITA WARD

Ward is a driver for Ergon Trucking in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She joined the Ergon family in 2022 and agrees it is of the best career decisions she has made. “They actually treat you like family,” said Ward. “I love driving anyway, but as far as the company, this is the best company I’ve ever worked for.” Ward has been driving trucks for 18 years, beginning with flatbed trucks and eventually transitioning to tankers.

In 2013, Ward was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer and underwent a lumpectomy, one year of chemotherapy and 45 radiation treatments before going into remission in 2015. When asked her perspective following her stint with the disease, Ward said: “It makes you appreciate life a whole lot more. There were a lot of days I could barely even get out of bed. It makes you appreciate the little things like being able to cook, clean and take showers by yourself and having hair. It’s those little things you appreciate in life after you beat it.”

Now, in addition to participating in breast cancer awareness walks and other fundraisers, Ward encourages others to get regular checkups. “I try to encourage people to get mammograms and checkups for early detection,” she said. Ward is also part of a group that shares helpful tips for going through chemotherapy. “If you give somebody an idea of things that worked for you when you went through it, it may help them,” said Ward.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Ward moved to Mississippi from Arkansas to work for Ergon Trucking. She has been overwhelmed by the support and family she has gained. She is also grateful to work for a company with a heart of service that puts forth consistent efforts to help others, including helping to fund the fight against breast cancer.

Since 2020, under the leadership of our Ambassador of Breast Cancer Awareness Larry Tomkins, the Ergon family has supported the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer initiative, helping to fund research for a cure as well as partnering with companies to provide transportation for cancer patients who need treatments.

This year, Ergon has a goal to reach $175,500 in donations on behalf of the organization. If you’d like to join us in our efforts, consider donating here: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/ltomkins.