How long have you been with JJ White and what initially attracted you to the company?
I started with JJ White in 1989 working in the US Steel facility in Fairless Hills.
What does an average day look like for you?
An average day for me mostly remains the same depending on the task I am working on, be it at Bayway, Rohm and Haas, or the home office. I ensure that the workers are equipped with the tools, material, and information pertaining to the task we are asking them to complete.
What is the most important factor in making a large-scale turnaround run smoothly?
The secret to a successful turnaround is to surround yourself with quality personnel allowing them to utilize their talents. Another factor is to get your supervision in the field allowing them to familiarize themselves with their specific assignments.
What do you think separates JJ White’s team of Site Superintendents from the rest?
JJ White’s leadership, in my opinion, had the unique opportunity to learn from their predecessors along the way. We all sacrificed our family time and did the tasks we are asking our employees to do along the way.
What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on at JJW?
My most rewarding function was having the opportunity to manage the Fabrication Shop at the home office and working with a great group of dedicated individuals on a daily basis. I enjoyed meeting rigid deadlines and project characteristics. My most challenging project was on the Atmospheric Relief Vent Mitigation project at the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery in Linden, New Jersey. With the help of many skilled craft personnel and an outstanding staff, I was awarded the 2015 TAUC James J. Willis Craftsperson of the Year.
What is your biggest accomplishment so far?
Working for JJ White provided my wife Lynn and I the opportunity to raise our 4 children. An accomplishment would be hopefully passing on the culture that I was associated with to the generations that follow.