Jennifer Dunphy, ExxonMobil
As the new plant manager of ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge Plastics Plant (BRPP), Jennifer Dunphy wants the site’s employees and contractors to be proud to say they work there. To achieve this, Dunphy has set “community partnership” as one of her primary focuses at the plant, emphasizing at all levels the vital importance of industrial jobs training, environmental responsibility and achieving the companywide goal of zero injuries.
Since beginning the position earlier this year, Dunphy has found the most valuable skill a plant manager can have and hone is forward-thinking leadership.
“A plant manager needs to have strong leadership skills to be able to motivate a large workforce,” said Dunphy, who earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University. “It’s also crucial to be an effective communicator who can clearly articulate expectations and share the company’s vision forward … Safety is our core value, and my leadership is critical to creating a culture of safety at our site.
“It’s also my responsibility to support potential growth opportunities that can better position our chemicals business for long-term success. Part of that effort means continued integration with our other chemical facilities here in Baton Rouge.”
Although originally from Oklahoma, Dunphy is no stranger to the Gulf Coast’s booming energy industry, having started her career at ExxonMobil’s Beaumont Polyethylene Plant in 1993. After holding various positions with ExxonMobil in the polymers, basic chemicals and intermediates businesses, in 2006 she became operations area manager for ExxonMobil Pipeline. Before moving to Louisiana, her most recent post at the company was global Oxo marketing manager.
But Dunphy recalls it was her very first job that initially developed her leadership skills, and she believes the plant’s training and outreach initiatives should focus precisely on instilling these skills in others.
“My very first job in high school was as a lifeguard and eventual pool manager, where I started to learn these very important leadership skills,” Dunphy recounted. “Investment in training and leadership delivers high returns in economic and social development both for individuals and the community … I am committed to supporting education in our community and look forward to sharing my skillset and time to make this a better place to live.”
Part of this investment in training and educating the local community involves job creation at the plant; in fact, Dunphy said the biggest news at BRPP right now is the batch of new hires it welcomed this summer. “In June, we had a new hiring class starting at BRPP,” Dunphy stated. “We had about 15 maintenance technicians and operators joining us to start a new journey in their careers.
“At a time when we see our industry challenged with lower crude prices, it is nice to see ExxonMobil’s commitment to our site and Baton Rouge.”
‘Nobody Gets Hurt’
One crucial facet of ExxonMobil’s commitment to its workforce at the Baton Rouge Plastics Plant is its motto, “Nobody Gets Hurt.” Dunphy proudly said her site’s safety record has earned it several prestigious awards over the past few years.
“This year we received the Elite Gold Safety Award from the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) recognizing the top 1 percent of safety performance in the industry,” Dunphy explained. “The Baton Rouge Plastics Plant won the top Distinguished Safety Award from AFPM twice before and the Silver in 2014.
“We’ve also achieved zero recordable injuries for two consecutive calendar years and have over 1 million injury-free workforce hours by employees and contractors. Our site continues to maintain its OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status for an exemplary and comprehensive safety and health management system.”
Dunphy credits BRPP’s safety record to the site’s safety culture as well as its training requirements.
“All of these successes can be attributed to the culture of safety that is woven throughout the network of plants in the Baton Rouge area,” Dunphy expressed. “Every employee and contractor is trained in the Loss Prevention System® on tools that help identify and address safety, environmental, reliability and other concerns that could lead to losses which impact our workplace and community. We truly believe in our company motto of ‘Nobody Gets Hurt.’”
Dunphy also insisted the site’s high standard of safety supports the plant’s performance as well as its people. “Safety leads to reliable operations, which ensures good environmental performance and energy efficiency,” Dunphy said. “I want the plastics plant to be a site that ExxonMobil puts at the top of the list when looking for investment. To achieve this, we need to continue to create an environment with a diligent focus on operational excellence, achieving our ‘Nobody Gets Hurt’ goal, and maintaining strong environmental performance and reliable operations.”
And with her on-site team’s ample training and proven track record, Dunphy is bound to find success.
‘A community partner’
In order to ensure the plant’s safety and reliability long into the future, Dunphy’s site is also dedicated to educating and training the next generation of industry workers by partnering with various schools and organizations throughout the Baton Rouge community.
“We need math and science skills to fill jobs at our refinery, chemical plants and lubricants facility right here in Baton Rouge, so there is a huge opportunity for residents to obtain a quality job,” Dunphy explained. “As a company, ExxonMobil dedicates its resources to education initiatives like the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), which focuses on professional development for teachers and on advanced placement programs so students are ready to succeed in college.
“The NMSI College Readiness Program recently announced a major expansion in Louisiana schools, with $13 million from ExxonMobil to improve participation and success in rigorous coursework to better prepare students for college and the STEM careers of an increasingly competitive job market.”
The BRPP site collectively focuses on developing the craft, construction and professional workforce in its community through the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative (NBRITI). This program is a free, fast-track training curriculum designed to provide hands-on experience in pipefitting, welding or electrical to help graduates secure employment.
“We recognize the importance of increased opportunities for females and minorities in STEM subjects, which ExxonMobil provides through the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day and the ExxonMobil/LSU Diversity Scholars Program,” Dunphy added. “As plant manager, it is very important to be a community partner. We are very proud of our facilities and want to build relationships with the community so that everyone experiences the benefits we can bring.
“We believe that when our community succeeds, we succeed.”
ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Plastics Plant
11675 Scotlandville Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70807
(225) 977-6281
www.exxonmobilbr.com
Employees: Approximately 243 full-time and 120 contract personnel
Products: Low-density polyethylene and metallocene ethylene elastomers
Size: 118 acres
