Even as a child, Melissa Hockstad was already fascinated by math and science.
“As I got older I realized engineering and being in a manufacturing environment was the right fit for me,” she said.
After graduating from college, she joined the product development team at Montell Polyolefins (now LyondellBasell), eventually moving to a plastics position in Washington.
Her interest in chemicals and plastics led her to American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), a lobbying and advocacy group that aims to promote “American manufacturing and jobs, proven and reliable products for your life every day, economic and national security, and a commitment to serve our nation and the American people.”
As AFPM’s vice president, Hockstad oversees AFPM’s petrochemical committee and coordinates the world’s largest petrochemical conference, the International Petrochemical Conference, next scheduled for March 20-22 in Dallas.
In addition to her responsibilities with the petrochemical committee, Hockstad is deeply involved with AFPM’s workforce development activities.
“With all of the new projects in the petrochemical industry and the wave of retirements over the next several years, workforce development is a key area for us to focus on to attract more people to the petrochemical industry,” Hockstad said. “It’s become a building area for AFPM. We know about all the activity, especially in the Gulf region. There are brand new facilities being built. Companies that may have had facilities that were mothballed for a number of years are starting up again, and we just do not have enough workers.”
Hoping to attract more workers to the industry, AFPM recently created a dedicated workforce development website.
“We wanted to have a place where people could go not only to learn more about our industry but also who we are, what we do and the range of jobs,” Hockstad said.
Hockstad stressed opportunities within the petrochemical industry are available “whether you have a high school diploma or a Ph.D.”
The site also addresses opportunities and potential salary ranges, and links to AFPM’s member companies.
“Many of them are hiring and looking for workers right now,” Hockstad said.
AFPM also partners with the Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF). CEF’s “You Be The Chemist” program focuses primarily on introducing science and chemistry to students as young as kindergarteners through eighth graders.
Responding to the impact of the shale revolution, AFPM has also worked with its member-led “Shale Task Force” to offer an online library of resources including recorded webinars and other materials to help individuals become more knowledgeable about shale.
“It’s kind of a ‘Shale 101,’” Hockstad said.
Hockstad is particularly proud of AFPM’s advisory group for women and minorities that encourages their involvement and engagement in petrochemical and fuel industries.
“About 25 percent of the petrochemical industry is women,” she estimated. “There’s a lot of potential out there for a lot of young ladies in this industry.”
Ultimately, Hockstad is optimistic about the future of petrochemicals and the manufacturing renaissance in the U.S.
“As of June of this year, chemical companies in the U.S. have announced 238 new projects valued at $145 billion in new capital investments,” Hockstad said. “More than 50 percent of those projects are companies outside of the U.S. looking to this country as the place they want to do business.
“Having been in the industry for about 20 years and seeing the ups and downs, 10 years ago if you told me we’d be where we are now, I’d be shocked. It’s a very, very exciting time.”
For more information, visit http://workforce.afpm.org, www.afpm.org/shale_development and www.chemed.org.