New plant helps local get work; names first manager

The new Chevron Phillips plant continues to stay in the spotlight as the $8.5 billion development has its first plant manager and is offering opportunities for local individuals and vendors to get work during the construction.

The company will hold a Local First Job Fair this Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orange County Expo Center on FM 1442. Golden Triangle Polymers Plant, the official name of the new petrochemical manufacturing plant, is co-sponsoring the event with Southeast Texas Workforce Solutions to help individuals apply for jobs with contractors during the construction.

On Tuesday, the company announced that a special fair for vendors and suppliers will be held at the Expo Center on Wednesday, July 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. Registration is available through http://www.eventcreate.com/e/localfirst.

In addition this week, the company announced that it is opening a Local First office at 1537A Strickland Drive to help individuals, contractors and vendors get work at the plant. The office will be open Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The office will have a grand opening on June 29.

Orange County Commissioners Court negotiated with the company to promise use local workers, contractors, and vendors as much as possible as part of the tax abatement contract. Company officials said its Local First was created for that purpose.

Monday, Chevron Phillips announced that Chad Jennings, with a background in chemical engineering and business administration, will be the first manager of the new Golden Triangle Polymers.

Jennings has had a 26-year career in the petrochemical industry. He has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Tennessee Tech University and a Master of Business Administration from Rice University.

He was previously senior vice president of manufacturing for S-Chem, a joint venture between a Chevron Phillips subsidiary and the Saudi Industrial Investment Group. He has also been plant manager of Chevron Phillips Chemical in Pasadena and held a leadership position at Ras Laffan Olefins Company in Qatar. In addition, he worked in Chevron Phillips corporate office to give technical expertise in the company's worldwide ethylene business.

Jennings is married and has two children. He has worked with chambers of commerce and other civic groups while working at other facilities.

"For the past three years, Chad has led one of the company's largest manufacturing sites in the Middle East, where he and his team have achieved exceptional safety and operational results," said Bryan Canfield, senior vice president of Manufacturing at Chevron Phillips Chemical. "He has a strong commitment to the community and will be an excellent leader for our new facility in Orange."

Golden Triangle Polymers, now under construction in Orange, Texas, will be a world-scale integrated polymers facility. Chevron Phillips Chemical is managing engineering, procurement and construction for the project and will operate the facility after start-up. It is a joint venture between Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP and a subsidiary of QatarEnergy.