April 16, 2007 — Hovensa held a graduation ceremony in the auditorium at the refinery Friday to honor 27 St. Croix residents for completing training in basic refining process operation, according to a news release from the company.
The graduates received certificates of completion from Hovensa President and Chief Operating Officer Larry Kupfer. In attendance were a large number of friends and relatives of the graduates, as well as Hovensa officials.
In his remarks to the gathering, Kupfer reviewed the values of the company: integrity, creativity, accountability, respect and excellence. He counseled the graduates, “Do your job according to these values, and you will have a long and successful career in the company.” Kupfer also reviewed the mission statement of the company: “To ensure prosperity for the company, employees, community and future generations through the safe, environmentally responsible and reliable production of quality fuels that enrich people’s lives.” He pointed out that the mission statement indicates that the company exists not only to provide profit for its owners, but to provide prosperity for its employees and the community.
Kupfer stated that the refinery is a safe place to work. He pointed out that, based on its statistics maintained on injuries that have been suffered by employees of the company, according to standards set by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the refinery is a safer place to work than the average casino in the United States.
Kupfer told the graduates that he has learned from his years of experience in business to maintain a positive, can do attitude. He told them, “We’re all on the same team, be a team player!”
In his remarks, Hovensa Vice President of Operations, Pete Barba, emphasized that safety is their most important job. He reminded the graduates that they are not only responsible for their own safety, but for the safety of any one who comes to the processing unit for which they are responsible. Barba told them, “If you’re not sure how to do something safely, stop and ask a question before you take action.” Barba stated, “In a refinery, it is not acceptable to get it right the second time.”
Steelworker Local Union 8526 President Jerry Jackson also spoke during the ceremony. He told the graduates that there were three types of conduct they should not expect help from the union if they were disciplined for engaging in: harassment of another employee, use of drug or alcohol on the job, and absenteeism. Jackson repeated Barba’s advice, “If you’re not sure how to do something safely, ask a question.” He urged the graduates to have a sense of responsibility for the equipment in their assigned area because he does not want anything to happen that may have an impact on people downwind of the refinery, “and for you to have that on your conscience.”
Individuals receiving certificates of completion were: Daniel A. Archibald, Charles H. Johnson, Curtis B. Archibald, Joseph D. Lestrade, Jr., Shantel S. Bartley, Luis A. Lopez, Travis Kieran Brown, Pedro A. Melendez, Daniel Camacho, Eugene Nelson, Anthony L. Davis, Wendy Ramirez, Sharisma Yaa Fahie, Sunil Sookbir Seegolam, Conrad D. Fleming, Melissa A. I. Smith, Ifama M. Francis, Kristiana L. Theobbles, Ronnie P. Garcia, Magaly Torres, Geron O. Hendrickson-Javois, Daniel Vidal Williams, Darren A. Jacobs, Latoya Zoraida Williams, Desra C. James, Lilia A. Williams and Aisha Javois.
Hovensa Vice President and Deputy Chief Operation Officer Marco Crovesi recognized Conrad Fleming and Geron Hendrickson-Javois as the valedictorian and salutatorian of the class, respectively, and he presented an award to each of them. Crovesi stated that the graduates are all winners, but these two persons are “the best of the best.”
In his remarks, Hendrickson stated that this was a very diverse class based on age. He noted that the age of the graduates range from 19, his age, to 57, Conrad Fleming’s age. He said, “We started a new way of life — safety — and our vocabulary changed. One phase of training is over and another begins.”
Fleming stated, “Only a fool will assume that he can achieve everything alone.” He thanked God for his success and he thanked Hovensa for demonstrating confidence in him as a 57-year-old cancer survivor.
Hovensa Vice President of Environmental, Health and Safety Dick Smullen gave an award to Sunil Seegolam for having given the best safety presentation to the class during its thirteen weeks of training. Seegolam made a PowerPoint presentation to the audience and addressed his classmates with great affection. He urged them to take care of themselves; he said that, although they will be assigned to different areas, he will wonder about them, if he hears of an accident in the refinery. Seegolam said, “In the beginning, we were in a room fill of names; now we are in a room full of friends.”
During the ceremony, Hovensa Vice President Pete Barba, stated that there will be two more training classes in basic refining process operation this year. Persons interested in becoming a process operator are requested to submit an application to the Hovensa Human Resources Department. All applicants must have at least a high school diploma, or a GED certificate, a V.I. driver’s license and be able to work shifts, which rotate weekly, and overtime as conditions require.
