Appointments and Moves

Rev. 1.5

Willbros Oil & Gas Segment names Michael Lee named Senior V.P. of Commercial Services

June 14, 2012. Willbros Group, Inc. (NYSE: WG) today announced that Michael Lee has been named Senior Vice President of Commercial Services in its Oil & Gas Segment. In this role, Mr. Lee will be responsible for the integration of services and development of strategic initiatives across the Professional Services Division. Mr. Lee will also be responsible for business development to support identifying and pursuing cross-selling opportunities for all of the Company's professional services.

Burrows Global

Olan Weeks P.E. - 45 Years Automation Experience, joined Burrows Global earlier this year. He will be President of the rapidly growing Automation Division. Mr. Weeks has been managing a major BASF project he started while working for ENGlobal Corporation. When he moved over to Burrows Global he kept his commitments to BASF to finish the job and on schedule even while working for a different company. This is the character type exemplary of success. You can tell a person is particular about doing things precise and correct from the start when they own their own bulldozer. With the BASF project completed as promised BG now has a fully operational Automation Division.

More from Burrows Global News:

Meredith Barnes, formerly Corporate Controller, has been named Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer. Ms. Barnes will now oversee the day-to-day accounting and treasury functions. She joined Burrow earlier this year and has more than 20 years of expertise in accounting for engineering and construction firms.

Leroy Faulk has been retained as the Vice President and General Manager of the Beaumont Division. Mr. Faulk brings over 36 years experience in various roles including President, V.P. of Operations, Manager of Projects, Engineering and Operations for local engineering and construction firms.

Additionally, Burrow has engaged Doug Eckols as the Vice President of Quality at the parent company level. Previously, Mr. Eckols has served variously as Executive V.P. - Human Resources, Engineering and Business Development and owner/founder in former companies in which Mike Burrow served as the Chief Executive.

Ron Chapman, P.E. has joined as the Civil/Structural Engineering Manager for the Beaumont Division. Previously, Mr. Chapman served as the structural engineering department head for another Beaumont firm and has over 34 years of experience in industry. He has also worked as part of the management team in former Burrow managed organizations.

Don Johnson has joined Burrow Global as Corporate Director of Health, Safety and Environmental. He will be providing support to engineering, construction, and automation business units. His experience includes but is not limited to employee safety training, writing and implementing safety procedures, firm knowledge of state and federal safety regulations, Workers Comp Risk Management, and implementation of VPP certification. He brings 39 years experience to the company with eighteen years as a Safety Professional.

Jerry Hammers has joined Burrow Global in the Beaumont Office. He is is charge of Cost Controls and Scheduling for Engineering and Automation.

Mike O'Keefe P.E. joined Burrow Global as VP of Automation Group at the Beaumont Office. He is Automation Group's Lead Project and Technical Manager. He also is a Chemical Engineer.

Lastly, Donald Moyers, former Vice President of Demar Industrial Construction, a Burrow company, will assume the role of Vice President of the Plant Division for Burrow Global Construction. Mr. Moyers previously played an instrumental role in allowing Burrow to become a self-performing contractor in construction services. He brings more than 46 years of experience in refining & midstream sectors and will now consolidate the Demar Industrial Construction Division into Burrow Global Construction.

"Our plan to grow into an industry leader is rapidly coming to fruition," said Chairman and Chief Executive Office, Michael Burrow. "These new appointments will build upon the strong foundation of top industry talent and leadership that has propelled Burrow to its current status as one of the fastest growing EPC firms in the country."

Express Energy Services, LLC (EES)

HOUSTON, Aug. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Express Energy Services, LLC (EES) today announces that John R. Beall has joined as Chief Financial Officer, effective July 5, 2012. Mr. Beall replaces Jim Davis, who is retiring from EES.

Mr. Beall most recently was CFO for ENGlobal Corporation and has over 26 years in senior financial and treasury management roles with both private and public energy services companies. He graduated from Baylor University with a BBA in Marketing and Southern Methodist University with an MBA in Finance.  He has developed in-depth corporate financial and strategic skills serving as a respected financial leader for growing domestic and international companies.

Darron Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Express, said, "We are delighted that John is joining Express. His extensive knowledge and experience make him an ideal fit to help guide the company to new levels of growth. With a track record of working for both private and public energy services firms, he complements our Executive Leadership team well and I am looking forward to working with him."

Siemens

James Dorsey is Marketing Manager at Siemens Industry (SI). Mr. Dorsey established the strategic automation business plan for Siemens systems integration services. He expanded and has grown market share within the Automation, Analyzer, and Remote Instrument Enclosure (RIE), Control & Power systems markets. He supports existing industries serviced by Siemens and expanded into new markets and regions.

James Dorsey assumed leadership for business plans development, marketing, strategy business development & sales, technical presentations, and product direction. He has served on Customer Advisory Council (CAC) for systems integration (SI).

BP

Jonathan Ballard has joined BP USA as a SCADA Systems Analyst.

CDI

Mike Patton is a Senior Vice President at CDI Corporation.

Richard Industrial Group (RIG)

Shelley Leedy, chemical engineer, is President of Richard Automation and Instrumentation (RAI).

Denny Robertson, P. E., Chemical Engineer, is a Project Manager currently overseeing RDS projects for a renewable fuels producer in Geismar, La.  He recently completed an assignment as Lead Process Engineer on a renewable fuels project in Norco, La.  He also serves as Process Engineering Manager (Interim) and Technology Specialist for RDS.

Jim Gilliam, mechanical engineer, is a Project Manager currently overseeing Richard Design Services (RDS) projects for a major refiner in the Golden Triangle Area.

Elmo Johnson is a project manager currently overseeing RDS projects for a major refiner in the Golden Triangle Area.

Jeff LeBlanc, Chemical Engineer, is performing RDS process engineering work for refiners in the Golden Triangle Area.

Rodger Peterson, Chemical Engineer, is a Project Manager currently overseeing RDS projects for a major refiner in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Matt Vogel, Chemical Engineer, is a project manager currently overseeing RDS projects for a major refiner in the Golden Triangle Area.
 

Richard Industrial Group - A Company On The Move ☆

by Denny Robertson, P.E.

Richard Industrial Group (RIG) is a private corporation comprised of a number of entities, which include the engineering division, Richard Design Services, Inc. (RDS), Richard Construction Inc. (RCI) and Richard Automation and Electrical (RAE).  Let’s take a look at their primary group, the engineering division, RDS.  It is one of less than a handful of sizable engineering firms currently headquartered in the southeast Texas region.  Compared to their rivals, RDS is thriving and growing at an incredible pace.  The engineering division is comprised of about 500 engineers and designers.  Headcount of the entire organization, RIG, is currently at about 2,000 personnel.

Founders

RIG heritage started with Arthur R. Richard, probably the most respected pioneer-consulting engineer in southeast Texas.  He started Matrix Engineering with partners in the early 1970s.  Following in their father’s successful footsteps, Arthur’s sons, Brent and Art Richard, formed their own highly successful engineering company seven years ago - RDS.

Current Projects (partial)

RDS and RCI both have significant projects ongoing with Valero, Total, Motiva and others.  RDS performed the OSBL and Sour Water Stripper engineering and RCI is constructing the new Hydrocracker complex at Valero in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana.  RDS and RCI recently completed Flare Gas Recovery Units for Valero in Ardmore, OK and St. Charles, LA.  RDS performed the process design and construction on both of those projects.  Included was an alky flare gas scrubber for St. Charles.  RDS also performed the OSBL engineering for the Valero, Port Arthur, TX Hydrocracker project.  With successful completion of the design phase the project is currently under construction.  Additionally, RDS recently performed Phase III and IV engineering for the revamp of a crude unit and tank farm blending to handle Canadian Crude for Valero in Port Arthur.

Engineering for the Future

With a vision for the future RDS has also moved into renewable fuels.  They performed the Phase II, III and IV engineering for a 10,000 BPD Green DieselTM Unit located in St. Charles, LA for Diamond Green Diesel, LLC.  RDS has also partnered with Turner Construction in building the unit, which is scheduled to start production by the end of 2012.  Diamond Green Diesel, LLC is a partnership between Valero Energy Corporation and Darling International, Inc. (DAR) of Arlington, TX.  They are the largest processor of animal byproduct, waste vegetable oils and greases in the United States.  This plant will take in 10,000 BPD of beef tallow or vegetable oils by rail car or truck and convert it almost entirely to premium diesel fuel with a small amount of propane and light naphtha as byproducts.

RDS possesses an unusual blend of chemical plant and refinery process engineering expertise that make it the ideal supplier of various renewable energy ventures.  Of all the renewable energy ventures that have been conceived of in recent years, diesel production from animal and vegetable oils has the most potential for long-term viability.  The Diamond Green Diesel project is the largest animal/vegetable oil to diesel plant ever conceived and the worlds largest ever built.  It is truly state-of-the-art.  The heart of the unit is licensed technology from Honeywell UOP (Des Plaines, IL) called EcofiningTM.  In fact, the product name, Green DieselTM is a trademarked UOP name.  RDS was instrumental in marrying the pretreatment unit designed by Desmet Ballestra (Marietta, GA) with the EcofiningTM unit and integrating the entire complex OSBL facilities, control room, engineering offices, admin offices, MCCs, warehouse, tank farm, wastewater treating, cooling tower, steam system, oil rail unloading, powder rail and truck unloading, diesel storage, barge and ship loading, pipeline blending, etc.  RIG is a talented multidiscipline engineering, procurement and construction corporation.

Conclusion

After 35 years in this business and 21 of them in contract engineering, I look at RDS viability and ask myself how does this happen?  I see three solid elements:

1.            Excellence comes from the top down and the bottom up.  The management of RDS strives to be the best and they create an atmosphere that everyone enthusiastically participates in a spirit of excellence.

2.         The product quality of the Piping Department whether in design, engineering or construction, is again, the best.  I am continually impressed with how quickly and accurately the pipers design a large unit using 3D CAD.  Civil/structural, instrument/electrical and the process and mechanical engineers, are also excellent…but more about that in a future posting.

3.            Organic growth.  This team of managers, engineers and designers has progressed over the years by ensuring quality performance, being on schedule and not losing money.

RIG has grown by excelling at each job they are awarded and by performing the next job even better than the last.  They are loyal to their customers but, more importantly for RDS, their customers return that loyalty.

Comments are welcome. 

Editor's note: Denny Robertson started his career at Dow Chemical in Freeport, TX and then made Halar® plastic for three years working for Ausimont (now Solvay) in Orange, Texas.  After 12 years of working on the manufacturing side of the business, Denny began his contract engineering career working for Petrocon in Beaumont, which evolved into ENGlobal Corporation. Over a span of 18 years, he formed the first Process Engineering department there and by the time he left ENGlobal he had developed a vibrant group of over twenty process engineers.  He has been at RDS now for three years and is currently serving as Process Engineering Manager.