“This program is one of the many ways
Phillips 66 employees share the company’s
vision of ‘Providing energy, Improving
lives’.”
Tena Hunter, Bayway Refinery Process Engineer
Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery “Improving Lives” for Howard University
Students
Anyone would be exhausted after boarding a bus at 5 A.M. and
riding four hours to embark on what could be the first step of a
life-long career journey. But if the group of Howard University
Students who arrived at the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery last
month were tired after the journey, they certainly didn’t show it.
These students engaged with mentors from various business
units, learned valuable job search skills, and toured the facility
during their visit that day. “They left visibly energized and
enthusiastic about the career possibilities that await them
beyond graduation,” said Tena Hunter, Bayway Refinery Process
engineer and alumnus of
Howard University. After
meeting several Howard
University alumni who
now work at Phillips 66,
students know that the
company values Howard
University
and
the
talented young adults
who emerge from its
curriculum.
From left: Hunter, Thomas, & Nash
Most of the students are
members of the school’s
21st Century Advantage Program (21CAP), which promotes
retention and success among its students by helping them to
focus their development plan early in their collegiate career. Also
joining the 21CAP group
on the visit were two
new hires: a future fulltime
commercial
employee
and
a
marketing
intern.
“Phillips 66 participates
in 21CAP’s Corporate
Team Adoption Program
as a ‘parent’ company
and offers continued,
active
communication Bright-eyed Howard University students
and exchange between got an inside look at the Phillips 66
the team and Phillips Bayway Refinery, engaged with mentors
66,” Hunter explained. through the 21 CAP program, & learned
Their
visit
was valuable lessons about the possibilities
that await them on their career journey
coordinated by Houston- and how to navigate through it.
based Sherri Thomas,
director,
Commercial
Early Career Facilitation and 21CAP lead with Hunter, and hosted
by volunteers from the New Hire and Women’s Networks at
Bayway. The day began with a short talk by Hunter, who
encouraged the students to “develop a purpose to drive your
success in order to ensure your actions result in positive
progress.” She described to the group her collegiate experience
and the path that led her to
Phillips 66. “The students
could really relate to my
story. They were engaged
and interactive and became
more excited as the day
went on,” she said.
Highlights of the day
included
several
brave
refinery employees debuting
their comedic acting skills to
Dominique Rice, Houston
Commercial market analyst, new hire demonstrate what not to do
& Howard alumnus, leads a small
in a corporate setting as part
group discussion on career
of the entertaining “How to
opportunities.
Land a Job” session. Five
new hires from Houston and Bayway, representing different
sectors of the company, described their experiences, broadening
the appeal of Phillips 66 beyond engineering. “Although a
refinery offers tremendous opportunity to new engineers, we
wanted the students to see the variety of different career paths
they can take,” said Hunter. The students also had the
opportunity to engage with Thad Satterfield, director, University
Relations who introduced the students to an interview technique
that details how to thoroughly and successfully answer interview
questions. The day concluded on the refinery’s overlook, which
offers a bird’s eye view of the refinery; a fitting place for the
students to contemplate all the opportunities on the horizon.
“They left with an experience that inspired them to focus on their
career development, be
comfortable and confident
in
a
business
environment,
and
hopefully a desire to join
the Phillips 66 team,” said
Hunter. “Exposing these
Howard
University
students to Phillips 66
gives
them
a
true
understanding of who we
are
and
what
we Hunter recounted her experience in
represent. We give them setting out on her career path after
the tools to make an graduation.
informed career decision
aligned with what their values are, and we hope that those who
share our Vision and Values consider coming to work for Phillips
66.”
Mentors pictured above are: Back row - Thad Satterfield, director, University Relations, along with Howard alumni Dominique Rice, Commercial market analyst;
Julian Haynes, Marketing regional sales representative; Tena Hunter, process engineer (pictured in the back row, far right) and Sherri Thomas , director,
Commercial Early Career Facilitation and 21CAP lead (far right, second row). Ms. Karen Nash, bottom row, far right, is the director of Howard’s 21CAP program.