Tag: Signing Day

100 Local Students Secure Life-Changing Petrochemical Careers at BCPC Signing Day Interviews

Posted on by tabithamwalles

Life is about to change for 100 high school seniors from Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, who have officially secured job offers through the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council’s (BCPC) Career Signing Day program. After completing a rigorous interview process with leading contractor companies, these students are preparing to step directly into high-demand, high-paying careers in the petrochemical industry.

Their achievements will be celebrated during the official Career Signing Day event, taking place on April 22 at 6:00 PM at the Dow Academic Center at Brazosport College.

“This is more than just a job offer—it’s the start of a life-changing journey,” said Aaron Ennis, BCPC Signing Day Chair. “These students are stepping into careers that offer financial stability, growth, and a bright future. We’re proud to connect them with companies eager to invest in their success.”

The 100 students come from 18 high schools across the region and earned their positions through a competitive process that included a detailed application, up to four interviews with contractor companies, and a comprehensive review of their academic and personal achievements.

BCPC’s Career Signing Day gives students a direct path into skilled trades such as welding, pipefitting, and construction. Starting immediately after graduation, they will begin on-the-job training, earn competitive wages, and often pursue industry-recognized certifications.

“This program connects students with real opportunities to succeed after high school,” said Bridgette Percle, Director of Career and Technical Education, Brazosport Independent School District. “It’s about helping them start strong, with the support of employers who are ready to invest in their potential. We’re seeing lives transformed and futures secured.”

One such success story is Enrique Galvan, a 2019 graduate who began his career through the program in welding and pipefitting. Today, he’s a welding inspector in Colorado, earning over $100,000 annually and owning his own home—all by age 24.

The program is a standout example of what’s possible when education and industry collaborate. School districts like Sweeny ISD have seen its impact firsthand on student confidence, life-readiness, and economic mobility.

“Our students walk away with more than just jobs—they leave with confidence, goals, and momentum,” said  Christi Wesley, Sweeny ISD Senior English Teacher. “We’ve heard great feedback from past participants who return with stories, advice, and even mentorship for the next class.”

Contractor companies are equally committed. Organizations like Palacios Marine Industrial (PMI) view Career Signing Day not only as a way to fill roles, but also to shape a stronger, more prepared workforce.

“This program gives us the chance to connect with students early and help build their skills from day one,” said Jeff Vandergrifft, Vice President of Construction. “The interview process is a game-changer—it teaches students professionalism, communication, and how to carry themselves in the workplace. We’ve hired several students through this program, and they’re thriving.”

Since its launch, Career Signing Day has helped over 300 students gain direct access to full-time careers in one of Texas’ most vital industries. For many, it’s more than a first job—it’s the first step toward long-term success and financial stability.

 

About the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council

The Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) represents over 25 member companies that produce essential raw materials and products supporting industries such as clean energy, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and consumer goods. With an annual economic output exceeding $12 billion, BCPC member companies employ more than 12,000 full-time workers, with 75% residing in Brazoria County. Through initiatives like Career Signing Day, BCPC fosters industry collaboration and workforce development while expanding career opportunities in the petrochemical sector.

BCPC Career Signing Day Sets Record With 252 Applicants

Posted on by tabithamwalles

March 14, 2025 – Brazoria County, TX – This year, 252 high school seniors are throwing their hats in the ring for safe, high-paying jobs in the petrochemical industry through the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council’s (BCPC) Career Signing Day. The figure sets a new record in applications, as more students explore careers in crafts such as welding, pipefitting and construction.  

Before officially signing job offers, students will undergo a rigorous interview process with up to four contractor companies on March 25.  Based on these interviews, companies can extend offers allowing students to begin full-time craft careers immediately after graduation.

Now in its seventh year, Career Signing Day has placed more than 300 students in high-demand careers. While working, these students get on-the-job training, classroom instruction and professional certification pathways—all while earning a salary. To participate, students complete a competitive application process, which includes submitting a letter of recommendation, transcript and personal essay before being selected for interviews.

“With a growing demand for a skilled workforce, Career Signing Day serves as a vital bridge between education and industry,” said Aaron Ennis, BCPC Signing Day Chair. “This program provides life-changing opportunities for students while strengthening our region’s workforce with highly trained professionals.”

This year’s 252 applicants come from 18 high schools across the region, including:

  • Angleton High School
  • Alvin High School
  • Bay City High School
  • Brazosport High School (Freeport)
  • Brazoswood High School (Lake Jackson – Clute)
  • Columbia High School
  • Danbury High School
  • Glenda Dawson High School (Pearland)
  • Iowa Colony High School
  • Manvel High School
  • Palacios High School
  • Pearland High School
  • Robert Turner College & Career High School (Pearland)
  • Rise Academy (Alvin)
  • Shadow Creek High School (Pearland – Alvin)
  • Sweeny High School
  • Tidehaven High School (Palacios)

 

“The petrochemical industry offers rewarding careers with competitive wages, strong benefits, and room for advancement,” said Joe Bohon, BCPC Workforce Development Chair. “It’s inspiring to see so many students eager to seize these opportunities, and we’re proud to be part of their journey.”

About Career Signing Day

Students who receive job offers will be honored at the official Career Signing Day event on April 22 at 6:00 PM at the Dow Academic Center at Brazosport College. The event will celebrate their achievements and recognize the companies investing in the future workforce of the petrochemical industry.

Companies Encouraged to Get Involved

With the demand for skilled workers rising and growing interest in the Signing Day Program, BCPC invites more contractor companies to participate in this impactful program. Businesses seeking dedicated, entry-level craft professionals are encouraged to connect with BCPC’s workforce development team at bcpcworkforce@gmail.com.

About the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council

The BCPC consists of more than 25 member companies producing thousands of raw materials and intermediate products used in everyday life, resulting in clean water and energy, safe food packaging, effective hygiene products, lifesaving medicine and medical equipment, advanced electronics, sustainable construction materials, affordable clothing and safe and fuel-efficient automotives. 

The annual economic output for the companies associated with the BCPC is $12+ billion. The total economic impact of the industry supported $24 billion in total spending. 

Through its member companies, BCPC employs 12,259 full-time direct employees, 75% of them living in Brazoria County. For every job created directly by the industry, another 2.85 jobs are created, resulting in 39,995 indirect and induced jobs. Our employees contribute over 35,000 hours of volunteer service to the community each year. 

The Brazoria County Petrochemical Council is committed to workforce development, industry collaboration, and expanding career opportunities in the petrochemical sector. Through initiatives like Career Signing Day, BCPC connects local students with high-demand careers that provide long-term stability and growth.

Edward Sablatura with Brazoswood High School signed with Wood Group at he Brazoria County Petrochemical Workforce Development Committee's annual Career Signing Day.

Fast forward from Signing Day

Posted on by bcpetrocouncil

The Brazoria County Petrochemical Council’s Signing Day has been an avenue for local seniors to land a job right after high school, giving them the opportunity to blossom into a career.

Dow Chemical, Associated Builders and Contractors and more than 50 other companies have partnered in BCPC Signing Day to bring in the next generation of construction and manufacturing employees by bringing in graduating seniors in Career and Technical Education programs from 20 surrounding high schools. Each student sits down with four different companies on a designated “Interview day,” then on Signing Day, it is revealed which companies hired them.

Michael Martinez leads the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of Career Signing day.
Michael Martinez leads the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of Career Signing Day.

However, Dow Analyzer technician Edward Sablatura’s signing day looked a bit different. Because Sablatura graduated in 2020, he was not able to sign with a company until 2021, he said. Nor did he get to experience signing day because of COVID-19.

After graduating, he received a job as a deckhand at a marina. It was about nine months to a year when he received a call about becoming a pipefitter for Phillips 66.

“I ended up leaving after nine months because I was going to work for BASF, but a second wave of COVID hit, and this job got canceled,” Sablatura said. “I went back to deckhand until I could find another job.”

After working as a contractor for a supply shop, Sablatura got a job at BASF as an analyzer technician and was there until October, when he began his career at Dow.

As an analyzer tech, Sablatura said he works on instruments that control the process of the plant and unit.

“I work in the hydrocarbons unit, so we get our product, and we put it in a furnace,” Sablatura said. “It tells me what we’re putting into the furnace, the chemicals we’re breaking into a concentration. It also tells us what product we’re putting out, its purity and how much of it we were making.”

For Sablatura, Signing Day helped him get into the plants after graduating from Brazoswood High School and get a foot in the door, he said.

“I think it’s a great program because many people don’t know what they want to do after they graduate high school,” Sablatura said. “I knew I wanted to work in the plants, but many people never thought of it. There are more opportunities than just what Signing Day offers. It’s a great opportunity to get a start out of high school.”

Lance McLaren, analyzer technician for INEOS, also had an unusual experience with Signing Day.

“My experience is probably a little different than everybody else’s,” McLaren said. “I actually was competing at a track event whenever they interviewed for signing day. I communicated with the people who had put it on, and they had set up for me to go in a day later and interview with the companies.”

McLaren graduated from Sweeny in 2022, and afterward, Contech hired him as an electrician’s apprentice. Six months later, McLaren was hired by INEOS as an I&E apprentice.

“I gained the experience, and six months later, I was given an opportunity as an apprenticeship through INEOS,” he said. “I only became an analyzer technician a little over six months ago. So I’m still learning and doing a lot of new training today.”

In the spring of 2023, McLaren graduated from Brazosport College with an associate of science in instrumentation. He is returning to college to get his bachelor’s in industrial management and hopes to climb the ladder, he said.

“This gave me a great stepping stone to start and help me grow my career,” McLaren said. “Signing Day made it extremely easy because it helped compile a lot of places that opened a lot of doors.”

Ashley Shugart, of Contech Contractors, feels similarly, saying Signing Day built up her confidence and interviewing skills and put her name out to potential future employers.

Contech hired Shugart from Signing Day in 2023 after she graduated from Columbia High School. While working for Contech, she went to Brazosport College and graduated in May with her associate’s in instrumentation.

Shugart’s job is troubleshooting various transmitters, flow meters and valves.

“I try to figure out why they aren’t functioning properly and fix it so we can properly run and monitor the process in the plant,” she said. “I’m getting a lot more hands-on experience on troubleshooting valves to monitor how everything’s running in the plant safely without over-pressurizing or being too hot.”

Shugart plans on returning to college to get an analyzer and electrical degree. Her goal is to move up the ladder and eventually become a manager.

“I enjoy what I’m doing, and the way Signing Day helped me get a foot in the door has made me realize how much I liked doing this occupation as an internet tech,” Shugart said.

Michael Martinez, a Performance Contractors pipe welder, also said Signing Day gave him a foot in the door for his career. Performance Contractors hired Martinez out of Signing Day in 2022, and he instantly felt that’s where he needed to be.

“The companies that I interviewed with weren’t really my cup of tea, but Performance Contractors is more hands-on and they offer ability which is what I was going for,” Martinez said. “So we chose each other. They helped me a lot, and they’ll take care of you.”

As a pipe welder, Martinez said it’s very straightforward, depending on the machine you’re operating. Martinez typically deals with long, heavy pipes and, therefore, has to be careful when they’re rotating to avoid massive damage or injuries, he said. Martinez is in the process of getting his associate degree in quality control at Brazosport College, and eventually, he wants to get his bachelor’s degree to become a certified welding inspector.

“I’m really close to getting my associate’s degree; I just gotta find the time to finish my classes,” Martinez said. “Signing Day was the opportunity to start making money as soon as I got out of high school and start my career.”

Cynthia Zelaya is a reporter for The Facts. Contact her at 979-237-0151.

Fox & friends full banner

Fox & Friends Talks Live About the BCPC Signing Day 2023

Posted on by bcpetrocouncil

Early Monday May 1, 2023 Aaron Ennis, Workforce Development chair along with Jax Lawson of Brazosport High School and Ashley Shugart of Columbia High School spoke live with Fox & Friends host Steve Doucey about ‘Signing Day.’ This was the first, live, nationwide television interview about Signing Day in its 5 year history.

While the interview was just over 4 minutes long, it took many hours over several days for Aaron, Jax and Ashley to prepare. Fitting specific ideas and messages into a tight timeframe is challenging for anyone. All three arrived before dark that Monday morning knowing what their messages were, how to deliver them while considering what the host and people watching wanted to know more about. It was great and all three were terrific.

Follow this link to watch the full interview:

 Fox & Friends Interview on BCPC Signing Day 2023

Signing Day Covered in The Facts Newspaper

Posted on by bcpetrocouncil

Getting To Work

The Facts covers Signing Day 2023 on the Front Page

Member of the BCPC were pleased to see their ‘hometown’ newspaper give a prominent, page one placement to the Workforce Development Committee’s Signing Day 2023 event.Front Page News Signing Day 2023

Members and contract companies of the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) offered 79 career jobs in skilled trades to select 2023 graduates from Brazoria and Matagorda County High Schools on ‘Signing Day.’  Skilled trade jobs include welding, pipefitting, millwright, ironworking, electrical, instrumentation, HVAC, carpentry, and more. Brazoria and Matagorda Counties are in southeast Texas near Houston.

Career Signing Day

Known as ‘Career Signing Day,’ and modeled after athletic scholarship signings, the public presentation of those who will transition from school to the workforce after graduation was Monday, May 1, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Brazosport College Dow Academic Center, 500 College Drive, Lake Jackson, TX 77566.

What Is the Job?

Graduates will work full time for local contract companies with assignments inside BCPC member plants and contract company shops. All will receive on the job instruction. There are also roles offered this year in what are known as ‘soft trades’ like construction scheduling, maintenance technician, environmental technicians, quality control and lab technicians.

Gaps to Fill

With an aging workforce and a growing industry, there is a broad need for craftspeople at refinery and petrochemical companies. High school graduates who are not interested in a four-year degree can attain specialized skills with wages that will support a family.

Members of the BCPC can recruit employees from the local population due to the career and technical programs at local high schools and the areas’ community colleges. Local recruits will often have a more profound connection to an area, as they are frequently more familiar with the culture, customs, and traditions of the region. They likely have existing relationships with people in the community, which can help them transition from high school into the workforce more easily.

Focused Applicant Screening

There was intense candidate selection that included written applications, essays and 720 job interviews by 42 contract companies affiliated with the BCPC member companies. Each of the 180 students interviewed 4 times with hiring organizations.

Those hired will receive many bonuses with their new roles. One example is ‘Ace Image Wear’ will provide free fire-retardant clothing to students who are offered a job.

 

From left to right are Jax Lawson of Brazosport High School, Aaron Ennis the BCPC Workforce Development Chair and Ashley Shugart of Columbia High School talk live with Fox News host,Steve Doucey.

BCPC Signing Day Featured on National Television

Posted on by bcpetrocouncil

BCPC Signing Day for 2023 was featured on Fox News ‘Fox & Friends’ program May 1, 2023. Aaron Ennis, chair of the BCPC Workforce Development Committee along with Jax Lawson of Brazosport High School and Ashley Shugart participated.

Please click here to see the interview: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6326567179112.

More Facts About the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council Signing Day Event 2023

  1. On Monday May 1, 2023, The Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) will ‘sign’ approximately 79 graduating seniors to full time career jobs in the skilled trade professions. This occurs at its annual ‘Career Signing Day’ event.
  2. This is the fifth BCPC Career Signing Day. It is based on ceremonies for athletic scholarship signings.
  3. These 77 job proposals are over double the number offered to graduating seniors on Career Signing Day in 2022 when 48 jobs were offered. This is more than triple the number the year before that. All this because BCPC members decided to develop their skilled workforce with local residents.
  4. All ‘signees’ are May 2023 graduates who come from Brazoria and Matagorda Counties, respectively. Both counties are in southeast Texas adjacent to Houston.
  5. These May 2023 graduates will start work sometime after commencement in skilled trade jobs that include welding, pipefitting, millwright, ironworking, electrical, instrumentation, HVAC, carpentry, and more.
  6. Members of the BCPC need skilled workers to help build and maintain manufacturing plants. The program is built to hire new, young talent through career and technical education programs; it’s a great way to learn. In return BCPC member companies have a skilled labor.
  7. The petrochemical industry has been in Brazoria County, Texas since 1939, providing jobs, paying taxes, and contributing to the local educational system and non-profit organizations.
  8. In the last decade, BCPC member companies have invested more than $31 billion in Brazoria County, TX. creating thousands of high-wage jobs. In 2022 alone, industry had a $3.3 billion economic impact on Brazoria County.
The line moved quickly for interviews that would lead to full time jobs inside the petrochemical manufacturing industry.

Another Record Setting Number of Jobs Offered to High School Graduates from Brazoria County, Texas

Posted on by bcpetrocouncil

Full time work that includes specialized training, college, and certification.

Members and contract companies of the Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) will offer approximately 79 jobs for career in skilled trades to select 2023 graduates from Brazoria and Matagorda County High Schools. Skilled trade jobs include welding, pipefitting, millwright, ironworking, electrical, instrumentation, HVAC, carpentry, and more.

Graduates work full time for local contract companies with assignments inside BCPC member plants and contract company shops. All will receive on the job instruction. There are also roles offered this year in what are known as ‘soft trades’ like construction scheduling, maintenance technician, environmental technicians, quality control and lab technicians.

Career Signing Day

Known as ‘Career Signing Day,’ and modeled after athletic scholarship signings, the public presentation of those who will transition from school to the workforce after graduation will be Monday, May 1, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the Brazosport College Dow Academic Center, 500 College Drive, Lake Jackson, TX 77566.

Gaps to Fill

With an aging workforce and a growing industry, there is a broad need for craftspeople at refinery and petrochemical companies. High school graduates who are not interested in a four-year degree can attain specialized skills with wages that will support a family.

Members of the BCPC can recruit employees from the local population due to the career and technical programs at local high schools and the areas’ community colleges. Local recruits will often have a more profound connection to an area, as they are frequently more familiar with the culture, customs, and traditions of the region. They likely have existing relationships with people in the community, which can help them transition from high school into the workforce more easily.

Focused Applicant Screening

There was intense candidate selection that included written applications, essays and 720 job interviews by 42 contract companies affiliated with the BCPC member companies. Each of the 180 students interviewed 4 times with hiring organizations.

Those hired will receive many bonuses with their new roles. One example is ‘Ace Image Wear’ will provide free fire-retardant clothing to students who are offered a job.

About the BCPC

The BCPC is composed of chemical, petrochemical companies and other organizations that manufacture, refine, convert, store, and/or transport energy, basic chemical, or specialty chemical products. The goal of the BCPC is to enhance the well-being of the member company employees, contract employees, their families, and neighbors, here in Brazoria County. The BCPC motto is: Earn the publics’ trust every day. More information can be found online at www.Brazoria-County-Petrochemical-Council.com.

 

 

Career Signing Day Wins Major Award for Helping Students Find Careers in Industry

Posted on by Wendy Irwin

Career Signing Day Wins Major Award for Helping Students Find Careers in Industry

BCPC Signing Day Committee Accepts Award at CURT Conference

Greg Sizemore, Executive Vice President at CURT; Jim Ellis, President at CURT; and BCPC Career Signing Day Committee Members: Jessie Jennings, Executive Director at Brazosport ISD Education Foundation; Spencer Cole, Sr. Talent Acquisition Advisor at BASF, Wendy Irwin, Community Relations Liaison at Chevron Phillips Chemical; and Aaron Ennis, Brazosport ISD Resource Development Coordinator

The Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) Career Signing Day was awarded the Workforce Development Award by the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT), an international recognition for extraordinary, exemplary, and innovative training and education programs that encourages individuals to pursue a career in the construction industry and/or enhance individuals construction skills. Additionally, BCPC Career Signing Day won the top award of $5,000 jointly sponsored by CURT, the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER), and Ironworker Management Progressive Actions Cooperative Trust (IMPACT).

Created four years ago, the BCPC Career Signing Day has “signed” over 80 high school students into craft careers. Modeled after athletic signing days, Career Signing Day is an occasion for graduating high school seniors to be placed in full-time roles for work and on-the-job training. It connects the career and technology curriculum at local high schools to life-sustaining careers in the industry.

“This award is a reflection of everyone’s hard work and dedication to growing our future workforce,” said Aaron Ennis, Chair of the BCPC Workforce Development Committee and Brazosport ISD Resource Development Coordinator. “None of this would be possible without the collaboration of the people at owner companies, construction companies, school districts, and community colleges.”

CURT is an association of leading corporations in the United States and Canada dedicated to promoting

cost-effective construction methods. CURT members recognize that training, education, and recruitment are essential to excellence in construction project delivery. As a result, CURT founded the Workforce Development Awards to recognize companies and organizations for extraordinary, exemplary, and innovative recruitment, training, and education programs, encouraging people to pursue construction careers.

The BCPC Career Signing Day application will be open for high school seniors in January 2023 and closes on March 3. Interviews will be on April 5 with May 1 being the 5th annual BCPC Career Signing Day.

BCPC Signing Day Discussed on The Michael Berry Show

Posted on by bcpetrocouncil

BCPC Signing Day Discussed on The Michael Berry Show

The Trade School Affect

On July 1, 2022 the BCPC Signing Day event was a topic of conversation on The Michael Berry Show.  Berry’s commentary begins around the 15 minute mark. The recording should start to play at that time.

Berry was named among the Top 25 Talk Hosts in America by NewsMax Magazine, and has been ranked with the country’s top 10 talk hosts by iHateTheMedia.com. His program can be heard on KTRH-AM. Click the media below to listen. Berry’s commentary begins around the 15 minute mark.

Modeled after athlete letter of intent commitment letters, ‘Career Signing Day’ is an occasion for graduating high school seniors to be placed in full time roles for work, on the job training and classroom instruction that often leads to professional certification.

BCPC Career Signing Day 2022
Four dozen Brazoria County high school seniors will walk from the graduation stage this month to a job site after accepting job offers from Brazoria County Petrochemical Council member companies.

The members of the BCPC are Air Liquide, Ascend Performance Materials, BASF, Braskem, ChampionX, Chevron-Phillips Chemical, Dow, DSM, Freeport LNG Development, Huntsman, INEOS, K-Bin, Linde, Lyondell-Bassell, MEGlobal, Mineral Research and Development, Olin, Phillips 66, Port of Freeport, Shin Etsu Chemicals, Shintech, SI Group, and Vencorex.

There is a shortage of skilled labor for industry in Brazoria County. The demand for certified pipe-fitters, welders, machinists, mechanics, boilermakers, and other skilled persons exceed availability. These craft persons help build and later run the petrochemical plants currently in place, under construction, or planned in Brazoria County. “We need the help,” Witte said. “Career Signing Day is one of the ways we can ensure sufficient access to skilled labor. We also like that the signees are from the area and share a commitment to it.”

Not Only a Local Issue                                                                                            According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 8 million skilled-labor jobs were lost from the labor force during the Covid-19 pandemic. About half were filled, but approximately 4 million vacancies remain. National Association of Workforce Boards President Ron Painter said the so-called “Great Resignation” was fueled by tradesmen who chose early retirement, work from home, or less labor-intensive jobs.

About the BCPC                                                                             The Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) organization is composed of chemical, petrochemical companies and other organizations that manufacture, refine, convert, store, and/or transport energy, basic chemical, or specialty chemical products. The goal of the BCPC is to enhance the well-being of the member company employees, contract employees, their families, and neighbors, here in Brazoria County. The BCPC motto is: Earn the publics’ trust every day.

Forty-Eight Houston Area Graduating Seniors Sign for Full Time Work in the Petrochemical Industry

Posted on by bcpetrocouncil
Signing Day 2022

May 10, 2022 – A record number forty-eight (48) graduating seniors from Brazoria County, Texas high schools ‘signed’ for full time jobs with work inside one of the twenty-three Brazoria County Petrochemical Industry (BCPC) manufacturing plants shortly after graduation in late May 2022. Brazoria County is just south of Houston, Texas. Each signee was announced at the BCPC fourth annual ‘Career Signing Day.’ The series of signings were at the ABC Building in Freeport, Texas. Those selected start work after graduation.

Modeled after athlete letter of intent commitment letters, ‘Career Signing Day’ is an occasion for graduating high school seniors to be placed in full time roles for work, on the job training and classroom instruction that often leads to professional certification.

Record Number of Jobs for Signees.                                     The record setting number of signees is good news for BCPC members as skilled labor is critical to the present and future of the petrochemical manufacturing industry. “This number of signees is the most ever,” said BCPC Workforce Development board representative, BASF senior vice president and Freeport site leader Chris Witte. “By contrast, there were only 38 applicants for the 2021 Career Signing Day. It shows how much interest there is in the skilled trades and how dedicated the BCPC member companies are to recruit, train and retain local people for good paying, lifetime career positions here in Brazoria County.”

BCPC Membership                                                                       The members of the BCPC are Air Liquide, Ascend Performance Materials, BASF, Braskem, ChampionX, Chevron-Phillips Chemical, Dow, DSM, Freeport LNG Development, Huntsman, INEOS, K-Bin, Linde, Lyondell-Bassell, MEGlobal, Mineral Research and Development, Olin, Phillips 66, Port of Freeport, Shin Etsu Chemicals, Shintech, SI Group, and Vencorex.

Intense Screening                                                                 ‘Career Signing Day’ is the culmination of an intense screening process for high school seniors who are interested in trade or craft jobs.  Welding, pipe fitting, instrumentation, and boilermakers are most of the roles available. Each requires a great deal of instruction, practice, and skill. “Students must submit written applications including an essay, and interview with hiring managers,” said Aaron Ennis, BCPC Workforce Development committee chair and resource development coordinator for the Brazosport Independent School District. “It is a rigorous process because these jobs represent a substantial investment by the contract and BCPC member companies. We need to know that these applicants are serious about their commitment because they can potentially last an entire career.”

Why This Matters                                                                    There is a shortage of skilled labor for industry in Brazoria County. The demand for certified pipe-fitters, welders, machinists, mechanics, boilermakers, and other skilled persons exceed availability. These craft persons help build and later run the petrochemical plants currently in place, under construction, or planned in Brazoria County. “We need the help,” Witte said. “Career Signing Day is one of the ways we can ensure sufficient access to skilled labor. We also like that the signees are from the area and share a commitment to it.”

Not Only a Local Issue                                                      According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 8 million skilled-labor jobs were lost from the labor force during the Covid-19 pandemic. About half were filled, but approximately 4 million vacancies remain. National Association of Workforce Boards President Ron Painter said the so-called “Great Resignation” was fueled by tradesmen who chose early retirement, work from home, or less labor-intensive jobs.

About the BCPC                                                                             The Brazoria County Petrochemical Council (BCPC) organization is composed of chemical, petrochemical companies and other organizations that manufacture, refine, convert, store, and/or transport energy, basic chemical, or specialty chemical products. The goal of the BCPC is to enhance the well-being of the member company employees, contract employees, their families, and neighbors, here in Brazoria County. The BCPC motto is: Earn the publics’ trust every day.