CITGO Achiever - Summer 2014

A CITGO Corpus pus Christi isti Refinery publicat publication

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS Letter From New Vice President Ray Saenz: Life With a Military Wife

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Gabriel Alvarado: Life Can Change In A Flash

IN THIS ISSUE

Letter From the Vice President

Team CITGO

and General Manager...................................................... 3

Miracle League................................................................. 7

Social Responsibility

March for Babies Walk.................................................... 7 CITGO Teacher Appreciation Party................................ 7

Buc Days Cowboys & Kids.............................................. 4

Beach to Bay..................................................................... 8

First in Family Scholarships............................................ 4

Camp Aranzazu Clean-Up................................................ 8

March of Dimes Silent Auction...................................... 4

Join Team CITGO............................................................... 8

Moody High School Innovation Academy Banquet......................................................................... 4 Life Can Change in a Flash.............................................. 5

Fueling Good Del Mar College Foundation “Crawfish Boil”.......................9 Beautify Corpus Christi “La Noche Bonita”..........................9

Safety Awareness What’s the Buzz................................................................. 6

Girl Scouts of South Texas “Power of the Purse”................9 Communities in Schools...........................................................9 Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce “Women in Energy”.............................................................10 Birth Announcements...............................................................10 Bragging Corrner.......................................................................10 Military Corner...........................................................................11

Please direct all information and inquiries to: CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery, Government and Public Affairs Department 1802 Nueces Bay Blvd., Corpus Christi TX 78407 or email us at: vcollin@citgo.com.

CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Published By Government & Public Affairs: Rosie Collin, Public Affairs & Community Relations Coordinator and Maddie Chalk, G&PA Intern.

© 2014 CITGO Petroleum Corporation

Letter from the Vice President & General Manager DOYLE DOMMERT

F

irst, let me say how thrilled I am to be back at the Corpus Christi Refinery. It has been 16 years since I was here full-time, though in the various positions that I have held at CITGO here, in Lake Charles and in Houston over the past 33 years, Corpus Christi has always been close to my heart. As some of you may know, I have served as General Manager Petrochemicals and Industrial Products, General Manager Crude Supply, Assistant Vice President Supply and Marketing, and most recently General Manager Shared Services, among other roles at CITGO. So I have always had an eye on the dedication and professionalism of the team at the Corpus Christi Refinery. I look forward to helping you continue your successful records of both safety and commitment to the local community.

case (days away from work, restricted, or transfer) involving an employee or a workplace-related fatality involving an employee or a non-employee.

It is my goal, working with the great team here, to make this refinery the safest, most environmentally conscious and most reliable facility in the CITGO system. Of course, I say that knowing that it is no small feat. But I also know the spirit and dedication of the professionals here at CITGO.

I am so impressed with how the Corpus Christi Refinery continues to be a role model in how companies can truly give back to the communities in which they operate. CITGO employees give not only in dollars to important campaigns like United Way and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, but also in their time, with more than 1,750 volunteer hours from Team CITGO in the past quarter alone.

While I know some of you from my time at the refinery or through working with you in my other positions, I plan to meet with the staff here to learn from you what you think the strengths and challenges are here in Corpus Christi. I know I have things I can learn from many of you. And hopefully, I can share a few of my experiences as we move forward.

There are three main areas that I want to focus on initially 1) safety and environmental performance; 2) operational success and opportunities; and 3) social responsibility. The refinery and its team have a strong history in all of these areas and I want to work with all of you to enhance these contributions. Based on the past quarter, there is already the momentum to do that.

CITGO as a whole has an outstanding safety record, which American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) recognized earlier this year by honoring the company with nine awards for various safety achievements in 2013, with all three refineries each receiving two Achievement Awards for achieving one-million-plus employee hours without a DART

Corpus Christi Refinery accomplished one of the largest Turnarounds in its history early this year with no OSHA recordable injuries and no environmental exceedances. That is a remarkable feat that took the entire refinery’s focus and energy to accomplish.

As of July 31, 2014 we have worked more than 5.5 million man-hours with no lost time injuries for our contractors.

We are positioned to break our existing refinery record of 5,855,755 hours that was set back in 2007.

Now in its third year, the Hands for Hillcrest program received applications from 33 local organizations who want to provide services to improve the lives and the futures of Hillcrest residents. This is a testimonial as to how CITGO is impacting the neighborhood in which we live and work.

I have high expectations for myself and for the Corpus Christi team. I welcome your feedback and your thoughts as we move towards making the Corpus Christi Refinery the safest, most environmentally conscious facility while giving back to our community and neighbors, and adding more value to the CITGO corporation.

Sincerely,

Doyle Dommert

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Social Responsibility

Buc Days Cowboys & Kids

March of Dimes Silent Auction

Using a western theme and highlighting the American Cowboy, Cowboys & Kids presentations engaged students through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic teaching methods.

The focus was to teach students to be strong and avoid drugs, gangs, and bullying.

Age-appropriate examples and activities were used. The CITGO-sponsored assemblies were held at elementary schools that partner with CITGO.

CITGO and various contractors donated items to the auction to be bid upon by CITGO employees.

The total amount raised for March of Dimes exceeded $6,500. Thanks to everyone who contributed an item and those who bid!

Moody High School Innovation Academy Banquet First in Family Scholarship The Corpus Christi Education Foundation hosted the district wide First in Family Graduate Ceremony to honor students who are the first in their families to earn a high school diploma. CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery awarded a $1,000 scholarship to 20 graduates in support of higher education. CITGO was the presenting sponsor of the event.

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The Innovation STEM Academy for Engineering, Environmental & Marine Science prepares high school students for college programs and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The annual banquet was sponsored by CITGO.

On July 19, 2009, life changed in a flash for Gabe Alvarado. On that morning, he said goodbye to his wife and kids, and left for work, like any other day. But this day would be different. A valve at the Hydrofluoric Acid Alkylation Unit at CITGO failed in the closed position, causing a leak, which led to a fire and explosion at the unit. The unit’s water mitigation system was automatically activated and responders worked quickly to put out the fire, however Gabe sustained burns on 60% inside and out of his body and was not expected to survive his injuries. Five years and 54 procedures later, Gabe is on a mission to tell all industrial workers that safety practices and personal protective equipment saved his life.

Following the accident, Gabe spent (6 months) recovering in the hospital. The first 90 days of recovery, he was in an induced coma, giving his body time to heal, his only chance of survival. Gabe awoke from the coma to find a new body, transformed by the fire. The muscles in his legs had to be retrained to walk. His left arm had to be amputated and he was outfitted with a prosthetic limb, which he had to learn to use. The fingers on his right hand are curled and he goes to therapy 2-3 times a week where a therapist works to stretch and massage the fingers, allowing him to maintain function of that hand. He’s grateful for all the doctors, surgeons, and therapists who have worked to give him new life.

Social Responsibility

Life Can Change in a Flash

Gabe’s wife, Precious, has been there through it all, but she didn’t let Gabe feel sorry for himself. “She gave me the tough love, and I appreciate her for that. She had to get back to work, the kids had to go back to school, life must go on. She couldn’t always be there to help me, and I knew I had to get back out there.” Gabe’s kids, Gabriel and Victoria, were 9 and 7 at the time of the accident. They helped as much as they could when mom was not around. Gabe recalls when his wife told the kids that dad had lost his left arm. She said they cried and said they didn’t mind one-armed hugs; at least they had not lost him.

Gabe returned to work in 2011, and is an Assistant Fire Chief at CITGO, helping maintain and check equipment and perform training. Gabe’s goal is to spread the message that safety saves lives. He’s spoken at terminal pipeline meetings, manager meetings, safety summits, and is a speaker/trainer/coach for The John Maxwell Team.

Gabe is working on 2 safety tip books, one for industry and one for home safety.

Like putting your seatbelt on as soon as you get in the car, safety is a muscle memory. It needs to come to you automatically. “In an accident, there’s no time to look in a book. I knew how to react in the fire because I had trained for an incident such as that for 12 years working for the Refinery Terminal Fire Company. I tell refinery workers, you think you checked that valve once? Ok, great, now check it two, three, four times to be absolutely sure. Repetition, repetition, repetition…when safety becomes a muscle memory, it can save your life.” Gabe says it’s one thing to learn about safety on paper, but the best experience is gained from doing the job, and doing it safely.

Gabe is happy to have more time with his kids, now 15 and 12 years old. He enjoys fishing with his buddies and going to the gun range and practicing his shot. He feels blessed with a second chance and he’s going to take advantage of every opportunity to live life to the fullest and continue spreading the message – life can change in a flash. Work on your safety muscle everyday.

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Safety Awareness

What’s the Buzz?

Both bee and wasp season stretch from spring (around the beginning of May) to late fall (late October). During this period, each colony passes through the lifecycle stages, before hibernating in the winter.

Typically, bee and wasp nests pose the least threat early in the season. In the spring, the queen bee or wasp is just beginning to build her nest, so it is relatively small with fewer workers inside. However, as with most pest control situations, getting rid of bees and wasps earlier in the season makes it easier to be sure you’re eliminating the problem before it gets out of hand.

By late fall, when nests are at their largest (a single wasp nest can host 5000 individuals and a bee nest even more than that) is when bee and wasps pose the greatest danger. Large bee and wasps nests in residential areas can result in an influx of bees and wasps flying into unwanted areas. At this stage, bee and wasp control efforts are more difficult and dangerous.

Bee and wasp stings can cause severe allergic reaction in some people. Others may only experience a local reaction with redness, pain, swelling and itching at the sting site which lasts only a few hours or a few days.

Allergic reaction to insect stings can cause life-threatening disruption to breathing and circulatory systems called anaphylactic shock. People with a known high sensitivity to insect stings must be especially careful when working or playing outdoors and they should keep an emergency kit containing adrenalin and antihistamine close by at all times.

If a stinger is visible, remove it by raking a fingernail across it sideways. Do not squeeze, pinch or pull to remove the stinger, because this causes more venom to be injected into the tissue.

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Sting Prevention Measures • Don’t attract them! Avoid perfumed personal care products, shiny buckles or jewelry and bright or flowery prints (especially as head coverings).

• Keep trash containers emptied or covered.

• Cover exposed skin. Use work gloves. Keep your sleeves rolled down.

• Be vigilant in looking for nests and swarms.

Contact your Supervisor if you discover them and warn others of the location.

• If approached by a stinging insect, raise your arms to protect your face and move away slowly. Rapid movement can provoke an attack.

• When entering an unattended vehicle with windows down, diligently check for wasps and bees and carefully coax them out.

• Hornet and Wasp Spray kills on contact from more than 20 feet away, and continues to be effective on insects returning to a treated nest.

• Preventative spraying is best in the early morning and early evening when the temperature is cooler, insects are in the nest and there is little activity.

• Wait 48 hours before removing a treated nest.

The Miracle League of Corpus Christi provides opportunities for people with mental and physical disabilities to play ball. The Miracle League believes every player takes a hit, every player gets on base, every player scores, and every player wins – every inning. Thirteen volunteers offered 72 volunteer hours.

CITGO Teacher Appreciation Party Approximately 85 administrators and teachers from throughout CCISD and our fence line neighborhood schools enjoyed an evening of appreciation. Door prizes were raffled and gift cards for school supplies were given to the highest scored karaoke participants. For karaoke, Driscoll Middle School took first place, Faye Webb Elementary took second, and Miller High School took third. CITGO sponsored the event. Nineteen volunteers gave 68 hours to this event.

Team CITGO

Miracle League

March for Babies Walk The March for Babies Walk raises monies to support programs in the community so that moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. For 75 years the March of Dimes has funded research for education and vaccines for the nearly four million babies that are born each year. The annual walk is one of the largest in Texas. Mark Avelar will be the Chairman of the 2015 March for Babies Walk. CITGO was the presenting sponsor of the event. Seventeen volunteers offered 36 hours.

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Team CITGO

Beach to Bay

Camp Aranzazu Clean-Up

The Beach to Bay Pre-Party featured food and drinks for the runners on the CITGO teams that ran the relay marathon.

This gives the members an opportunity to go over their relay strategy and to work together as a team. Marathon packets were available for the runners. Twenty volunteers offered 110.5 hours to both the pre-party preparations and the marathon.

Camp Aranzazu provides year-round therapeutic recreation programs in Rockport, Texas designed to enrich the lives of children and adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Their high quality programs include unique camping, environmental studies, and retreat experiences to groups with special needs. Eleven Team CITGO members offered 72.25 hours to a clean-up of the camp.

Join Team CITGO Are you wondering what you can do to help? Be a part of Team CITGO and join the cause to end hunger and improve quality of life in our great city. Get involved with other groups such as Boy Scouts, the Food Bank of Corpus Christi and Habitat for Humanity, which are wonderful organizationsalways looking for volunteers.

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Girl Scouts of South Texas “Power of the Purse”

Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams by offering quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction and affordable costs. Nationally recognized while locally focused, DMC serves more than 22,000 credit and noncredit students in the Texas Coastal Bend each year. In fact, they’re ranked in the top 2% of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week).

CITGO was proud to sponsor their Crawfish Boil benefiting student education.

Through a working partnership with adult leaders and advisors, the Girl Scouts organization works with girls to encourage and develop qualities of responsible citizenship, cross-cultural understanding, service to the community and to religious organizations religion, as well as positive interaction with their family and friends. CITGO was a presenting sponsor of the event.

Beautify Corpus Christi “La Noche Bonita” The mission of the Beautify Corpus Christi Association (BCCA) is to create a clean, beautiful environment to enhance the quality of life for the residents and the enjoyment of visitors. CITGO was recognized as “Corporate Citizen of the Year.” CITGO was the presenting sponsor of the event, and provided 16 volunteers and 61 hours to the event.

Fueling Good

Del Mar College Foundation “Crawfish Boil”

Communities in Schools The mission of Communities In Schools (CIS) is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. CIS provides the delivery of school-based social services in 24 schools (Pre-K to High School) with a large at-risk population. CIS is a Hands for Hillcrest grant recipient and CITGO was proud to sponsor the event.

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Fueling Good

Corpus Christi Hispanic Chamber of Commerce “Women in Energy” The mission of the CCHCC is to serve the business community by developing positive changes through active participation in education, leadership, public affairs, and creating business opportunities for it’s members, particularly small and minority owned businesses, while increasing awareness of the Hispanic heritage.

Many female CITGO employees were represented at the Women in Energy luncheon. CITGO proudly sponsored the event.

Bragging Corner

Congratulations to Larry Dechant, Jr., son of Larry Dechant, Sr. and Margaret Dechant. Larry Jr., an ABC News Producer, received a News and Documentary Emmy Nomination for Direct Hit: Oklahoma Tornadoes, which aired on Good Morning America, World News with Diane Sawyer and Nightline ABC. Congratulations to the whole team.

Stacy L. Carawan’s (Procurement) step-daughter Stacey Michelle West, daughter of Michael D. Carawan graduated with honors from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio as a doctor of dental surgery.

Birth Announcements

Masos Alexander Noble Guzman age 5, grandson of Annette Handy (Application Systems), received the Kumon Award for Excellence in math and reading.

CITGO employees, Clinton Schultz, Mariah Lauritzen and Hector Gamboa, all had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with the Corpus Christi Chorale on May 23, 2014. It was the weekend of the opening of the September 11th Memorial. Their concert was based on the Memorial Day weekend theme and the pieces sung reflected that: “Canticles of Light” (2000) Bob Chilcott “In Memoriam” (2014) Ross C. Bernhardt

Achiever: Ava Rylee 6 lbs. 15 oz.

Born May 25, 2014 Granddaughter of Debbie and Randy Fisher (Project Manager) Parents: Marcos and Jessica Munoz

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Axl Sawyer Jones 6 lbs. 14 oz.

June 22, 2014 Grandson of Robert and Aurora Robles (Business Planning and Development) Parents: Jacquelyn & Nick Jones

Please send your graduation pictures, birth announcements or any academic or community service award information to Rosie Collin for our next Achiever. vcollin@citgo.com

Ray Saenz: Life With a Military Wife Ray met the love of his life in the fall of 1989, while attending Texas A&I University. Irma had signed up to join the US Army in the delayed entry program before they met. She would leave for US Army Basic Training in June 1990, giving them only a short time to get to know each other.

Irma completed basic training and returned home on leave for 30 days before being stationed in Germany in October 1990.

Anxious to be together, Ray and Irma married the week before she left.

Following a brief stay in Germany, Irma was stationed in Saudi Arabia in December 1990 to prepare for Desert Shield, and ultimately the first Gulf War. Ray sent her many letters, taped recordings, and care packages for her platoon, all with the reassurance that everyone at home was doing fine and she was greatly missed. “I visited her parents frequently as well as took her little brothers on hunting and fishing trips which made her very happy. She worried for her parents’ well-being a lot, so I did all that I could to reassure her that they were being cared for in little special ways,” recalls Ray. In a few of the care packages, Ray packed his own special recipe beef jerky for Irma to share with her platoon. It was a hit! They were always appreciative of the packages they received.

Fueling Good

Military Corner

CITGO encourages their employees to reach for higher education. Ray is currently participating in the CITGO Employee Education Reimbursement Program. “I am working to complete my degree in Management Information Systems. Without the commitment from CITGO to help employees succeed, the dream of completing my degree would not be possible,” says Ray. Ray and Irma have been married for nearly 24 years and have been blessed with three children, Savana (16), Joseph Anthony (13) and Teresa (11). The children are active in sports, but most days you’ll find Ray and Irma cheering on the kids on the softball and baseball field. “My wife and I have an amazing friendship and I’m extremely grateful for it everyday.”

After Irma returned from the Gulf War, she was stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, and this time Ray would join her. Living in Germany was an amazing experience for the new couple, and they were able to travel to different parts of Europe.

Ray hopes to return to Germany for their 25th wedding anniversary.

Irma served 2.5 years of active duty and 6 years in the US Army Reserves. After she finished her active tour of duty, she went back to school to earn a degree as a Registered Nurse, and to this day, Irma is an RN. Ray has worked for CITGO for over 19 years. The first 10 years, he was an Operations Technician at East Plant II. The last 9 years he has worked in the Central Control Room as a Console Operator.

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CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petr贸leos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.