Jason Broha, Marie Crespo, Lindsey Guidry, Terry Kenney, Carissa Villarreal, Corinne Welborn, and Andrew White
WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS
Jose Ambriz Jr., Elizabeth Beckham, Tommy Bonaventure, Jeremy Cambiano, Frank Canella, Avelardo Chavira Jr., Brian Cox, Lori Garza, Thorsten Gobel, Peter Gonzalez, George Haynes, Sandra Hilbun, Edward Kroneman, Mario Moya, Anthony Myers, Seth Nunez, Jason Richoux, Stephanie Ross, Michelle Sanmiguel, Alex St. Cyr, Doug Sinitiere, Karen Smith, Gregory Thibodeaux, Carla Thompson, Eric Williams, and Nathon Williams CREATIVE DIRECTOR
This issue’s cover story puts the spotlight on our amazing rope access team—the biggest and most experienced rope access crew on the Gulf Coast. Fun fact: industrial rope access actually started in the early ’80s when mountaineers and cavers needed a safer way to work up high. As our highly skilled rope access team continues to ascend to new heights, Turner Industries continues to soar in 2025. Thanks to every Turner employee for your hard work and dedication this year. Please stay safe and hydrated during these hotter months!
BEHIND THE COVER: Our cover photo was captured at the San Jacinto College Center for Petrochemical, Energy, and Technology. We appreciate San Jacinto CPET for hosting us during this photo shoot!
JASON BROHA
TERRY KENNEY
MARIE CRESPO
SCOTT GRECI
ANDREW WHITE CORINNE WELBORN
LINDSEY GUIDRY
CONSTRUCTION & MODULAR FABRICATION
MAINTENANCE & SOFT CRAFTS (SIPA)
SHUTDOWNS, TURNAROUNDS, & OUTAGES
EQUIPMENT, RIGGING, & SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION
PIPE, VESSEL, & STEEL FABRICATION
SPECIALTY SERVICES
SP ECIALIZED WELDING SERVICES
ENVIRONMENTAL
INDUSTRIAL
INSPECTIONS & NDE
ROPE ACCESS
The Latest & Greatest Safety Updates From Around the Company
Turner Paint Crew Earns Cheniere Recognition Safety First
Corpus Christi, Texas — During a recent site audit at Cheniere’s Corpus Christi Liquefaction facility, Cheniere commended a Turner paint crew for their outstanding preparation and knowledge. The audit highlighted the excellent detail that the crew put in their permit and job description. Furthermore, the crew members clearly explained their assigned tasks and accurately answered all of the client’s questions. They also demonstrated a strong understanding of the location of the Safety Data Sheets.
TSS Team Identifies Critical Equipment Issue
Honoring Decades of
Hahnville, La. Turner Specialty Services would like to recognize the efforts of Cain Madere, Matt Kirkland, Chelsea King, and Julio Santana. These employees, who are part of the rope access group at Dow’s St. Charles Operations, identified a safety concern within a unit: a fixed ladder at the top of a column exhibited multiple missing nuts and severely loosened bolts, attributed to vessel vibration. Their prompt identification and immediate reporting of this issue to operations ensured that corrective measures were implemented without delay.
Dedication: The Arizpe Brothers
Hahnville, La. — Turner Industries would like to acknowledge the exceptional contributions of brothers Alberto, Filomeno, and Pedro Arizpe, all supervisors within Turner’s boilermaker group at Dow’s St. Charles Operations. The Arizpe brothers have collectively worked more than 99,000 hours. Alberto Arizpe leads with 20 years of service and 36,500 work hours, while Filomeno Arizpe and Pedro Arizpe have each contributed 19 years of service with 32,000 and 30,400 work hours. Throughout the years, the Arizpe brothers have received numerous accolades from both Turner Industries and Dow.
2025 GBRIA Contractor Safety Excellence Awards
Baton Rouge, La. — Turner Industries celebrated wins at the recent Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance Contractor Safety Excellence Awards. Turner Industrial Maintenance received a first place award in General Construction and Maintenance, Division II; Turner Specialty Services received second place in Specialty Trade Soft Craft, Division II; and Turner Industries took home third place in General Construction and Maintenance, Division III.
Houston Capital Projects Group: Excellence in Safety and Performance
Deer Park, Texas — Turner Industries consistently celebrates teams that exemplify its core values, and the capital projects group operating across five OxyChem sites as well as other facilities in the Houston region is a shining example. They recently completed a six-week turnaround planning optimization project in Deer Park, Texas with no incidents or issues.
In 2024, the team logged more than 70,000 hours OSHA recordable free. Their strong performance has continued into 2025, where they’ve already accumulated more than 47,000 hours OSHA recordable free.
38th Annual Safety Excellence Awards
Houston, Texas — At the recent 38th Annual Houston Safety Excellence Awards, Turner Industries was honored with a Gold award in the General Contractor Extra Large category. The Safety Excellence Awards are presented by the Industry Business Roundtable and the Health and Safety Council.
TotalEnergies World Safety Day
Turner Industries supported TotalEnergies’ World Safety Day event in Port Arthur, Texas. The Turner team showcased its rope access and NDE inspection services along with
From left are Cristian Galindo, Israel Saucedo, Sergio Sanchez, Jorge Sanchez, and Ciro Lopez Jr.
CELEBRATING SAFETY!
Shell Lubricants (SIPA) - Galena Park, TX - Three Years
Sasol - Houston, TX - Three Years
Dow Hub (NDE & Inspections) - Pasadena, TX - One Year
Formosa Plastics - Point Comfort, TX - 1,500,000 Work Hours
Westlake Epoxy - Deer Park, TX - 18 Years
Graphic Packaging - Texarkana, TX - Two Years
Here are a few Turner Industries jobsites that recently celebrated OSHA recordable free safety milestones.
Ascend Performance Materials - Alvin, TX - Four Years
Formosa Plastics - Baton Rouge, LA - Five Years
Shell Lubricants - Galena Park, TX - Nine Years
Cornerstone Chemical - Waggaman, LA - 100,000 Work Hours
Olin - St. Gabriel, LA - Three Years
Arkema Clear Lake - Pasadena, TX - 2 Million Work Hours
Olin - Charleston, TN - Five Years
TOP-JOB JSA
Dow Grand Bayou Operations
BELLE ROSE, LOUISIANA
Bridgestone Americas Tire Ops LA VERGNE, TENNESSEE
LOB: Maintenance
SUPERINTENDENT: Chris Callis
SUPERVISOR: Justin Callis
FOREMAN: Clifton Wombles
CREW: Duncan Woerth, Hayden Bennett, Colby Smyly, Harvey Gipson, and Michael Shirley
From Left: Jeffrey Edwards, Joe Valentine, Devin Credeur, Devin Richard, Carol Richard, and Reuben Prejean.
From Left: Justin Callis, Clifton Wombles, Hayden Bennett, Colby Smyly, Duncan Woerth, and Chris Callis.
Hard Hat Sticker Safety Recognition Program
The hard hat sticker program rewards and recognizes employees across the country for enforcing safe work environments. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight achievements of employees who have gone above and beyond to protect themselves and their colleagues. Here are the top picks for this quarter.
TOP PICKS OF THE QUARTER TOP PICKS OF THE QUARTER
Chris Tansley - Eastman Chemical -
Chris played a critical role in an emergency outage, not only leading its setup and execution, but also keeping an exemplary attitude and
José Rendon and Thomas Cantu -
José and Thomas created a JSA for a new task on site, identifying all hazards while also asking for guidance and suggesting improvements. They showed great communication skills and it was a good learning experience.
TOP MENTOR
Macario Davila - ChemoursLa Porte, Texas
STOP WORK
Fallan Hotard - Dow SCOHahnville, Louisiana
During a recent job walk to pull a pressure safety valve and rupture disc, the crew at Dow SCO identified that the tagged-out valve did not match the work package. The crew immediately stopped work and notified operations and the coordinator, ensuring the job could not proceed until the issue was resolved. this scope.
Macario is an exceptional mentor who empowers his team through every step of the way. He shares his extensive knowledge and experience, patiently guiding colleagues through challenging tasks. Macario gives practical advice and clearly explains new procedures and solutions, boosting his team’s confidence, skills, and overall contributions.
AFPM Contractor Safety Achievement Awards
Turner Industries is proud to announce that 31 of its jobsites have been recognized by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) for outstanding safety performance.
The AFPM Contractor Safety Achievement Awards recognize companies that have demonstrated excellence in safety across their operations.
TURNER INDUSTRIES GROUP
CITGO Petroleum Corp.
Corpus Christi Refinery
Enterprise Products
Mont Belvieu Complex
ExxonMobil
Beaumont Refinery
Baytown Chemical Plant
Baton Rouge Plastics Plant
Baton Rouge Polyolefins Plant
Formosa Plastics
Point Comfort Facility
Flint Hills Resources
Corpus Christi Complex
Hunt Refining
Sandersville Refinery
Tuscaloosa Refinery
INVISTA
Longview Polypropylene Facility
Marathon Petroleum
St. Paul Park Refinery
El Paso Refinery
OxyVinyl
Houston OperationsDeer Park PVC Site
Phillips 66
Lake Charles Complex
Placid Refining
TURNER SPECIALTY SERVICES
ExxonMobil
Baton Rouge Chemical Plant
Hunt Refining
Tuscaloosa Refinery
OxyVinyl
Houston OperationsDeer Park PVC Site
Placid Refining Company LLC
TPC Group
Houston Operations
Vertex Energy
Mobile Refinery
Westlake
Lake Charles (South)
Lake Charles (North)
Westlake Epoxy Deer Park
Westlake Geismar Plant
Longview Plant (TX)
Pemex Deer Park
Deer Park Refinery
Westlake
Plaquemine Plant
Lake Charles (South)
TURNER INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE
Marathon Petroleum Catlettsburg Refining LLC
Projects & Services
What It Takes to Get the Job Done Right
Teamwork Makes the
Difference: Turner
Completes Bayer Injection Pump Installation
Turner Industries’ capital projects group successfully completed a civil, structural, and mechanical project at Bayer’s Luling Crop Science facility in Luling, Louisiana. Initially tasked with installing four new high-pressure brine injection pumps, the project’s scope expanded significantly. Despite the substantial increase in scope, the project was delivered within budget, ahead of schedule, and OSHA recordable free.
An 11-person Turner team completed the work over 14 weeks, operating within an existing deep well pump area, located near the facility’s firewater ponds. The full scope included clearing a 20-by-50-foot area of existing concrete and pump pads, pouring approximately 80 cubic yards of new concrete for four new pump pads and miscellaneous pipe support foundations, setting and pre-aligning four new high-pressure pumps and motors, installing one new building and 35 CTS and MPS pipe supports, and installing suction, highpressure, and low-pressure discharge lines, including 500 linear feet of specialized Hastelloy and lined piping, and executing six critical tie-ins.
“Teamwork was the foundation of this project ’s success. The strength of our small, 11-man Turner team, which self-performed nearly 100% of the work, enabled exceptional coordination and shared ownership. Even when Hurricane Francine introduced several days of lost time, we collectively made up for the lost time through extra hours and weekends. We did whatever it took to make this project successful.”— Turner Industries Superintendent Anthony “Tony” DeLuca
QUICK THINKING AND COORDINATION: Turner Crew Mitigates Leak at Syensqo Plant
When heavy rains threatened critical operations at the Syensqo plant in Alpharetta, Georgia, a Turner Industries maintenance team sprang into action. Their quick response prevented significant damage and ensured minimal disruption, earning high praise from Syensqo’s site management.
The incident occurred during a weekend of relentless downpours, leading to a substantial water leak in vital areas of the Syensqo plant’s labs. According to Turner Industries Site Manager Peter Gonzalez, upon entry, his team discovered downed ceiling tiles and considerable water accumulation. “We quickly sprang into action to prevent damage to in-progress experiments,” Gonzalez stated. “We began to clean up massive puddles of water while others began installing 6x6 tarp diverters. They worked in unison and created a safe working environment for the scientists to continue their work.”
Over two days, the Turner team, including Aleksander Pokropski, William Gonzalez Jr., William Gonzalez Sr., and Marcus Elzy, implemented more stable diversion systems, meticulously cleaned the lab, replaced damaged tiles, and successfully identified the leak’s origin for repair. Safety remained paramount throughout the entire process, with barricades used to prevent overhead strike hazards and spill pads deployed to ensure a safe walking surface.
“The response by the Turner team was far above expectation,” said Kevin Kirby, process engineer of Syensqo. “They were both fast and effective, resulting in no downtime to our thermoplastic composites process. The Turner team worked with urgency to prevent any further water ingress, as well as restoring our ventilation system to function with negative pressure, which is important for the safety of our process.”
Turner Industries Partners with Shell Deer Park on OP3 Cold Box Installation
Turner Industries is proud to be partnering with Shell Deer Park on the installation of its new OP3 Cold Box, a significant project that began in early 2024. This undertaking encompasses everything from foundational civil work to complex mechanical installations.
The project kicked off with the installation of underground helical piles and foundations, with the majority of the civil work reaching completion in the fourth quarter of 2024. The scope of work is extensive, including underground and foundational elements, the installation of the new Cold Box itself, a large steel structure, and a new stair tower. A key aspect of the project also involves integrating these new components by tying them back into the existing unit.
PROJECT QUICK FACTS
Civil: Mechanical (Piping & Steel ) :
Additional Services : Installation of 88 helical piles and approximately 400 cubic yards of concrete 9,000 linear feet of stainless steel pipe, 3,000 linear feet of carbon steel pipe, 500 welds (all undergoing 100% X-Ray inspection), 2,200 bolt-ups, and approximately 300 tons of steel Scaffold, paint, insulation, and fireproofing
The site supervision included: Eric Williams - Construction Manager, Dylan Daigle - Project Field Engineer, Humberto Guevara - Pipe Supervisor, Efrain Garza - Pipe Supervisor, Edgar Amaya - Steel Supervisor, Silvia Torres - Safety Manager, Rene Barrera - QC Manager, and Jose Zamora - SIPA Supervisor.
The OP3 Cold Box project utilized a strategic construction approach for its modular components. Module 3 was built directly in place. In contrast, Modules 4, 5, and the stair tower were pre-assembled near the installation area, then lifted and set into their final positions.
SPECIALIZED SERVICES DIVISION TURNER INDUSTRIES FORMS NEW
Turner Industries has established a new Specialized Services Division, bringing together the company’s expert specialty services under a unified umbrella. Eddie Villeret, a 40-year industry veteran with 18 years at Turner, will serve as Division President.
The new division consolidates five key service areas: industrial specialty services featuring advanced hydro blasting and vacuum equipment; rope access services; NDE and inspections using ultrasound, radiography, and magnetic particle testing; environmental and civil services; and Specialized Welding Services, which has provided trusted welding solutions for nearly 25 years.
“We’ve got the right technology and the best people,” said Villeret.
“When you put our industrial services, rope access, inspection work, environmental services, and specialized welding all under one roof, clients get better results and more value.”
Licensed to Build: Turner Transforms Vision into Reality at Skyfall Biologicals
When a James Bond enthusiast’s passion for the legendary spy franchise inspired him to name his agricultural venture “Skyfall Biologicals,” it set the stage for an extraordinary project. The planned facility represented the future of natural crop preservation, designed to produce dormancy-enhancing products for potato storage using natural compounds to prolong shelf life. What began as a seemingly straightforward pilot plant construction for Turner Industries quickly evolved into a fast-tracked project with design changes flowing in real-time.
Turner served as both a key advisor and contractor for the Skyfall pilot plant. Much of the plant was prefabricated with “package units” manufactured in the U.S. and Germany. Turner’s team, working off Navisworks models and piping and instrumentation diagrams, performed civil, piping/mechanical, crane and rigging, scaffolding, painting, insulation, and electrical installations. They also set a boiler, chiller, air dryer tank, and an air compressor.
Turner also provided constructability and value engineering advice. For example, when the owner initially planned copper piping, Turner suggested more durable stainless steel for water and air, advising that copper would leak and couldn’t be easily repaired. Similarly, when the owner wanted to put lifting eyes on the pipe rack steel, the Turner team advised against it, saving significant money and time by suggesting a nylon sling instead. The close proximity of Turner’s pipe fabrication shop, just a mile away, allowed for rapid shifts in pipe fabrication sequences as designs changed.
Frequent changes made to the schedule required highly detailed planning and real-time, face-to-face decision-making. Turner quickly accelerated the schedule, boosted manpower, and began working seven days a week, leveraging their large pool of available workers.
For the Skyfall Biologicals pilot plant construction, the Turner team remained on site for two months beyond the original scope to provide commissioning support. Ultimately, they logged 18,199 hours, completing the project ahead of time, under budget, and recordable free. In addition to the potato dormancy-enhancing product, the pilot plant also produces an all-natural insect repellent.
Turner Industries Completes Water Treatment Equipment Installation at Southern Ionic Plant
When Southern Ionic needed to install water treatment equipment in their Pasadena, Texas facility, they turned to Turner Industries. Turner’s scope included pouring foundations and installing two aluminum scrubbers, a process water reclaim tank, two blowers with vent stacks, and four pumps with associated piping to reactors. The installation required 800 feet of CPVC piping, 2,500 feet of power and instrumentation cable, and 1,500 feet of fiber optic cable.
The project showcased Turner’s integrated capabilities, utilizing the civil group for foundations, the SIPA group for scaffolding, and the crane and rigging group for equipment placement.
What made this project unique was that all fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) equipment had to be carefully flown through the warehouse roof to reach its final installation location. This operation required precise planning to protect both the sensitive equipment and existing facility structures.
Originally planned for five weeks, the project scope expanded to ten weeks as additional work was incorporated. At peak headcount, Turner had 28 craft workers performing mechanical, scaffold, civil, and crane operations. Turner also worked closely with a subcontractor
The mechanical group who performed installation work on the project included, from left, Seferino Sandoval, Oscar McGowan, Oracio Rodriguez, Fidel Torres Jr, and Felipe Ruiz.
Turner Industries Scales Up Full Site Maintenance at TotalEnergies Port Arthur
Turner Industries has expanded its relationship with TotalEnergies at their Port Arthur, Texas facility. Turner first performed maintenance work in the ECU area at the Port Arthur facility in September 2023 and maintained an average headcount of 30 personnel. Through this work, Turner personnel effectively showcased the company’s core values and capabilities and is now performing full site maintenance. The overall site headcount went from 30 to 325 Turner personnel, encompassing mechanical, piping, structural, site services, and all SIPA services.
“The transition has been an excellent experience, but most importantly, it has been safe and efficient,” said Jeff Siau, site manager for Turner Industries. “The Turner team would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the TotalEnergies team for creating a winning environment of shared vision and collaboration.”
Turner Tablet Applications are also being utilized on site, and this will provide valuable insight into the day-to-day operations quickly and efficiently.
Furthermore, Turner has been awarded the scaffolding, paint, and insulation work for an upcoming turnaround. The group is working pre-turnaround activities to erect over 800 scaffolds with an estimated peak headcount of 144 during the planned outage.
TotalEnergies Maintenance Manager Chris Kock leads Turner employees and others in the hand signaling of TotalEnergies’ safety slogan: "Safety for Me, Safety for You, Safety for All."
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS WITH ROPE ACCESS
SSuspended hundreds of feet in the air, a Turner Specialty Services (TSS) technician carefully maneuvers along the exterior of a massive storage tank. With precision and confidence, the technician conducts a critical inspection that would have traditionally required significant production downtime and substantially higher costs. This is rope access in action—a service that’s been changing how industrial facilities handle maintenance, repairs, and inspections in hard-to-reach places.
Rope access is a method of working at height that uses ropes and specialized equipment to reach difficult-to-access locations without the need for traditional access methods. Building on this foundation, TSS has elevated traditional rope access services by crosstraining already skilled craftspeople such as welders, pipefitters, and ironworkers, just to name a few.
“Our investment in cross-training already skilled craftspeople as rope access technicians creates a powerful dual capability. This strategic approach allows TSS to deliver specialized services safely by providing clients with industry-leading expertise that also reduces costs.” – frank canella, tss rope access area manager
That Opens New Possibilities Versatility
ACCESSING THE INACCESSIBLE
Rope access offers substantial benefits by transforming impossible-to-reach
• Ability to access complex structures and confined spaces
• Applications across numerous industries including petrochemical, power generation, LNG, pulp and paper, etc.
• Compatibility with severe weather conditions
Safety Advantages Beyond Compare
• Lower risk profile compared to traditional access methods
• Reduced workplace congestion
• Minimal equipment footprint
Experience Matters: The TSS rope access team has logged more than 2 million workhours since its inception.
western U.S., TSS’ rope access team provided essential support services, following a major fire at the facility that resulted in a shutdown. The team effectively tackled various mechanical and soft craft tasks and performed other maintenance tasks focused on critical systems that were necessary to bring the facility back into operation.
Cost Savings That Add Up
Reduced scaffolding requirements and associated costs
Minimized production downtime
Lower overall project timeline
Documented Cost Savings: At one facility alone, TSS helped a client save more than $7 million through rope access services.
Site-Specific Maintenance Development
allow for growth,” said Nathon Williams, a rope access operations manager for TSS. “Employees who have interest in rope access can drive their career trajectory to include specialized training and skill development.”
SUSPENDED TURNKEY SOLUTIONS
TSS’ rope access group is the largest and most experienced on the Gulf Coast. Their craft certified rope access technicians perform a variety of SERVICES including:
Mechanical Capabilities
• Pipefitting
• Boilermaking
• Welding
• Ironwork
• Electrical and Instrumentation Installations and Repairs
• Valve Operations and Maintenance
• Rigging Services
• Pipe Spool Repairs and Replacement
• Insulation Installation and Repair
• Pressure Washing
• Painting, Blasting, and Coating
• Asbestos and Lead Abatement
Inspection Services
• Advanced NDE
• CUI Program Management and Moisture Detection
• Liquid Penetrant Testing
• Magnetic Particle Testing
• Ultrasonic Thickness Testing
• Positive Material Identification
• Radiographic Testing
• Guided Wave Testing
• API, AWS, CWI, and NACE Inspectors
ELEVATED EXPERTISE ON DISPLAY
TSS’ expertise in rope access is backed by an impressive portfolio of successful projects:
Steam Line Demolition & HRSG Repair
At a chemical plant in Texas, TSS completed a heavy mechanical project, including demolishing 200 feet of 16-inch 1800# steam line. Several associated piping systems and structures had to be demolished as well due to an upset condition at the site. The technicians also completed external inspections and welding repairs on the HRSG heater. TSS’ rope access teams responded quickly and completed this project without incident.
Polyethylene Plant Construction Support
During construction of a new polyethylene manufacturing plant on the Gulf Coast, TSS’ team of 22 multi-crafted rope access technicians performed fabrication and installation of new piping, structural installations, and cable tray installations and wire pulling. For a year and a half, the rope access team worked six days a week, 10 hours a day, and compiled 100,000 hours with zero recordables.
Marine Dock Restoration
TSS recently completed a waterfront dock restoration project in Geismar, Louisiana. TSS assembled a team of eight multi-crafted rope access technicians who completed the project with zero recordables. By using multi-craft rope access teams, TSS was able to provide multiple services, including heavy mechanical (bull rigging, welding, and iron working), soft craft (coatings, coating removal, and timber removal), and inspections (QC, NDE, and weld inspections).
Storage Dome Emergency Repair
The TSS rope access team performed a temporary repair on a 202-foot-wide and 117-foot-tall storage dome on the Mississippi River. High winds caused damage to the PVC waterproofing membrane. This temporary repair prevented further damage to the membrane and water damage to the product being stored. A four-person rope access team installed over 500 concrete anchors and 1,300 feet of boards to hold the membrane in place and prevent further damage.
Champions
KEITH STRICKLAND
Rope Access Site Lead and Planner
Keith Strickland serves as the TSS rope access site lead and planner at the Huntsman/Rubicon site in Geismar, Louisiana. With nearly 20 years as a certified rope access technician, Keith joined the rope access group in early 2021 as a Level 3 team leader.
“My favorite thing about rope access work is the diversity that comes with every job. Every team is put together with multi-craft workers who are experts in their trade. When a rope team comes together to complete a job, the results can leave both clients and craftspeople speechless. It brings me great satisfaction to think that it’s my business to go places people have never been and
JEREMY CAMBIANO
Western Region Rope Access Manager
Jeremy Cambiano joined TSS in November 2021 and currently serves as the western region rope access manager. His typical day begins with directing call-out crews and inspecting rope access gear before supporting the team with job walks, technical verifications, and client engagement across nested sites.
“What I enjoy most about rope access work is the challenge; it takes serious physical energy and mental toughness to get the job done. You need to be a great problem-solver who can think on your feet and make big calls when things get stressful. The camaraderie and respect among rope access technicians is also incredible. We all understand what each of us has gone through to get qualified, which leads to better communication and ensures we always put safety first in everything we do.”
AMBER VANDERGRIFF
Pedro Gutierrez Jr. serves as a rope access Level 3 subject matter expert, having progressed from a field Level 3 role to his current position over two years with Turner Industries. Pedro emphasizes that regardless of experience level, learning never stops in this industry.
Based out of Pasadena, Texas, the rope access team he works on operates as craftsmen of all trades, having successfully completed insulation, painting, pipe fabrication, welding,
“When you go with a dual craft rope access team, you don’t need to hire four different crafts and four different companies to do a job when you have all four crafts in one rope access crew. The best part of being in rope access is that you get to experience a whole new world of opportunities, and I get to be part of showing people what we can do in a
Rope Access Level 3 Technician
Amber Vandergriff works as a Level 3 rope access technician in the Lake Charles, Louisiana area. With nearly six years of rope access experience and over 16 years of experience working in refineries, her journey into rope access began unexpectedly with a phone call inviting her to join the team, despite ini tially being skeptical about the specialized field.
“It is an investment in yourself. You can work your way up to a Level 2 or a Level 3 at your own pace. You never do the same thing every day. It is always a new experience or a challenge from the day before. I’ve seen firsthand how multi-craft capabilities — including my NCCER insulation certification, Level 2 ultrasonic thickness certification, and 40-hour radiation safety training — make technicians more valuable.”
OF THEIR CRAFT
As industries continue to seek more efficient, safer ways to maintain and inspect their facilities, TSS’ rope access services offer a solution that combines cost savings, enhanced safety, and exceptional quality. Through continued investment in personnel, equipment, and capabilities, TSS is an industry leader in rope access services.
BITS AND BYTES
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
LAUNCH PAD: Accelerating Innovation at Turner Industries
This is your opportunity to turn bold ideas into game-changing solutions to further propel Turner as the most innovative industrial contractor. Every Turner employee now has a direct channel to fuel our mission with fresh thinking, creative problemsolving, and breakthrough innovations. Here are the key initiatives we’re launching to accelerate innovation across our organization:
Bright Ideas
This program creates a direct path for Turner employees to share their creative ideas and suggestions with leadership. Every submission is reviewed and considered, with the potential to be implemented as new technologies or processes. It’s our way of making sure innovation happens at every level of our organization.
AI Education
We’re rolling out AI education sessions at Turner regional offices to help our teams understand how artificial intelligence can improve their work. These sessions will give employees practical knowledge about AI applications and help them spot new opportunities to use these tools. Getting everyone up to speed on AI means better ideas and smarter solutions across the board.
Innovation Challenge
Our inaugural Innovation Challenge will bring together employees for an idea incubator where concepts get developed into real solutions. Participants will work to refine their ideas through brainstorming sessions, with the winning ideas from each region advancing to compete against other groups in a friendly company-wide competition.
NOTES ON LEARNED LEADERSHIP
Leading Through Adversity by Roland Toups, Executive Chairman
My twin brother and I were barely 3 1/2 years old when our world turned upside down on December 7, 1941. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor changed America and upended our childhood. Ten days later, our father shipped off to war, and we wouldn’t see him again for four long years.
My mother moved us in with her parents on a sugar plantation near Reserve, Louisiana to make ends meet while she taught at a local elementary school. We experienced the nation’s sacrifices firsthand. We planted victory gardens, collected metal in our little wagons, and bought war bonds. Everything was rationed—tires, gas, food, nylons—you name it. Everybody did their part to help the war effort. Nobody shielded my brother and me from the realities of war. My mother brought home airplane silhouettes from school to teach us the difference between Allied and Axis aircraft, and my grandfather listened to war updates on the radio every night before mandatory curfews and blackouts, so we twins could plot troop movements on our globe.
Today, as we all face our own challenges at Turner, we must carry forward what the Greatest Generation taught us. We must lead by example—for our families, our country, and for Turner and our clients. This means embracing the same values that defined them: working toward a common goal, putting teamwork first, and understanding that temporary challenges can lead to long-term success. We honor their legacy by creating possibilities where others see limitations and by making the necessary sacrifices to succeed. It all makes me realize how blessed I was to be raised by parents of the WWII generation.
Brandy Girard
Current Title: Planner Decatur, Alabama
Brandy Girard’s philosophy is simple: “If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.” This mindset has helped progress her career at Turner Industries, where she’s spent nearly nine years turning challenges into opportunities. From her early days in firewatch and field support to her current role developing project schedules for Turner in the southeastern U.S., Brandy has consistently volunteered for more responsibility—and delivered results.
A Quick Q & A with Brandy
What are your job responsibilities?
What led to your current position at the company?
As a planner, I’m currently developing planning and building proposal schedules for Turner’s field services group in Decatur, Alabama. I’ll also be the on-site material coordinator for an upcoming fall outage at a chemical plant in Memphis, Tennessee.
My journey at Turner began in 2016 as a firewatch/holewatch with the turnaround group. I then gained experience in the toolroom and directly in the field. I made it a point to assist supervisors whenever I could, which led to my responsibilities steadily increasing. Soon, I was handling duties as a tool trailer manager, logistics coordinator, and requisition specialist.
Why was Turner the right fit for you?
What do you find most satisfying about your job?
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
What is something interesting about you people might not know?
What is your motto or personal mantra?
What’s a great piece of advice you’ve received during your career?
What are your top 3 life highlights so far?
Family – working for a family oriented company makes all the difference in the world.
Being able to identify a problem and find the right solution.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, trips to the beach, and fishing in the river.
I have been playing the piano since the age of 4.
“If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”
A great piece of advice I’ve received is “Always own your responsibilities.”
The birth of my two children, the birth of my two grandchildren, and my most recent trip to Walt Disney World!
Recruiting, Training & Retaining Our Most Important Asset–People
Turner Celebrates Advanced Manufacturing Mentorship Program
Participants
Program for a second consecutive year in Pasadena, Texas. This initiative invites students specializing in welding
Turner Donates PPE to Texas City ISD Industrial Trade High School
Texas City, Texa
manager for Marathon’s Texas City refinery, helped make a donation of PPE to the Texas City ISD Industrial Trade High School. The students in the pipefitting class were grateful to receive support from industry leaders. Turner is proud to support this program, which uniquely offers both NCCER Core and two levels of NCCER pipefitting instruction.
TFA Greater Baton Rouge STEM Demonstration Day
Donaldsonville, La. Turner Industries partnered with Teach for America of Greater Baton Rouge for its annual STEM Demonstration Day at Lowery Middle School. Industry professionals from Turner shared their expertise with over 180 students; the middle schoolers particularly enjoyed learning about cranes and how to
Houston, Texas — Turner Industries would like to recognize Stephanie Barrientos and Homero Villarreal on their recent “Hard Hat Graduation Ceremony” from the University of Houston’s Construction Management Program. Both began as interns at Turner and now are full-time employees in Turner’s Construction Division.
Congratulations to Voice of Leadership Graduates
Turner Industries is proud to graduate another set of Voice of Leadership (VOL) classes in Texas and Louisiana. This 12-week program continues Turner’s commitment to increase leadership excellence
Women in Industry Conference
Galveston, Texas — Turner Industries recently participated in the Women in Industry Conference at the Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston, Texas. Turner’s Lori Garza, Haley Johnson, Katie Burwell, and Krystal Gonzalez served as panelists, sharing their diverse experiences and career paths within the industry. The goal of this conference is to inspire and inform young women from middle school through college about the various and rewarding opportunities available in industrial fields.
SUPPORTING CRAFT CHAMPIONS
Valdez (Lewis Career & Technical HS) plans to be a helper for Turner in the Houston area. Turner proudly sponsors many of the schools that participated in the Live Competition.
Aransas Pass, Texas in the Aransas Pass High School Texas Welding Series Regional Competition, accepting an invitation to judge the talented young welders. Turner Industries Welding Inspector Adrian Deleon represented the company on the judging panel.
TEAM Turner ™
Our Employee-Directed Volunteer Organization
Excellence in Social & Community Investment Award
Baton Rouge, La. — Turner Industries Vice President Michelle Hardy was recently honored with the 2025 Excellence in Social & Community Investment Award at the Capital Area United Way’s Women Unite awards ceremony. This award recognizes business professionals who, despite their busy schedules, dedicate time
Houston, Texas Turner Industries partnered with Clothed by Faith in collecting new and gently used clothing for children and adults in need across the Greater Houston area. Clothed by Faith serves children in foster care, families rebuilding after disasters, veterans starting over, parents escaping domestic violence—anyone facing hardship.
United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s 2025 Annual Meeting
New Orleans, La. — Turner Industries attended the United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s 2025 Annual Meeting, allowing the team to connect with community leaders and gain insights into
El Paso, Texas — Turner Industries employees attended The Salvation Army of El Paso’s Lone Star Gala, a benefit for the El
FIGHTING HUNGER & FEEDING OUR COMMUNITIES
TEAM Turner members participated in a company-wide effort to help restock local food banks. This decade-long initiative shows our employees’ commitment to fighting hunger in their communities. Thank you, TEAM Turner, for your generosity.
The Houston area collected 13,739 pounds of food for the Pasadena Community Ministries Food Pantry, Brazoria County Dream Center, and Galveston County Food Bank.
The Baton Rouge area collected 10,917 pounds of food for the Baton Rouge Food Bank.
The Corpus Christi region’s efforts resulted in 626 pounds of food for local food banks and schools.
The Lake Charles area collected 875 pounds of food for Second Harvest Food Bank and local church communities.
The Beaumont, Texas region collected 1,000 pounds of food for Second Harvest Food Bank and local church communities.
The Freeport area collected 401 pounds of food for DreamCenter.
TEAM Turner Members Collected More Than 27,500 Pounds of Food
News + Notes Updates
Dow LAO Innovation Day
Freeport, Texas — Turner Specialty Services proudly celebrates Devon Robotham, a TSS technician at Olin’s site in Freeport, Texas, for being named the Greater Houston Section ASNT Level III Technician of the Year. This award recognizes Devon’s consistent outstanding performance in mentoring, coaching, teaching, and leading the department.
HALO-Flight Golf Tournament
Portland, Texas Turner Industries recently participated in the annual HALO-Flight Flights of Angels Golf Tournament. The tournament raised funds for HALO-Flight, which provides helicopter air-ambulance service to all critically ill or injured persons within
From left are David Godard, project director of Golden Triangle Polymers; Steven Prusak, president and CEO of Chevron Phillips Chemical; Alan King, Doug Sinitiere, and Greg Thibodeaux of Turner Industries; and Chad Jennings, plant manager of the Golden Triangle Polymers facility.
From left are Ruben Resendez and Gabriel Munoz of Flint Hills Resources, Jim Martinez of Turner Industries, and Greg Coleman of Flint Hills Resources.
ABOUT TURNER
Turner Industries provides a single solution in heavy industrial construction, maintenance, turnaround, pipe and module fabrication, equipment, rigging and specialized transportation, and associated specialty services. Engineering News-Record Sourcebook ranks Turner as the nation’s top maintenance contractor in petroleum, and one of the top contractors in Texas and Louisiana. The company, headquartered in Baton Rouge, L ouisiana , employs 19,000+ and works across the United States, with offices and facilities located in:
