As an engineering student at LSU, Rhoman Hardy aspired to being an engineer in a manufacturing facility, and before he’d even graduated he was working for Shell at one of its small chemicals plants in Taft. Today, Hardy is general manager of Shell Chemical LP in Geismar, a position he has held since June.
As Business Report details in the latest Executive Spotlight feature on Hardy, every position he has held at Shell over the past two decades has helped prepare him for his current role. Most recently he led a global internal consultancy team focused on improving the availability and cost effectiveness of Shell’s facilities.
“The last role was particularly helpful, as my team supported facilities across the globe,” Hardy says. “In working with these locations, you really have to develop your ability to work with different cultures to achieve a positive output. I found that our challenges are very similar, but that the way you address these challenges has to be tailored to the local environment.”
As general manager, Hardy is charged with running a plant of some 650 employees and 400 contractors. He says his management team helps ensure the site operates safely and reliably. “Beyond that, even more important in my mind is that we have a culture where every employee owns the performance of the location and takes pride in doing their part and in helping their co-workers,” he says. “You really feel a family atmosphere here at Geismar. People are fully invested in each other and our operations here.”
Hardy’s top priority is ensuring the people that work at the facility are safe. He dedicates a significant amount of time to sharing his views and listening to feedback to ensure everyone is on the same page.
“Beyond this, the U.S. Gulf Coast is an excellent place to consider investing for growth. We are actively considering expansion ideas for the site,” he says.
Read the full Executive Spotlight feature on Hardy. Here’s a sample of what you’ll find.
What are some of the biggest challenges that come with working in your industry?
Clearly the most important is ensuring that people are safe working here. There are hazards that must be managed well, and that stays at the forefront of what we do. Beyond this, this is a capital- and resource-intensive business. Small changes can make huge differences in whether you are profitable and able to compete long term. We are often thinking of how to manage through the various business cycles we are likely to face.
