SPOTLIGHT Kendra Lee, CEO Merichem Company Blazing a trail for women in the oil and gas industry There are fewer women in oil and gas than in almost any other industry, according to Catalyst, the global nonprofit that advocates for workplaces that work for women. Despite calls for diversity and inclusion, we are but a tiny army that accounts for less than 22% of oil and gas employees. Only 17% of women hold senior-level positions in the industry, and just 1% are CEOs. Yet research shows companies with a significant number of women in executive positions outperform their peers. And not by a little. There is an undeniable connection between women in senior positions and companies that are more profitable, socially responsible, and provide safer, higher-quality customer experiences than their counterparts. There is a myriad of reasons. Women leaders typically bring a fresh perspective that often sparks positive change and better performance companywide due to high proficiency in traits like compassion, integrity, and emotional intelligence. Women executives are considered risk averse but more open to change, which creates a shift from closed doors to an environment of open, accountable communication and execution. I am fortunate to be in the company of the one percent. I joined Merichem Company in 1996, the chemical company founded by my grandfather, John T. Files, and two business partners in 1945. I entered the company as an entry-level laboratory technician. Although interesting work, I was not suited for the research lab. An opportunity opened in sales, so I moved into that role before pursuing my MBA. I became the corporate treasurer when the company leadership changed after my grandfather’s passing. In 2014, I became CEO. Since then, my focus has been on employees, company culture, community, and innovation. The Complexity of Merichem Merichem Company was founded with the vision of taking a by-product and or potential waste product and creating a product with high demand for industry. My grandfather and his partners bought M&M Chemical in Houston along Greens Bayou, an offshoot of the ship channel. It was initially a soap and industrial cleaning company, which they relaunched for the cresylic acid business. Merichem received spent caustic containing cresylic acids from refineries and recovered the cresylic acid, which they refined and purified to sell into the industrial chemicals market. In 1997, the company evolved into a technology provider when we put our largest chemical business into a joint venture with Sasol. In 2012, Sasol took over the chemical business, leaving Merichem room to focus on two primary trades, Merichem Process Technology and Merichem Caustic Services. Merichem Process Technology engineers, designs, and fabricates proprietary and non-proprietary equipment for sulfur removal. We also manufacture catalysts that remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and convert it into elemental sulfur. Merichem Caustic Services works with companies by managing spent caustic by-products through an extensive logistics network. Spent caustic is typically considered a waste product, but Merichem can repurpose the spent caustic into multiple beneficial reuse applications, including as a make-up chemical for the pulp and paper industry. Using sulfidic caustic rather than virgin caustic is eco-friendlier and more affordable for our clients. Beneficially reusing the sulfidic caustic has the added advantage for refineries by allowing them to dispose of the waste more efficiently and safely as it is no longer manifested as hazardous waste by the EPA. We also pioneered the recovery of cresylic acids from heavy fluid catalytic cracking spent caustics. In the 70s, we invested in our own barges, developed the revolutionary FIBER FILM® extraction process, and acquired the John T. Files Technical Center for our research and development initiatives. Acquisitions and steady global growth followed as we expanded our capabilities to include chemical manufacturing and fabrication capabilities for our modules and proprietary equipment. Today, we continue to innovate. We have granted over 1,250 technical licenses to operate our various technology offerings. We increased our offerings to include caustic management services for beneficial reuse, which promotes sustainability, and other technology solutions to allow caustics to be sent to wastewater treatment systems. Kicking Bias to the Curb Throughout the company’s transitions, I became keenly aware that women bring different leadership skills and behaviors to my company. It’s not just about diversity of gender. It’s about diversity of thought and balance for better decision-making. 66 enterprising Women
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