Women account for 19 percent of the total employment in the combined oil and gas, and petrochemical industries, according to a report from the American Petroleum Institute. Meanwhile, it's projected that petrochemical refineries will need to replace up to 40 percent of their current employees over the course of the next decade due to plant expansions and an aging workforce.
Nine Texas Gulf Coast community colleges, working as the Community College Petrochemical Initiative (CCPI), will address these issues and more during the Women in Industry: Petrochem Conference on Friday, Feb. 19.
Women in Industry is a one-day conference for women interested in well-paying career positions in the petrochemical industry. It is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 19, at Hotel Galvez in Galveston.
Attendees will hear from women already working the industry about actual job experiences, how to best prepare for these careers, what training is required, and how to network with other women while on the job.
The morning track will provide information about petrochemical and industrial trades career fields—and how women are finding success in a once male-dominated profession. The afternoon track will show women, who are already employed in the industry, how to “take the next step” in their career, and how to make networking a valuable ally.
Scheduled breaks during the day will allow participants time to meet industry representatives from companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron Phillips, Covestro, Noltex, Jacobs, and others.
The day will end with “how to make it happen” sessions where women can learn about financial aid, child care, fast track courses, certificate and associate degree programs at the area’s nine community colleges.
Learn more about Women in Industry at EventBrite.com/womeninpetrochem, or contact Kelly Dando, CCPI grant coordinator, at 281.425.6221, or kdando@lee.edu.
