From ensuring all operations are running smoothly on site to staffing department personnel, Bayport’s new Operations Manager, Emmanuel Gatling, is excited to bring a fresh perspective and competitive spirit to Houston.

“With my unique background in operations and production engineering, I’m looking forward to bringing fresh eyes and new ideas to help Monument take that next step in terms of growth,” Emmanuel explained. “We have some big production milestones we want to hit as a site and as a company, and I know my skills and experience can play a role in getting us there.”

That experience includes working on a greenfield site right after graduation, in which Emmanuel would oversee the development and operations of a brand new chemical power plant. From understanding the functionality of the pumps and receiving equipment to implementing the new safety and operations procedures, he was deeply involved in all the phases of the plant’s development. “I learned so much in terms of all the moving parts that make a site run both safely and smoothly — and as well as overcoming the challenges along the way.”

But Emmanuel claims the biggest takeaway from the whole experience was that the most valuable asset of any successful plant is a strong company culture. “It’s not just about understanding how to deal with different personalities,” Emmanuel shared. “It’s about developing a family attitude that levels the playing field, like we have here at Monument, and as a manager, knowing how to create the right environment for that growth and maturity.”

That actually happens to be Emmanuel’s favorite part about Monument’s culture, emphasizing that far too often companies put all their focus on the development of a product and neglect the development of their own employees — something he noticed right away, that wasn’t the case at Bayport. “I love having the ability to develop people and help others achieve their goals; that was such an important aspect for me when coming to Monument,” Emmanuel explained. “We have a mentality here that we’re constantly asking what do you want to do? Where do you want to go? And we create a plan allowing them to shadow the right people or take on new responsibilities, which also helps us generate longevity and maintain continuity as a company. I believe that as a leader, you can only do as well as the people you lead, so for me, that means keeping morale and engagement high and continuing to stretch their abilities to help them grow.”

Leadership comes fairly naturally to Emmanuel too as a former SEC football player at Mississippi State University (with a Chemical Engineering degree and MBA). “God, family, and football! That was always the mentality growing up. Sports have instilled such a competitive spirit in me — when problems arise, you don’t quit; you find a solution. I’m constantly working to make myself better and help those around me do the same. We have such incredible people here at Monument, and it’s a team I’m very proud to be a part of.”