CITGO Joins Local Industry to Reach Potential Workforce

LEMONT, Ill., Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, the CITGO Lemont Refinery participated in the Three Rivers Manufacturers' Association's Manufacturing Day (MFG Day), a program designed to introduce area high school students to manufacturing careers.

Recently held at the main campus of Joliet Junior College, this year's event attracted more than 750 students from 13 schools, including students from Lockport Township High School and Romeoville High School.  In addition to exploring company displays, students participated in "Manufacturing Jeopardy," and heard from author and speaker EJ Carrion, who shared his personal story of transformation from average high school student to successful entrepreneur.  

According to Ray Woodworth, Three Rivers Manufacturers' Association (TRMA) Executive Director, manufacturing remains strong in both Will and Grundy counties - offering high quality, high paying jobs. Because association members value community investment and education, they are committed to helping students explore local manufacturing careers through opportunities like MFG Day.

This year, the CITGO display featured the refinery's thermographic camera, which provides a visual representation of how infrared energy is emitted by objects.  Students were able to see their own image on the screen and learn how CITGO utilizes this technology in the refining process. In addition, employees from the refinery served on the MFG Day planning committee.

"MFG Day provides our employees with another opportunity to share their expertise and experience.  It's our hope that these high school students consider CITGO when they are ready to join the local workforce," said Dennis Willig, CITGO Lemont Vice President and General Manager.

ABOUT CITGO

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry with a well-known brand. CITGO operates three refineries located in Corpus Christi, Texas; Lake Charles, La.; and Lemont, Ill., and wholly and/or jointly owns 48 terminals, nine pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,400 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 749,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO is ranked as the sixth-largest, and one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products and supplies a network of approximately 5,200 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets in 30 states and the District of Columbia. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.citgo.com.

SOURCE CITGO