Mark Givens - Site Capital Projects Construction Manager
Motiva Port Arthur Manufacturing Complex

He has been at the site since joining as an Operator in 1990. In the last 34 years with Motiva, he has held roles as Maintenance Support Manager, maintenance Supervisor, and Operations Maintenance Coordinator.

Mark enjoys spending time with family and being active outdoors.

Keith Jeffreys - Project Director
PCL Construction

Keith Jeffreys is an experienced professional with over 36 years in the construction industry, specializing in the petrochemical and power sectors. He joined PCL Industrial Construction Co. in 2004 and has since served in various leadership roles, culminating in his current position as Operations Manager since 2020. In this capacity, Keith oversees executive management duties such as estimate reviews, project execution planning, personnel logistics, customer relations, and overall corporate operations.

With over 25 years of supervisory experience, Keith has excelled as a project director, construction manager, and project superintendent. His expertise spans a range of hands-on activities including crane operations, rigging, jack and slide operations, structural steel erection, duct erection, pipe fabrication, pipe welding, and pipe fitting.

Beyond the challenges and successes of his day-to-day duties, Keith brings a passion and dedication to mentorship, actively guiding young professionals to become the next generation of construction leaders. Keith enlisted in the US Army shortly after completing high school, and through his military experience and years spent coaching baseball as a volunteer, he has further honed the skills essential for effective mentorship.

Dawanna Jones MPA, M.ed. - Community Engagement
Bechtel Energy Inc.

Dawanna Jones MPA, M.ed. was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. After attending local schools, she graduated from Central Senior High School. She then went on to obtain an Associate of Arts in Management Development from Lamar Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Applied Arts & Science Lamar University, a Master of Education in Educational Technology Leadership, and a Master of Public Administration in Public Management from Arkansas State University.

Dawanna has a servant attitude and loves helping others achieve their personal and professional goals. She was a high school business and financial educator for 15 years. Motivating, inspiring, and teaching others financial literacy and entrepreneurship is her passion. With a passion and gift to help others succeed, she has found that developing leaders and individuals is what she loves most. Currently, she is employed with Bechtel Energy Inc. as a Community Engagement Specialist. A woman of many hats, she has founded several small businesses including a craft business, website and social media management, photography, editorial services, tax preparation and educational consulting. She is also the founder and president of Black Business Professionals of SETX and Senoj Professional Business Services.

In 2021, Dawanna was recognized as a young leader to watch by the 100 + Black Women Coalition of Beaumont, Inc., and in 2022 she was recognized as a Woman of Integrity by the Better Business Bureau. She has been featured in several publications and a guest speaker for several events. Dawanna has also partnered with the BBB on business workshops and has served on the Volunteer Planning Committee for the Professional Women's Conference. 

Dawanna loves serving the Lord and is an active member in her church. She is a member of several organizations and enjoys giving back to the community.

Dawanna also has a commitment to life-long learning and takes pleasure in reading and learning new things. In her free time, she enjoys being a crafter, cooking, and the outdoors. 

Damien Okun - Owner
Nuko Enterprises LLC

Damien Okun is the owner of Nuko Enterprises LLC, Nuko Commercial & Residential LLC, and Nuko Real Estate LLC. With a wealth of experience exceeding 20 years in the petrochemical and construction industry, he has held management positions for over 10 years, overseeing various projects from turnarounds to capital endeavors, encompassing new constructions to rehabilitations. Damien's expertise extends across both downstream and midstream markets. Transitioning three years ago to establish his own construction company Nuko Enterprises in Vidor, Texas, Damien, in collaboration with his partners, has expanded into commercial and residential projects across Southeast Texas.

Damien aims to establish a company based on integrity, respect, and honesty, offering fair prices and quality work. Old-fashioned values are particularly important to him. Maintaining a good reputation, integrity, and keeping your word are key values upheld in all endeavors. 

He is a member of the BBB, Greater Chamber of Commerce, Vidor Chamber of Commerce and Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce. 

Damien is married to his wife Ashton of 19 years, and they have 3 children ages 16, 13 and 10.

Travis Woods - Co-Owner
T&L Solutions LLC

Travis is renowned chemical industry consultant with over 40 years of experience in his field. He utilized the skills he developed in electrical contracting to establish T&L Solutions LLC in 2010. T&L Solutions is a business development company that helps assist contractors in navigating the vetting process necessary to work along the Gulf Coast in Chemical plants and refineries as well as the wood products industry. Currently, T&L Solutions utilizes a portfolio of hundreds of clients in the Industrial planning and energy industries.

 Furthermore, Travis and three other business men created and he is active as the president of the Gulf Coast Industrial Group for 13 years, under whose auspices he helps connect plant owners with qualified contractors. The Gulf Coast Industrial Group network now consists of group meeting not only in Lake Charles, but in Port Arthur, Pasadena, Baton Rouge as well as the Golden Triangle Industrial Group in Beaumont. The Gulf Coast Industrial Group Networks has over 1500 contractor/supplier  members representing over 150,000 employees across the nation. 

In addition to his work in industry, Travis and his wife Lois are singer/ songwriters. Travis’s band,  The Classics Recovered has performed many concerts with such names as Reba McIntire, John Anderson, Mickey Gilley and Charlie Daniels just to name a few and has assisted in raising more than $4 million for charity over the last decade.

Moreover, Travis was the entertainment chairman of the Beaumont, Texas chapter of the American Cancer Society for 14 years. He additionally serves as the chairman of the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce Contractors Group, Member of the Beaumont Chamber, and sits on the board with  The Bowman Foundation. 

Travis was born and raised in Ruston, Louisiana where he attended Louisiana Tech University and has been married to Lois for 47 years. They have one daughter, Amy. Amy has 2 daughters that are the light of Travis’ life. Sadie 7 and Gracie 4.

Travis and his family are members of the First Baptist Church in Buna, Texas

Travis gives God the credit for allowing him to work in a field that he loves and for providing a platform from which he can help others. Also, for making it possible to work with so many talented and hard working people along the Gulf Coast.

Kristie Young - Manager
Orange County Local First

Kristie Young brings over 25 years of professional experience gained while working in various sectors in Southeast Texas including nonprofit management, healthcare, higher education, oil and gas and economic development. Kristie recently launched KMY Consulting which provides workforce development, economic development, government affairs and grant writing consultation services. Currently, she is the Local First liaison in Orange County which is an initiative to help develop and connect local companies with business opportunities.  

One of the highlights of Kristie’s career was establishing a foundation at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas where she still serves on the advisory board. She has served on numerous boards and committees including the Rotary Club of Beaumont, Junior League of Beaumont, Press Club of Southeast Texas, the Beaumont Children's Museum and the Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas Workforce Board, to name a few. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Kristie is an Aggie Women board president emerita and a past member of the Communications Department advisory board.

Kristie has received awards from numerous agencies including Pioneering Women, Junior League of Beaumont and Beaumont Junior Forum. Kristie and her husband, Rodney, live in Beaumont and have two boys, Haden and Bryce.

Chad Anderson, Global CTO/Head of Manufacturing, Indorama Ventures Integrated Oxides and Derivatives 

Chad joined Indorama Ventures Limited (IVL) in January 2020 as Vice President of Manufacturing of IVL’s Integrated Oxides and Derivatives, a new vertical that comprises (i) the Chemical Intermediates and Surfactants business acquired from Huntsman Corporation in January 2020, (ii) IVL’s legacy EO/EG business in the US and (iii) IVL’s recently commissioned 440,000 ton/year ethane cracker in Westlake, LA. Chad has worked in the Chemical industry for over 20 years in a variety of manufacturing positions. He has spent the bulk of his career working for Huntsman Chemicals, now Indorama. Prior to Huntsman, Chad held various roles with Lucite International, Akzo Nobel Polymer Chemical and Equistar. He is based in Port Neches, Texas. Over the years, Chad has served on several regional development boards. His affiliations include Texas Chemistry Council, Lamar University Engineering Council, Texas Energy Museum, Baptist Hospital Foundation of Southeast Texas, and South Jefferson County Salvation Army. Chad earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Lamar University. He began his career at Equistar in 1996 before subsequently moving to Huntsman and Indorama.

Michael Mustian, Beaumont Complex Manager - ExxonMobil 

During his more than 17 years with the company, Michael Mustian has held various positions of increasing responsibility both nationally and internationally. Mustian has served the company in 12 different roles in five locations, including Houston, Baton Rouge La., Sarnia, Canada, and Brussels.

Mustian was born and raised in LaPlace, La., and obtained his chemical engineering degree from Louisiana Tech University located in Ruston, La.

Following the receipt of his degree, Mustian began his career in 2005 at the ExxonMobil Beaumont Polyethylene Plant supporting the process safety department. Before his current role as Beaumont Complex manager, Mustian served as the global Oxo Alcohols and Plasticizers marketing manager in Houston, and most recently, manager for the Beaumont Chemical Plant.

Mustian has spent more than half of his 17 years with the company supporting manufacturing sites and is excited to be in Beaumont with a broadened perspective and energized approach to achieving manufacturing excellence.

Mustian’s leadership style reflects his moral obligation to keep people safe while ensuring they feel empowered to take on challenges that will further support their personal and professional development. He takes initiative to ensure that he fosters a work environment that adequately represents the diverse Southeast Texas community. He leads with the following key principles, to support safety on both sides of the fence line, take care of the workforce and community, and support safe, reliable, and profitable operations.

Michael is married to his wife, Courtney, and father to three beautiful children Declan, Finnegan and Ellison. He spends much of his spare time with his family, playing golf, and watching various sports.

He holds leadership positions as vice chair for the Southeast Texas Plant Managers Forum and servs as a board member for the Texas Energy Museum and the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce.

Mark Skobel, Vice-President and General Manager - Valero Port Arthur Refinery

Mark began his tenure at the Port Arthur Refinery in August of 2017.  He began his refining career in 1977 as an Operator for the Charter Oil refinery in Houston Texas.  Mark has held lead roles at six Valero locations.  He has served as the Vice President and General Manager at the Valero refineries in Krotz Springs, Louisiana; Lima, Ohio; Houston, Texas; Meraux, Louisiana; Memphis, Tennessee; and most recently here in Port Arthur, Texas.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Education from California University in California, Pennsylvania, and a Master of Science Degree in Occupational Education from the University of Houston. 

He has been actively involved with many organizations in each of the communities where Valero facilities are located including the United Way, Junior Achievement, LIT Foundation, The Texas Energy Museum, Southeast Texas Plant Manager’s Forum, and the Port Arthur Industry and Community Leader’s Advisory Group.

Mark and his wife, Jill, have been married 33 years.  They are the proud parents of two children who have blessed them with two Grandchildren.  Their son, Steven is the owner of STS Petroleum in League City, Texas and their daughter, Julia, is a Trauma Surgeon in Jackson, MS.

Randy Sonnier, Manager, Industrial Purchasing TotalEnergies 

Randy serves as the Manager, Industrial Purchasing TotalEnergies for the last 14 years. Randy joined Fina Oil and Chemical in 1990 and has held various positions within the organization (Mechanical Supervisor, Marketing Representative, Training Coordinator and Procurement Purchaser, WH Supervisor) Randy has been with TotalEnergies for 32 years and was previously employed with Gulf Oil/Chevron for 10 years prior to joining Fina Oil and Chemicals.

His department provides procurement services (Industrials Goods and site Warehouse Management) for TotalEnergies Port Arthur, La Porte Polypropylene, BayStar Polyethylene, Carville Styrene Monomer/Polystyrene, LaPorte Technical Center, Cray Valley sites located in Beaumont, Channelview, Grand Junction Colorado, Stratford Connecticut, and Chatom Alabama.

Randy serves as the 2023 Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce President, Board Member of the Nederland Chamber of Commerce. He was recently re-elected to his second term on the Nederland City Council representing Ward 3. Randy served for 15+ years as a board member and two term president of the Hughen School in Port Arthur. He is the recipient of the Aurora Sertoma Service to Mankind Award and named a Paul Harris Fellow by The Rotary Foundation.

He is married to Shari (Sumrall) Sonnier and will celebrate 42 years of marriage this  year. He has two children, Whitney Wolf and Jacob Sonnier, both of Nederland. He is also blessed with 3 grandchildren (Landry, Avery and Daphne).