Barry Klein Retirement - a letter to the community

Friends and Neighbors of Shell Deer Park,

After 32 years with Shell, the last 5½ of which have been here at Deer Park, I have elected to retire, and my last day will be July 31. The next General Manager for Deer Park will be Greg Willms. Greg is currently Vice President of Manufacturing Support & Excellence in our corporate office and is no stranger to the General Manager position, having served as both General Manager at the Scotford and Port Arthur refineries previously. I have no doubt he will serve this site and the community well. He will begin onboarding in July, and more details about Greg and our transition, including an open house for the community, will be shared then. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming Greg to Deer Park.

Deciding to retire has been a difficult one for me for one reason – the people I’ve gotten to work with and call family. Since January 2013, it has been my pleasure to serve this site and community as General Manager of Deer Park. Deer Park is comprised of wonderful people who have continually inspired me to serve our community and world with the products that power progress and push for excellence in all we do. Additionally, I have been quite fortunate to spend my working years within Shell, starting as a new engineer just out of university to now General Manager of the largest manufacturing site within Shell. I have learned so much and grown personally beyond measure over these 32 years.

While my colleagues and Shell have been with me for much of my journey, one woman has walked alongside me stretching all the way back to my high school days – my wife, Kim. Over our adult years, we have moved multiple times, raised two sons, gained a daughter-in-law and welcomed a grandson. It is time with her, our family and close friends that I look forward to most. There may also be a fair share of motorcycle riding and travelling as well – pastimes that have been difficult to keep up with over the years. We will be spending much of our time between Austin and Houston. If you have any suggestions of places to visit or explore, we are filling out our retirement itinerary now.  

I look forward to seeing as many of you as I can to say thanks and goodbye. If I don’t get the chance to see you before July 31, it truly has been a pleasure to be part of this site and community’s heritage. Thank you for all you do to make this place, the “Birthplace of Texas,” so special.

Regards,

Barry Klein
Deer Park Site GM