More than a Polyethylene Manufacturer: Shell Polymers’ Community Engagement
Shell Polymers supports the local community by providing lucrative learning and career opportunities, STEM program support, and supplies for income-restricted families.
Shell Polymers Supports the Beaver County Community
In addition to investing in Monaca’s educational programs, Shell Polymers gives back to the community through service, whether that’s by renovating public amenities or supporting local organizations. Employees are encouraged to volunteer their time and energy to local charity organizations and benefits, like renovating the playground at Port City Park in Vanport, maintaining the flower beds at the Penn State Extension near Beaver Valley Mall, or serving at the community food bank. In addition, Shell Polymers also partners with local businesses to provide essential supplies including meals and hygiene products for families in need.
One of many volunteer programs supported by Shell Polymers is CommuniCycle. This organization collects used bikes and parts and coordinates community events to assemble and repair them for deserving local kids and adults. Volunteers from our technical team spent part of a day assembling bikes. The experience not only helped our internal team-building but also helped make progress toward our goal of having 1,000 bikes ready for children and adults in the local area this summer.
An Advocate for Careers in STEM Fields
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6.4% of United States employment shares were STEM occupations, many of which were recorded with an annual mean wage in the six figures. Shell Polymers is committed to helping future generations of Pennsylvania students, like Production Operator Terence Gettings, acquire the knowledge and skills they need for a successful, rewarding career in science and engineering through academic partnerships. Shell Polymers proactively contributes to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in local schools, as well as empowers our engineers to make regular presentations in local high schools to highlight career opportunities in the sciences.
Read more about Shell Polymers' STEM partnerships here.
Empower the Local Community
Shell Polymer Pro - Lacree Parish | Shell videos in the Americas
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Shell - Steelers Partnership - Lacree Parrish
Duration: 1:41
Description:
Lacree Parrish is a mother of two, armed forces veteran and an employee at Shell Polymers in Monaca, PA. While being active duty in the Air Force Lacree and her family moved many times. With the opportunity she has at Shell Polymers, she now has a rewarding position and the stability of living in the Pittsburgh region near her extended family.
[Background Music]
Uplifting, emotional Sound of Shell background music plays
[VIDEO]
A young girl and her baby sister are giggling as they run toward their father in a living room. They hug him as he picks them up.
[VIDEO]
Lacree on camera in the living room.
[INTERVIEW]
On Camera:
I'm LaCree Parish. I'm from Pittsburgh, PA, and I live here now with my family.
[VIDEO]
Family is in the kitchen preparing lunch and enjoying each other's company.
On Camera:
Can I have a peanut butter and jelly?
Can I have a little bite?
[VIDEO]
Lacree is at her desk typing
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
I've been working for Shell Polymers for almost a year. I am a production operator. We're learning, we're in training, we're writing procedures.
[VIDEO]
Workers on Shell Polymers site in Monaca, PA
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
To be a part of it and see it being built from the ground up, it feels unreal.
[VIDEO]
Family photos
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
Being in the military, being in active duty, we moved all around for the past 10 years, really.
And this opportunity with Shell Polymers,
[VIDEO]
Lacree on camera in the living room.
[INTERVIEW]
On Camera:
has given us the chance to come back home, and be around family, and be in a permanent spot.
[VIDEO]
Lacree and her family at a large park fountain
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
Now that I have my two girls, and they get to spend time with their aunts, their uncles, wanting to go to their grandma,
[VIDEO]
Lacree on camera in the living room.
[INTERVIEW]
On Camera:
and I just look at their smiles, and know I'm doing something right.
[VIDEO]
Lacree and her family at a large park fountain
On Camera:
One, two, three. Jump!
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
My husband is active duty. The only reason why it does work is because I'm here, and I have my family to help me out. Working for Shell Polymers has benefited me in many ways. I want to stay in Pittsburgh. This has given me the opportunity to be here, and
[VIDEO]
Lacree on camera in the living room.
[INTERVIEW]
On Camera:
I really like being a part of the company, and I can't wait to see where I end up.
[VIDEO]
Lacree and her family at a large park fountain
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
Shell Polymers is the perfect place for me.
Close card with mnemonic
Shell Polymer Pro - Terence Gettings | Shell videos in the Americas
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Shell Polymers - Terence Gettings
Duration: 1:28
Description:
Terrance Gettings is a recent college graduate and proud employee of Shell Polymers. He enjoys being able to have a career and see his family. Terrance describes the impact the Shell Polymers plant has on his small town and the jobs, security and pride he feels working for Shell Polymers.
[Background Music]
Uplifting, emotional Sound of Shell background music plays
[VIDEO]
Terrance and a former instructor speak in a machine room.
[INTERVIEW]
Voice over:
Hey, Terence. Good to see you.
Hey. Good to see you too.
My name is Terence Gettings. I'm from Rochester, Pennsylvania, and I lived in Beaver County my whole life.
[VIDEO]
Terrance is in a room at his former school looking over a model of the Shell Polymers plant.
[INTERVIEW]
Voice over:
While I was a student at CCBC, I saw a presentation about their new process technology program. And from that moment, I figured out what I wanted to do as a career path.
After I graduated, I started
[VIDEO]
Aerial view of Shell Polymers plant under construction.
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
a career with Shell Polymers.
[VIDEO]
Terrance in his living room.
[INTERVIEW]
On Camera:
I'm very proud of myself because of all the expectations I had of myself or other people had of me, I've surpassed those.
[VIDEO]
Family photos
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
It's been amazing.
[VIDEO]
Terrance at work looking at large screen with a colleague.
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
I'm in a completely better situation than any job I ever had, and with this job, I actually can
[VIDEO]
Terence and his Dad fishing near a river.
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
spend more time with my family.
As I see the plant, I see a new beginning for Beaver County.
[VIDEO]
Terrance in living room.
[INTERVIEW]
On Camera:
After the steel industry declined, so did the area surrounding it. So I think this is going to be like a fresh start,
[VIDEO]
Shell Polymers plant in the distance and then more activity on the site.
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
but this gives people a reason to actually stay in this area. Most of my friends I actually grew up with, neighbors, they all work on-site. Building something, if they're flaggers, they're carpenters, they're all doing something on-site.
[VIDEO]
Terrance in the living room.
[INTERVIEW]
On Camera:
We're really proud to have this state-of-the-art facility built right in the center of our community.
[VIDEO]
Terence and his Dad fishing near a river.
[INTERVIEW]
Voiceover:
I wouldn't want it anywhere else.
Close card with mnemonic
Powering Pittsburgh
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Title: Powering Pittsburgh
Duration: 1:45
Description:
A short video recap of the Powering Pittsburgh competition
[open on quick cuts of Heinz field and the Powering Pittsburgh competition]
[Joe Minnitte, speaking to camera]
Today we are at Heinz Field to celebrate 72 kids across three counties that have created alternate ways to power Pittsburgh.
[Male student, speaking to camera]
The winning prize is tickets to a Steelers game, as well as a $1,500 grant to our school’s gifted program.
[Cindy Liu, speaking to camera]
The goal is to power Pittsburgh, a way to save energy so we won’t spend that much resources.
[Male student, speaking to camera]
Coming up generation and all the ideas here they are green energy ideas and the world’s limited fossil fuel are helping not only the environment but what’s to come.
[Arthur Bailey, speaking over shots of the competition and then to camera]
It’s important for us because the future of Shell Polymers is based on the young and creative minds that are developing together so we have individuals who are really getting excited about science and technology and engineering and mathematics. We want to be at the front end of that.
[Jenifer Cushman, speaking to camera
I think it’s wonderful to see the Steelers, in cooperation with Shell, run an event like this that focuses not just on athletics, but on the creativity of the mind which is what we really need to help us see our lives in the future.
[Female student speaking to camera]
And I really like just thinking about like ways to help the earth and make it better for everybody.
[Joe Minnitte, speaking to camera]
Shell Polymers is strongly committed to helping further the education of this region. What’s great about this partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers is that they have the same vision as us and they’re helping us reach kids in a way that is exciting for them. They get to come to Heinz Field on a school day and show of their ideas on how to make this world a better place. What could be better?
[Amy Davis, speaking to camera]
Based on the projects we saw today, I think our future is going to be very bright with these students in charge.
[Group of students, to camera]
Powering Pittsburgh!
Polyethylene Manufacturer Brings Career Opportunities
The location of Shell Polymers’ new polyethylene plant is creating employment opportunities for Beaver County residents. Shell Polymers also has a deep respect for military veterans like LaCree Parrish. Special recruiting events held earlier this year appealed directly and successfully to veterans, who will represent more than 10% of the operator workforce at the new plant.
In addition to expanding career options within the Monaca, PA community, Shell Polymers is also encouraging students to consider jobs in manufacturing by contributing to STEM programs at local institutions and sending Polymer Pros to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. The goal is to expand local training programs, so upcoming industry professionals have access to the technology needed to succeed.
Embed Sustainable Best Practices Into Community Projects
Safety, the environment, and communities are vital considerations when we plan, design, and operate our projects and facilities. Here are 10 ways we approach sustainability in our project.