Family, Safety and Productivity: Celebrating 35 Years of Excellence in Billings
As Tessenderlo Kerley’s Jupiter Sulphur plant in Billings, Montana celebrated its 35th anniversary, the leadership team was quickly reminded of the keys to the plant’s success and growth.
“Many things have changed since our Billings plant was founded, but one thing that hasn’t is its commitment to our Core Values, which include its culture of teamwork,” said Tessenderlo Kerley Executive Vice President Russell Sides. “It’s one of the top reasons that we’ve been able to grow and deliver our products to customers in that region and well beyond.”
“I am impressed every time I visit our Billings plant,” said Jupiter Sulphur President Dawn Kominski. “The team there always comes through from their commitment to safety to their timely deliveries. Their hard work is so important to our current and future success.”
The Billings plant is one of two that Tessenderlo Kerley operates for Jupiter Sulphur, a joint venture with Phillips 66. It produces Thio-Sul®, Tessenderlo Kerley’s original fertilizer, as well as ABS and NaHS, key products for moleko’s customers in the mining industry.
“Our culture is that of your typical family,” said Billings Plant Manager John Welch. “We can have differing opinions, but we always communicate and work through any issues.”
“The plant is important to us, our customers and their growers,” said Scott Gosse, regional sales manager for Crop Vitality. “Their supply, their quality and their dedication to keeping the inventory flowing for us is amazing.”
Moleko Technical Sales Engineer Jorge Gonzalez said Billings’ NaHS production provides quality product that Tessenderlo Kerley’s mining customers in North American depend on – including customers who were impressed when they visited the plant a few years ago. “They hadn’t realized how big the storage tanks are, how pristine the plant is, and how we produce our products safely,” Gonzalez said. “The visit reinforced our position as their trusted supplier.”
Billings’ 35th anniversary celebration included an open Q&A with the management teams, and a family barbecue at a nearby park, complete with games and prizes on a perfect Montana summer afternoon.
“The Q&A session was a great opportunity for employees to ask questions regarding future plans,” Welch said. “We were blessed with perfect weather and great food at the barbecue, which made for a very enjoyable experience for our team members and their families.”
As the Billings plant continues to grow, Welch said his team’s commitment to safety, productivity, operational excellence, teamwork and trust won’t change.
“We take a great deal of pride and ownership in our facility,” he said. “Our team is very passionate about what we do.”