American RENOLIT’s 25 years in La Porte have brought a plethora of quality plastic products, a rich variety of community investments, and a boost in local career opportunities to the area. Maintenance Technician Tod Stewart and Maintenance Technician Darth Phillips are proud to have seized the opportunity to work at American RENOLIT when it made its debut in La Porte and have enjoyed working for the company for the past 25 years.
Stewart started his career at American RENOLIT on May 23, 1999, and is happy he found a job that he genuinely enjoys going to every single day.
“This has been a really great job,” Stewart said. “I enjoy my job because I am in maintenance, so every day is a whole new day and everything is different. It definitely has its challenges and its ups and downs, but I really, truly enjoy my job.”
Stewart and Phillips both feel that the variety that comes with each new day keeps their jobs interesting and engaging. They also believe that the ability to grow their work from a job into a career fueled them to learn, develop new skills, and ultimately continue working at American RENOLIT long-term.
Unsure of the career path he wanted to pursue, Phillips chose to work at American RENOLIT in the autumn of 1999 when he learned that it not only offered ample opportunity to grow but also encouraged advancement and continued education.
“I felt like it was a good place to make a home, so I just worked my way up,” Phillips said. “I became an operator, learned how to run all the machines in the place, and became a backup supervisor. From there, I decided to start doing some schooling and move into the maintenance field. I was there for about 12 years before I moved into maintenance. They actually encourage schooling, training, and advancement.”
For the past quarter of a century, American RENOLIT has provided stable, well-paying jobs in La Porte, but this is not all it has brought to the community. The company has a substantial history of community service ranging from supply donations to schools, teachers and the local animal shelter to time and financial donations to The Pax Center. This commitment to community betterment makes Stewart, Phillips, and their coworkers – including Stewart’s wife – proud to work for American RENOLIT.
American RENOLIT also hosts and participates in fun employee events throughout the year with Stewart’s favorite being the Dragon Boat Races.
“I do enjoy the Dragon Boat Races,” Stewart said. “I now have a respiratory problem, but when we did the Dragon Boat Races in the past, I used to get out there and do all of the hot dog and hamburger grilling for all the people. That was fun; I had a great time doing that.”
Events like the Dragon Boat Races and the time spent working with the American RENOLIT staff have nurtured a family-style atmosphere at the company. American RENOLIT supervisors and managers take into account employees’ unique life circumstances to create a considerate work environment, which is a huge plus for Phillips.
“I’ve loved it here. It’s like family; I’ve made lifelong friends. It’s allowed me to provide a good life for my family,” Phillips said.
Off the clock, Phillips enjoys spending time outside with his family and dog, playing frisbee, exploring parks, and attending concerts with his wife.
Stewart enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren, especially in nature. He and his family enjoy visiting national parks, traveling, and kayaking.
For more information about American RENOLIT’s 25 years in La Porte, visit its website.