LyondellBasell Engineer Looks Back on Career

CLINTON, Iowa February 18, 2019 – There is no typical day for LyondellBasell engineer Steve Cahoy and that is exactly the way he likes it. A graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, Cahoy chose a career based on his inquisitive nature.

“When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time in my dad’s welding and machine shop and working on our family farm in Iowa,” said Cahoy. “These were great environments to interact with machines and learn how they worked, disassemble and fix things and brainstorm creative ways to do or build something.”

Cahoy’s favorite memories of his childhood are the countless days he spent teaching himself basic electronics which included exploratory “surgery” on nonworking stereos, televisions and radios.

It was in school where Cahoy first fell in love with math and science and was encouraged early on by teachers and counselors to consider a career in engineering.

“Knowing I enjoyed learning what made things tick and seeing ideas turn into interesting objects, and taking many encouragements from others to heart, I decided I wanted to study engineering and be in the field someday,” Cahoy said.

Soon a child’s curiosity about machines led to a degree in mechanical engineering and a challenging career at LyondellBasell’s Clinton Complex. Cahoy can now be found in the reliability department, analyzing equipment or parts and reviewing maintenance strategies.
The Clinton Complex employs over 400 workers and is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the Midwest.

Finding the right industry that could use his talents and curious nature was important to Cahoy, and lucky for him, he didn’t have to look very far.

“I began to think a manufacturing setting would offer a good balance of office and field environments, and be a good fit for me,” Cahoy said. “I was initially surprised to find a company in Iowa that had such a variety of equipment, technology and opportunities. During interviews, I was impressed with the longevity of many employees and how they spoke proudly about their accomplishments. I knew I had found my place.”

Now Cahoy spends his days collaborating with peers, vendors and other industry experts in disciplines such as electrical, chemical, operational, mechanical, environment and safety. His curiosity is satisfied by exploring and implementing improvement ideas, while looking for ways to incorporate them into projects. Examples include his work in reliability, a process he calls of studying what makes equipment run inefficiently, then applying some science and out-of-the-box thinking to eliminate those common functional failures so that equipment runs longer, performs better, and breaks-down less.

“There are days when I’m in an office environment all day but others I’m next to a process machine, or in a maintenance shop, at a supplier’s factory, or amongst industry peers at a safety or reliability conference,” Cahoy said.

When looking at the next wave of future engineers, Cahoy offers this advice. “Engineering is a broad field that can fit many personality types and personal goals, so don’t get caught up in or distracted by any stereotype you may have of engineering. There are opportunities with so many different groups and in countless settings,” Cahoy said.
Grateful for the career he has made for himself, Cahoy finds motivation in continual improvement not just in systems and equipment but in personal performance too.

From a journey that began with taking things part, Cahoy is now building a future at LyondellBasell and is taking an active role in the Clinton community where he and his family now call home. His family shares his love for the community through their passion for helping others through their work helping United Way of Clinton County.

“Becoming an engineer has broadened both my personal and professional life,” Cahoy said. “I certainly look forward to learning and exploring more of what the world has to offer and engineering gives me that opportunity daily.”

About LyondellBasell
LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road, and ensuring the safe and effective functionality in electronics and appliances. LyondellBasell sells products into more than 100 countries and is the world's largest producer of polymer compounds and the largest licensor of polyolefin technologies. In 2018, LyondellBasell was named to Fortune magazine’s list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.” More information about LyondellBasell can be found at  www.LyondellBasell.com.

About LyondellBasell’s Clinton Complex
With approximately 400 employees and contractors, and covering an area of almost 239 acres, the Clinton Complex is one of the largest chemical plants in Iowa. Using natural gas liquids as a feedstock, the plant manufactures ethylene, the world’s most widely-used petrochemical, which is then converted into polyethylene plastic resins. These resins are the building blocks for products such as leak-proof and shatter-proof containers for industrial and household chemicals, packaging that protects food from spoilage and contamination, and children’s toys that are safe and durable.

Media Contact: Megan Borchers O: 815-942-7474 C. 815-210-1980 megan.borchers@lyb.com