Three Generations of Langfitts Reflect on their LyondellBasell Careers
June 14, 2019
CLINTON, Iowa June 14, 2019 – At 10-years-old, Cody Langfitt remembers attending LyondellBasell Clinton Complex company picnics with his dad Matt. The atmosphere and people made a positive impression on him from an early age. He recalls vivid memories of looking up to endless pipes, valves, metal and steel.
Cody’s dad, Matt, can also relate, as his father Dave was a Clinton Complex employee in 1970’s, making the Langfitt family first, second and third generation LyondellBasell workers. Like Cody’s dad, he enjoys having his son work at the plant too.
“Seeing my grandfather retire from LyondellBasell after 35 years and seeing my father work here for the majority of my life, I knew it had to be a pretty good place to work,” said Cody, now an Operator at the facility.
The Clinton Complex has become a Langfitt family affair. Matt, who is a training specialist, recalls Dave always commenting on how to complete tasks the safe way at home, like mowing the lawn or using the grill.
“After working at the Clinton site, I understand where the concern came from,” Matt said. “He is safety-minded and always has been. Seventeen years ago, when I started, I thought safety was great at the site. Now I think it is unbelievable. We are always wondering what the next step is we can take to ensure everyone goes home safely.”
Dave agrees.
“When I started working at the Clinton Complex everything was done with expectable work practices at the time and I always felt safe,” said Dave. “There have been large-scale improvements especially in hearing protection, chemical exposure and operating procedures that makes me feel that Matt and Cody are safer today than I was 45 years ago. The process continues to evolve.”
Like Cody, Matt too has fond childhood memories of the Clinton Complex through his dad Dave.
“As a young child, I remember going and getting pizza with my mother and taking it to the gate at work for my dad when he was working an outage,” said Matt. “It’s funny to look back at that now, not knowing that I would be one of those workers one day.”
Although a lot has changed over the years, the Langfitts feel fortunate for the time they have spent working at LyondellBasell.
“I am happy and proud that both Matt and Cody choose to follow in my footsteps to work for a company that I consider to be the number one work place in the area,” said Dave. “Sure, all the buildings I worked out of are now demolished,” Dave says with a laugh, “but I am happy to see the continued growth and development for what is still to come in the years ahead.”
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