UNDER THIRTY - Society of Manufacturing Engineers

Lauren WelchAge: 27Dow ChemicalSeoul, Republic of KoreaLauren Welch had a strong math and sciencebackground in high school, but it wasn’t untilshe was a first year student at Mississippi Statewhen an engineering professor described thedifference between a scientist and an engineer that hercareer path was sealed. “My professor described thedifference between a scientist and an engineer this way:the scientist wonders fundamentally how somethingworks; an engineer wonders how it can be used to solvepractical, everyday problems. I quickly saw that I wasan engineer,” Lauren said.Chemical engineering (Lauren earned a BS ChemEfrom MSU) has opened many doors to her and shehas responded enthusiastically and successfully toevery opportunity. She joined Dow in July 2007 as anew college graduate andworked in process engineeringroles on a numberof site projects in Freeport,Texas, gaining experience in the Turnaround in theFreeport TDI plant to complement and build on herprocess design knowledge.In 2009, Lauren began work as a core processengineer on the development of the technology licensingpackage for the $500MM TDI/TDA Project thatDow supplied to the $20B Dow/Aramco Joint VentureMegaproject, known as Sadara. Now under constructionin Saudi Arabia and scheduled to begin operationsin 2015, this massive complex is the largest singlepetrochemical complex ever to be constructed at onetime. She took on the Lead Process Engineering role forthe TDI/TDA Project on the Sadara Team in Houstonand later relocated to Seoul to support the engineeringprocess work.In the words of her Level 2 Supervisor, Jeff Patterson,“Lauren continued to use her technical knowledge,"I enjoy being part of next generationtechnology. Innovation is exciting to me."UNDER THIRTYdrive to perform, and outstanding people skills to overseethe completion of the process engineering work andsupport the detailed design work. To further challengeherself and broaden her skills, she has taken on the roleof Process Automation engineer for the phosgenationtrains and all equipment inside the secondary containmentdomes, some of the more technically complexareas of the plant.”Lauren’s experience of working in a foreign countryhas been life changing, both professionally andculturally. “The Korean engineering workplace is amuch more formal, business professional environmentthan in the US. There is an age hierarchy in Korea thatcan be challenging for young professionals. Successrequires understanding of how and when to raise issueswhile respecting theculture. Weekly after-workactivities with colleaguesplay an important role indoing business in Korea. The team really loosens upand issues that aren’t discussed in the office tend tocome out freely. Participating in team building is amust,” Lauren said.The next international posting challenge may be evenmore formidable than Korea. Lauren, her husband whois also on the Sadara project and her 5-month old son,Porter, are moving to Saudi Arabia during the fourthquarter to commission and start up the worldscalegrassroots chemical plant. “My goal is to successfullynavigate through the challenges of being a femaleprofessional in a country where female professionals inthe workplace are still a minority. I enjoy being part ofnext generation technology. Innovation is exciting to me.I have set a work/life balance goal with my highest prioritybeing to raise my son. It’s easy to become consumedby your job when you enjoy it.” METHIRTY UNDER THIRTY PROFILES18 ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | July 2013