Employee Profile
Name: Nonna C.
Title: Refinery Process Development Group PDG
Career Area:
Engineering & Operations
Location: Martorell, Spain
Education: Master Degree of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
“I enjoy working in a hands-on environment, I’m lucky to see all what I studied in university but in real life, it’s interesting to design an evaporator sitting in front of a computer, but it’s exciting to put it on place and make it run.”
I joined Cargill relatively young in my career as a recent college graduate in the food industry through a trainee program. I was chosen to participate in the “Alliance for Youth” initiative where I shared my story in a panel about youth apprenticeships in the European Parliament. Cargill is a founding member of the “Alliance for Youth,” which was founded in an effort to improve the youth unemployment rate, a major social and economic issue in European countries. Making a contribution to the Alliance allowed me to contribute By raising awareness of this important topic.
Describe your work responsibilities and the importance of your role.
As a Process Development Engineer, my main responsibility is to optimize refinery variable costs, keeping processes running at highest level of cost effectiveness while ensuring desired quality in final products. In order to get measurable values of this performance I monitor, track and take action upon several KPIs of certain processing aids consumption and other key process parameters. I’m also involved with reliability of the plant through OPEX and troubleshooting. I work on exploring, preparing and executing projects to improve the technology for our refinery process and implement leading practices as well accomplishing the targets mentioned above.
Describe your day-to-day activities and the skills needed to perform well.
There is not a single day same as the previous. The range could vary from following-up and acting on KPIs trends to working on the developing phase, execution or commissioning of a new project driven by a best practice implementation, food safety improvement, energy savings, among other topics. Without forgetting to investigate the root cause of each issue in the process production or due to a deviation in the final product quality. Lastly, plan I work on plant trials, execute and analyze the results to scale them up if convenient.
Describe your career path.
Where did you start and how did you get to where you are today? I started in Cargill as a technical management trainee (TMT) four years ago. Joining Cargill through the European Graduate Program was a very enriching experience since it allowed me to get to know and understand not only the process production itself, but also to apprehend Cargill as a company, its businesses, strategy and perspectives. When training was completed, I took a role within the Process Development Group as a process engineer focused on both Energy and Utilities. During that period I was given the opportunity to participate in the Castro Start-up, a new facility located in Brazil. Currently, I’m working as a refinery PDG, I’ve swapped steam and water for glucose and fructose syrups. Apart from making my life sweeter, I really enjoy facing new challenges.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
There are several things that I enjoy about my work. First, it’s not routine work, every day you tackle different issues and work on multiple fronts. I also enjoy working in a hands-on environment, I’m lucky to see all what I studied in university but in real life, it’s interesting to design an evaporator sitting in front of a computer, but it’s exciting to put it on place and make it run. On top of that, I’m surrounded with high-caliber people and I have a whole plant facility in front of me, taking into account both things is impossible to come back home without learning at least one lesson every day.
Why did you choose to join Cargill and what keeps you here? In other words, how has a career at Cargill helped you to thrive?
I chose Cargill because I was attracted to the culture, its guiding principles, corporate responsibility, leadership model, global reach, and a range of platforms and BU’s which meant plenty of opportunities. But also due to the appealing job position Cargill gave me, a training that was the perfect transition from university to real life work. I’m still there because the opportunities are real. The transoceanic start-up experience was one, which made me growth both professionally and personally. I believe that new challenges in my career are what help me thrive.
What advice would you give someone interested in a career at Cargill like yours?
Be passionate and enthusiastic with what you do, take the opportunities given, every challenge makes you grow, show willingness to learn, learn and learn, build your own network and create your own path within Cargill, and never forget to have fun while working!
Share an interesting tidbit about yourself such as hobbies, volunteerism, favorite foods or activities, accomplishments inside or outside of work.
During my whole life I’ve been playing field hockey in my home town, Terrassa, which is known as the cradle of this sport in Spain, but what I do love watching is football. I’ve been a devoted admirer of Barça since I was a child, for this reason I decided to change sports (never is too late!). Apart from sports, I generally like doing things; you’ll never find me at home. I could be reading a book in a park, at the theatre or in the most trendy music festival.