4 Minutes with…Veronica May, GM, UOP’s Renewable Energy & Chemicals

June 14, 2015 |

MayTell us about your company and its role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

More than 100 years ago, UOP started developing and licensing technology for the refining industry, and the company has since invented solutions for the petrochemical, gas processing and renewable fuel industries. Our groundbreaking renewable fuel technologies produce drop-in diesel, jet fuel and liquid biomass from a range of sustainable sources. We have commercialized those technologies in the U.S. and Europe in recent years.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

I have worked in the refining and petrochemical industry for more than 35 years, 20 of those years with UOP. I currently lead UOP’s Renewable Energy & Chemicals business. Through technology licensing, our goal is to help facilitate the widespread availability of renewable fuels to lower greenhouse gas emissions and help refiners meet regulatory requirements. We are seeing more interest from petroleum refiners and interested parties who are looking to convert idle assets into renewable fuel refineries, or start new refinery projects.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years? 

The EPA recently announced its biofuel volume requirements, which removed some of the regulatory uncertainty that has hindered investment in biofuel production since late 2013. The EPA can further remove regulatory uncertainly by setting volume requirements for beyond 2016 as soon as possible.

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change? 

One of the barriers to widespread development and use of renewable fuel is feedstock availability. Unlike abundantly available crude oil, sustainable feedstocks aren’t available on a mass scale and do not have established infrastructure. We developed our technologies to work with a range of feedstocks, depending on regional availability, to assist our customers in meeting their obligations. In a perfect world, sustainable feedstocks would be available and cost-effective, allowing refiners to produce renewable fuels at parity to petroleum fuels – with or without government incentives.

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?

UOP has built its reputation on providing cost-effective options for fuels.  I feel that we are uniquely positioned to leverage our 100+ years of expertise to provide options for renewable fuel production.  These options are vital to enhance energy security and drive investment in the development and production of cellulosic and advanced biofuels that yield significantly less carbon pollution than conventional fuels.

Where are you from?

Liberty Boro, PA–a small mill town outside of Pittsburgh. Yes, I am a Steelers fan!

What was your undergraduate major in college, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway?

I hold Bachelor of Science of Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.  I received a US Steel scholarship to CMU and was interested in medicine.  The CMU counselor suggested chemical engineering and I quickly forgot about medicine as I became more interested in engineering.

Who do you consider your mentors – could be personal, business, or just people you have read about and admire. What have you learned from them?

I have had the privilege of working with a number of UOP leaders who have dedicated their careers to technology development.  UOP has a unique training program, in which we hire individuals with a BS in chemical engineers and assign them to customer start-ups for 3+ years.  This experience establishes a deep technical understanding within the entire organization and helps them build close relationships with customers.  There is no substitute for in-depth technical knowledge, combined with hands-on experience.

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?  

Two things I try to remember are: focus on a path forward and consider the implications of that path.  This will date me but I like to think of “playing the video” in advance.  That is, if everything goes forward as planned will I be proud of the result?

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry? 

I enjoy 4 very different hobbies:

• I am an avid gardener and, since I live in Houston, this is nearly a year-round activity.

• My husband and I enjoy ballroom dancing, which, considering my substantial lack of skill, is a life-long series of lessons!

• I am taking up golf (again) and hope to break 100 in 2015 . . . or 2016!

• I am about 20 years behind in scrapbooking my families activities so one day  . . .

What are 3 books you’d want to have with you, if you were stranded on a desert island?

The Foxfire Book

The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues & Signs

The Bible

What books or articles are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?  

I am always behind on my work reading and find myself carrying around articles to skim on planes.  Reading for enjoyment is #1 on my retirement bucket list!

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?  

Since I travel quite a bit for work my favorite place to visit is HOME!  When we do travel for vacation I enjoy going to new places where I have not previously visited.  Our next trip is to the Bordeaux region of France.

Category: Million Minds

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