Pressure inspector pays it forward, every day
Mark Sanders made a promise to his very first mentor never to be selfish with his knowledge. Twenty-five years later, he continues to make sharing his wisdom and helping others gain confidence on the job a priority.
Leaving the place you’ve called home your entire life — and leaving behind your family, friends and comfort zone — is a scary proposition. But Mark Sanders didn’t hesitate when a job opened up at Shell Polymers Monaca.
In fact, he sought out the chance to move 1,200 miles from Louisiana’s Gulf Coast — where he was born, raised and then worked for more than 25 years — to this small town 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Why? (It certainly wasn’t the weather. That came as a bit of shock to Mark and his wife, who had to learn how to drive in the snow.)
It was the opportunity to grow both in his work and in his personal life. That’s something Mark’s made a priority his entire career — not just for himself, but for everyone he calls a colleague.
Shell’s Core Values
- Respect: Our people have the opportunity to progress irrespective of gender, ethnicity, or other differences.
- Honesty: Staff and Business Partners are encouraged to Speak Up and celebrate those who do the right thing.
- Integrity: By committing to our policies and rules, we empower our Staff and Business Partners to say “No.”
Big decisions, real
consequences
Mark started work as a machinist, moved into operations and later transitioned into the role of pressure equipment inspector. That’s the position that brought him to Monaca. It’s a high-stakes job that requires ongoing training, multiple certifications and the willingness to take on some major responsibility.
“We’re Shell employees who act on behalf of the state, making sure equipment is repaired and inspected to certain standards,” Mark says. “The issues we deal with impact the environment, the safety of our employees and our permit to continue operating here. That’s in the forefront of my mind with every decision I make. We have to get it right.”
In the 10 years he’s been an inspector, Mark can recall just two individuals expressing an interest in taking on the position’s many challenges. One decided it wasn’t the right fit after a few months on the job. The other was Sami Polizotto.
“In the fall of 2021, we were commissioning Blocks 5 and 7, and Sami was the operator out there,” Mark says. “I got to spend a lot of time with her in the field, and she got to asking me questions about what it takes to be an inspector.”
(Real)ationships are a two-way street
After about a month of casual back-and-forth, Sami approached Mark about the possibility of establishing a more formal job-shadowing relationship. He jumped at the chance.
“I told her, ‘I’ll share knowledge with you, and you can share knowledge with me, and we’re both going to grow and be better as a result,’” Mark says. “I thought we could both bring something new back to our different disciplines.”
It didn’t take long for those words to come true. Early on in their mentorship, Mark and his team encountered an issue they’d never seen before on the Monaca site’s seal pot. Fixing it required intensive testing, specialty repairs and a lot of collaboration across work groups.
“Sami knew that system, and she gave us a lot of insight that we didn’t have,” Mark says. “That’s the thing about this job — you have to rely on other individuals and their strengths. You have to build relationships and trust.”
Share and share alike
As his interactions with Sami prove, Mark doesn’t see mentoring as a traditional teacher/student or veteran/apprentice relationship. He doesn’t look at as a formal process, either.
You’re a mentor every time you have a conversation with someone. It’s about explaining why we’re doing what we’re doing and encouraging people to do the right thing every day, in every decision.”
Mark credits his own mentors with instilling in him this commitment to pay it forward.
“The first mentor I ever had told me, ‘If I share my knowledge with you, I expect you to return the favor some day and pass along what you’ve learned to someone else,’” Mark says. “I promised him that day I would, and I’ve tried to do that my entire career. If someone asks me a question, I answer. I never want to be selfish with my knowledge.”
Let’s get real:
Culture matters
Mark appreciates that Shell’s culture encourages employees to speak up and respects diverse opinions — creating an environment that’s ideal for mentorship.
“The biggest thing I love about Shell is that you’re allowed to speak your mind if you see something that’s not right,” he says. “Your opinion matters, and your expertise is valued. I haven’t always had that in other places I’ve worked.”
It’s certainly made moving more than a thousand miles away from home feel like the right decision, despite the snow.