Cheniere is taking its support for the next generation of LNG professionals to the next level.
The Houston-based company and its employees have helped establish student-led energy clubs at four universities in the Gulf Coast region in recent years, investing time and money in the LNG talent and leaders of tomorrow.
“It is important for Cheniere to stay connected with the next generation workforce to identify potential candidates who can take on future career roles within Cheniere and be a part of our success story,” said Mukesh Pratap, Manager, Engineering Projects at Cheniere’s Corpus Christi Liquefaction (CCL) facility in Texas. “It is also important for Cheniere to be out there in front of the next generation as the competition for skilled talent is only heating up, and, by engaging, we are offering a competitive, comparable and exciting career option for the future workforce.”
In 2021, Cheniere recognized a gap between the LNG industry and the next-generation workforce, leading the Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) organization to survey and visit students at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La., and Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, both of which are in proximity to Cheniere’s Sabine Pass Liquefaction (SPL) facility in Cameron Parish, La.
PGPA found that students were interested in learning more, and so were university faculty.
The student-led, Cheniere-supported Cardinal Energy Club was established at Lamar in 2022, and it hit the ground running, with Cheniere engineers, Human Resources and Training teams lending a helping hand. That same year, a second club was formed at McNeese State, aptly named the Cowboy Energy Club.
Since then, Cheniere has supported the formation of similar clubs at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas A&M-Kingsville, both of which are in proximity to CCL in the Coastal Bend region of Texas.
Today, Cheniere employs three alumni club members, and that number is set to grow as more graduates consider LNG to start their careers, thanks to these clubs.
Cheniere also has expanded its support and donated $100,000 to McNeese State to establish a new postgraduate certificate in the LNG Engineering program at the school's new LNG Center of Excellence.
Cheniere-sponsored energy clubs provide students with a space to learn about the LNG industry and give our employees opportunities to share knowledge and experience.
“Working with the next generation workforce has always had an impact on my career,” said Kylie Cormier, Senior Analyst, Operations Planning at SPL. “It allows me to realize how far I have come and reminds me to always stay humble. We are all learning; everyone can learn something from someone else, and we all have our own unique ways of contributing to making this company a success!”
Employees interact with students through multiple touchpoints throughout the year, from mock interviews to lunch-and-learns.
“Most students at the universities, early in their education, don’t understand the oil and gas industry, let alone the LNG industry,” said Donny Wyble, Manager, Maintenance at SPL. “Engaging them early helps us get out the word on the positive impact the LNG industry has on our community, country and the world.”