06/10/2025

Honoring Excellence at the 2025 TCC-TCA Awards Banquet

The Texas chemistry community came together on June 5 at the Galveston Island Convention Center for an unforgettable evening of recognition and celebration at the 2025 TCC-TCA Industry Awards Banquet.

With every award, applause, and standing ovation, the 2025 TCC-TCA Awards Banquet reaffirmed the industry’s deep-rooted commitment to safety, innovation, and community—a Texas tradition that continues to grow stronger year after year.

The banquet spotlighted the people and facilities leading the way in safety, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. TCC Chairman Ted Grabowski of Texas Brine welcomed the crowd, and emcee Dennis Winkler brought heart and humor to the stage.

The night began with the Caring for Texas Awards, recognizing facilities that go above and beyond to support their communities and protect the environment. Companies like Pure Salt Baytown, Chevron Phillips Chemical, Mitsubishi, Nouryon, Chemours, Eastman, Olin, and ExxonMobil earned top honors for their lasting impact.

Next up were the Safety Awards, a cornerstone of the evening and a reflection of the industry’s deep commitment to protecting people above all else. Forty-three sites earned Zero Incident Awards—a remarkable achievement representing a full year without a single OSHA-recordable injury or illness. These facilities demonstrated what’s possible when a culture of safety is lived out every day, from the plant floor to leadership meetings.

Several additional facilities were recognized with Distinguished Service Awards, which honor sites that have shown continuous improvement in safety performance over the past three years while actively participating in the TCC Occupational Safety Committee.

The evening’s top safety honors went to four facilities named Best in Texas—a highly selective award given to the best-performing site in each size category. This distinction recognizes not only outstanding safety records but also the implementation of best practices in contractor safety and employee engagement. This year’s winners—Dow Bayport, Kuraray America EVAL, ExxonMobil Beaumont, and Olin Freeport—represent the gold standard of safety leadership in Texas’ chemical industry. Their excellence is a benchmark for others to follow, proving that world-class safety performance and operational excellence go hand-in-hand.

Individual honors added special highlights to the program. Stephen Greco of Kuraray America received the inaugural Process Safety Leadership Award, and George Liverman of BASF was honored for lifetime contributions to industrial hygiene—the award now proudly bears his name.

TCA also celebrated leadership in action, naming Monica Beynaerts of Coastal Ice & Water and John Hanzalik of TFW Construction as Regional Members of the Year. Richard Bass of Kuraray was honored with the EHS Leadership Award for his role in leading the 2025 EHS Seminar.

As the evening came to a close, the spotlight turned to two of the most anticipated awards. Buster Keasler of LyondellBasell was named Safety Professional of the Year, and David Parsley of Chevron Phillips – Port Arthur received the prestigious Gerald Ehrman Award for Leadership in Safety Management—a perfect finale to a night dedicated to excellence.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our generous sponsors and every individual in our industry who puts safety first while making the essential products that power modern life. From the volunteers behind the scenes to the professionals on the front lines, your dedication and leadership inspire us all.

The 2025 TCC-TCA Awards Banquet was more than a celebration—it was a powerful reminder of what makes Texas chemistry strong: innovation, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to people and progress.

To view the award winners and photos, please click HERE.