Hometown Proud
KARNS CITY — John Garing is at home in Butler County. He grew up on his parents' 80-acre Chicora farm that his grandfather bought in the 1920s, and except for a few years in California, Garing has stayed true to his roots.
He lives in Chicora with his wife, Ann Marie, and children, John, 16, and Ashton, 14.
Garing, 42, has worked at Calumet Penreco in Karns City for 17 years.
An engineer, Garing schedules what “feed stock,” or petroleum products, the plant must process based on its projected sales to domestic and international markets. He then makes production schedules for each unit, he said.
The plant is one of six refineries owned by Calumet Specialty Products Partners. It has a “sister plant” in Dickinson, Texas, which does the same thing that the Karns City plant does.
The company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.
Calumet Penreco is a specialty plant rather than a true refinery, Garing said. Its two main products are petrolatums, another name for petroleum jelly, and white oil.
Some production is regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration because the products are sold to pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies for use in consumer goods.
For example, the products are used in mineral oil, lip balm, ointments, jelled candles and nonstick cooking spray.
In addition, the plant serves printing, industrial and automotive industries, creating oil-based ink and rust inhibitors.
When Garing participated in Leadership Butler County's 2012 class, he recognized classmates he had played youth baseball with and those who rode the high school bus with him.
Beyond reviving old connections, he found the program worthwhile in improving his communications and organizational skills, he said.“Everybody receives information differently, and you have to communicate effectively in order to get their buy in,” Garing said.He counts on good communication with his delivery workers, the plant maintenance specialists and the sales staff to keep operations running smoothly, he said.“To me, leadership is a quality in a person. Somebody has to inspire a group to want to do something,” he said.He believes it's important for a leader to be familiar with whatever task he's asking others to accomplish, especially if it's something he hasn't done himself.“It gives credibility,” Garing said. “You have to have an idea what you're asking somebody to do.”The leaders he admires most are the country's founders, and then Abraham Lincoln and American military generals.“Historically, at any pivotal moment a leader is there,” Garing said.For Garing, who has read extensively about World War II, five-star Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower personifies leadership.Eisenhower, he said, accepted responsibility for bad outcomes and spread praise when operations went well.Most impressive, he had written a speech to take the blame for the D-Day invasion of Normandy if the operation failed.Getting more involved in the community, Garing in April will join the Butler County Community Development Corporation board, holding the 12-month seat given to a class member of Leadership Butler County.
LEADERSHIP IS: “To me, leadership is a quality in a person. Somebody has to inspire a group to want to do something.”GOOD LEADER : For history buff John Garing, Dwight D. Eisenhower personified leadership. A U.S. Army five-star general during World War II, Eisenhower accepted responsibility for bad outcomes and spread praise when operations went well. He had written a speech to take the blame for the invasion of France on D-Day if the invasion failed.<B>Age: </B>42<B>Address: </B>Chicora<B>Family: </B>Wife Ann Marie and children John, 16, and Ashton, 14<B>Job:</B> Production planner and scheduler/process engineer<B>Company: </B>Calumet Penreco, Karns City<B>What company does: </B>Specialty products refinery<B>Employees: </B>1,250<B>Community leadership: </B>Board of the Butler County Community Development Corporation
