Darren a Williams operations intern
My name is Darren. I’m an operations intern with Williams supporting northeast gathering & processing and working in the Tunkhannock, Pa., area. Here’s a little bit of information about me and how fortunate I feel to be where I am today.
At the youthful age of 34, I decided to make a career change. I had been a college graduate working in sales and hospitality for more than ten years in northeastern Pennsylvania. Over time, I saw how the natural gas industry was uplifting our area. I wanted to be a part of this lifeline for our community and our country. I took a risk and with a wife and two children depending on me, I went back to school to earn my certificate in Oil and Natural Gas from Lackawanna College School of Petroleum and Natural Gas. I was lucky enough to land an internship with Williams this summer, and I couldn’t be happier.
From the start, the people at Williams made me feel like I was part of the team. They immediately took the time to ensure I was properly trained for the work I was to be doing, with safety as the number one priority, right down to tick protocol (which, by the way, makes my wife very happy).
A day in the life of an operations intern can involve any number of variables, and no day is exactly like the day before. We recently conducted annual preventative maintenance work on four compressor units. I was able to really dive in and see the inner workings of the compressors and engines. I helped replace suction and discharge valves, change the catalyst, and provided overall support to the project. I was able to see how mechanically this equipment worked, and safety was always the emphasis.
“What did you learn today?” I’ve been working for Williams for about four weeks now, and each day, a member of my team asks me that question. And I always have more than one response. I’ve been impressed with this for a couple reasons. I’m driven to improve, so for me, learning every day is a really rewarding experience. And, it shows that those working with me actually care about my learning, progress and success. From the beginning, my team allowed me to jump in on projects, they provided constructive criticism and praise, and I immediately felt comfortable asking questions and offering my observations. From those working in positions directly above me, to team leaders, site supervisors, and the general manager, everyone has been kind and supportive.
I’m thankful that Williams chose me as an intern and is helping me to build my foundation in the natural gas industry. If you are looking for an operations internship for next summer – you should consider Williams.