Kendra Lee

Merichem Co. was a success in the industrial chemicals business before Kendra Lee took over as CEO in 2014. But since then, the culture shift that Lee championed has made it a better place to work, which has resulted in continued improvements in efficiencies and revenues.

“The oil and gas industry is laden with execution or authoritarian culture,” Lee said. “I placed an unrelenting focus on developing and maintaining an innovative culture where unorthodox thinking is encouraged, and there are tools and processes in place to capture and progress ideas.”

Merichem’s leadership fosters an environment of trust, she said. That translates to a motivated workforce, with employees knowing that everyone else in the company is also focused on innovation.

“We have eliminated such dangerous phrases as ‘we’ve always done it that way,’” she said. “Rather, I listen to employees and empower them to question, ‘How can we do this better?’”

Customers have noticed, as well.

“I am also incredibly proud of the high customer satisfaction we receive at Merichem,” Lee said. “We have global repeat customers, especially with the caustic side of our business. It gives me great satisfaction to know that, as a smaller company, we compete solidly against such large organizations as Siemens and Honeywell.”

Merichem was founded in 1945 by Lee’s grandfather, John T. Files, and two business partners, as a soap and industrial cleaning company which they relaunched for the cresylic acid business. Merichem took cresylate, which is spent caustic containing cresylic acids, from refineries and recovered the naturally occurring cresylic acid, which they refined and purified to sell into the industrial chemicals market.

Lee joined the company as a lab technician after receiving her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M. Realizing she wasn’t suited for lab work, she then moved into sales while pursuing her MBA at the University of Houston.  She later served as the corporate treasurer and on the Board of Directors before becoming CEO.

“I have never considered my gender a challenge, even in a male-dominated industry like oil and gas,” Lee said. “In being undeterred, undaunted and unflinching, I took a straightforward approach to forwarding my career and always asked for what I wanted.

“In establishing my place as the leader of Merichem and in the boardroom, I’ve had to be my own advocate. I know what it takes to run a business. I don’t see challenges presented in my positions as any different than for anyone else.”

Lee advises young professionals to adopt that gung-ho approach, as well.

“Don’t be daunted or dissuaded,” she said. “Assess your skills, knowledge and expertise that may be transferable to the oil and gas industry.”

That might mean seeking an internship at a major oil and gas company like Shell, Chevron, BP or Exxon Mobil to get a taste of what it’s like to work in the industry. Lee also favors finding a mentor to help navigate the industry.

In her own case, there wasn’t a specific individual, but supervisors and others throughout her career who offered advice and rooted her on.

“The mentoring I received was more organic in nature,” Lee said. “My mentors made themselves available to me, and I took advantage of the time they offered to create lasting friendships. By listening to their stories and ideas, and being open to absorbing information, I learned better ways to navigate the business world.”

The oil and gas industry is hampered by the negative stigma attached to its reputation as an exclusive club of good ol’ boys, Lee believes. There is still a great deal to do in diversity and inclusion efforts, she said.

“Although lack of diversity in the industry is a real issue, culture and processes also need immediate attention,” she said. “By encouraging an innovative culture, the industry at-large could embrace a work environment where unorthodox thinking is encouraged, and there are tools and processes in place to capture and progress ideas. Innovative cultures foster an environment of trust with leadership and with one another.” 

Check out the rest of Hart Energy's 2024 Women in Energy here.