MCC Welcomes Environmental Specialist Daniel Ouellet

IN JUST HIS FIRST FEW MONTHS at Mitsubishi Cement Corporation, Environmental Specialist Daniel Ouellet felt as though he’d learned more than he had in the last two years, which is exactly what he loves about the job.

“What I enjoy the most is basically the learning,” Ouellet, who started at MCC last September, said. “It’s 50-50; an office job and hands-on technical work … I enjoy having that spectrum of experience.”

The wide spectrum of experience Ouellet brought to MCC made him a great fit, as environmental specialists must monitor many things at once, from air pollution to ground pollution. He majored in instrumentation and controls at Northern Maine Technical College and went on to work in a variety of jobs, from engineering and construction contract work to monitoring GPS systems for the International Boundary Commission.

At MCC, he’s in charge of the Continuous

Emission Monitoring System (CEMS), along with handling coding enforcement and reporting data to local and federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“If you notice something out of the ordinary, you want to find what changed,” Ouellet explained. “For example, if I see a lot of debris in the air — smoke, dust or emissions — that would motivate me to inspect the issue, assess it, address it, and minimize any excess.”

Ouellet said he’s excited to learn more about environmental testing and reporting in California, which is especially “particular” in its environmental regulations.

“There’s a lot more to learn as far as coding and what we’re required to submit,” he said.

He looks forward to more training sessions, such as air quality, soil testing and rain water courses, which can add to his growing body of knowledge.

“We have a great team here. It’s a very positive work environment,” Ouellet said. “I’m really grateful that Mitsubishi gave me this opportunity, and I’m proud to be here.”

MCC welcomes Assistant Plant Manager Tony Turner

Upon taking on the role of Assistant Plant Manager at Mitsubishi Cement Corporation last July, Tony Turner already had more than 34 years of experience working in the cement industry, where he began as a laborer.

“It was just a job at first,” Turner explained. “I went to work and I went to school at night.”

First earning his Bachelor of Science in IT at the University of Phoenix, Turner continued his education at one of his home state’s institutions, University of Northern Iowa, where he achieved his Master of Business Administration degree in corporate finance.

After just over 20 years with Lafarge Corporation, he went on to work for several other cement companies, including CalPortland in Oro Grande and Cemex in Apple Valley. His roles over the years have included Process Engineer, Production Manager, and Plant Manager.

“There are a lot of opportunities (in this industry) to learn, to take responsibility, to grow,” Turner said. “I started as a laborer. If you’re willing to put yourself out there, you can find those opportunities.”

His advice for anyone interested in pursuing a similar career path is to “keep learning.”

“Continue your education and volunteer for opportunities at the plant,” Turner said. “Always prepare for the job you want.”

As Turner continues to settle into his role at MCC, he is enjoying getting to know the culture and the community, taking time to attend local events and fundraisers.

“It’s a privilege to work in a cement plant in the community, and it’s important not to take that for granted,” he said. “This is a great organization with great people, and everyone has been over-thetop helpful.”

He is looking forward to getting more involved with the business side of operations and understanding how he can better support the team he works with.

“Even all these years later, I’m still learning every day,” Turner said.