Kemper recruiters travel near and far

When a chemical plant in Ohio closes, or a refinery in California lays off workers, Rodney Brooks springs into action.

Brooks, a member of the Human Resources Delivery Group, is always on the lookout for potential employees to man the Kemper County energy facility.

“I subscribe to a program called Daily Job Cuts which gives me the latest news on plant closings, plant idlings, layoffs and facility bankruptcies throughout the country,” said Brooks,

Human Resources business consultant. “Also, our Talent Acquisition Group is relentlessly doing data mining and looking for key skill sets that fit the facility.”

Brooks and other members of the group visited several states and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2012 and 2013 to meet with potential employees.

While industry knowledge and on-the-job experience are always helpful for a candidate, there are certain character traits Kemper recruiters are seeking.

“We are trying to build a culture at the plant that mirrors the rest of Mississippi Power and Southern Company,” Brooks said. “We’ve interviewed candidates that easily could’ve handled the technical aspect of the job, but the values they brought to the table weren’t consistent with Southern Style, Principle Centered Leadership or Target Zero.”

The majority of hires on the operations side of the plant are process engineers and gasification technicians. Process engineers have experience in refineries, chemical or petrochemical plants. Gas techs will operate the gasifiers, lignite and ash systems, acid gas removal systems, water gas shift reactors and more.

“Most of these systems are not currently used within Southern Company,” Brooks said. “We need employees who can safely operate systems, but also have the instincts to navigate any changes that need to be made.”

In 2012, three large groups were hired from plants across the country. While they were new to Mississippi Power, their familiarity and friendship made the transition to Kemper County easier.

About 30 percent of the Kemper staff were already Southern Company employees. And, as Brooks points out, they are being counted on for more than just work productivity.

“Our internal hires are critical because we are asking them to help build the culture,” Brooks said. “No matter where they’re from, or where they worked before they got here, it’s crucial that new employees exhibit the behaviors that define Southern Style.”

Through January 2014, more than 130 full-time plant employees were already onsite. When fully staffed, the Kemper facility will employ approximately 200 people.