Al Center

Al retired as Manager of Engineering and Construction at Caltex Petroleum Corporation at the end of 1998 and started simultaneous second careers as a Senior Lecturer at Cornell University and as an Executive Associate with Pathfinder. Al has more than 40 years of experience in project management, technology management, and management of technical personnel in the Chemical Process Industry (CPI). In his years with Caltex, Al has held progressively responsible managerial positions in domestic and international project environments, including the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan.

Since 1999 Al has facilitated numerous Value Improvement Program workshops to Oil & Gas, Petrochemical and Steel Industry clients worldwide.  These included Waste Minimization, Design to Capacity, Constructability, Process Simplification, Design Standards & Specifications, review of Front End Design Packages and Readiness to Bid Reviews.  He has been an expert witness on various technical claims on readiness reviews and scope of work claims.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Claims
• Commissioning and Startup Reviews
• Contract Strategy Development
• Cost Estimating Checks
• FEL Completeness Reviews
• Independent Project Reviews/PDRIs
• Process Engineering
• Project Delivery Process
• Project Execution Planning
• Project Management
• Value Improving Practices

EDUCATION:

• BS Engineering, Cornell University 1965
• M. Eng. Chemical Engineering, Cornell University 1966
• MPE Program, University of Pittsburgh, 1979

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS:

• Registered Professional Engineer in New Jersey

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers – Senior Member

AWARDS:

• Erskine Fellow University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

LANGUAGES:

• English