Brenda Shumate
Brenda received her BS degree in IEM from OSU with a minor in statistics in 1991. She then earned an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix in 2006. She will complete her MS in Engineering and Technology Management (MSETM) at OSU in 2020. She passed the Fundaments of Engineering exam and is registered with the OK State Board as EI/FE #8771.
Ms. Shumate joined Williams Companies in 2014 and has risen from Senior Manager of Operational Process Improvement to Special Projects Manager; then to Senior Manager, Supply Chain, Governance & Strategy, and is now in her present position as Director, Pipeline Control.
Prior positions in her 28-year career, all in industry, include: Occidental Oil & Gas Corporation as Regional Manager (Director) of Supply Chain Management, 2010-2014; The Tagos Group – Consulting Firm, Senior Director / Managing Consultant, 2008-2010; Key Energy Services, Inc., Director, Equipment & Logistics / Supply Chain, 2004-2008; Michelin North America, Industrial Engineering & Continuous Improvement Manager, 2003-2004; Aera Energy LLC (Joint Venture of Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil, Senior Business Advisor, also Operations Foreman, Supply Chain Management Lead, 1997-2003; Bechtel Petroleum Operations, Inc, Gas and Cogeneration Operations Engineer, Buyer / Planner, 1992-1994; Atlantic Richfield Companies (ARCO), Intern, 1991. Her employment has been in Oklahoma, California, and Texas. Her areas of expertise, leadership, and demonstrated excellence include: Engineering, Maintenance / Reliability / Supply Chain / Operations / Systems / Lean / Safety and more.
From 2004 to 2014 Brenda was Principal Consultant / Owner of Next Level Improvement, LLC (North America). She provided consulting services within the NA energy sector with respect to Process Safety Management and implementation of lean processes. Key clients included Nestle, Dreyer’s / Edy’s Ice Cream, Key energy Services, Chevron USA, and twice that many more. All consulting engagements were approved by the current employer when applicable to eliminate conflict of interest.
Ms. Shumate’s activities, past and present, include American Petroleum Institute (API) Board Member and Officer, San Josquin Valley Chapter; Bakersfield Petroleum Club Board Member, Officer; American Society or Quality (ASQ) Board Member, Officer (Kem County Chapter); IISE Member; Society of Women Engineers Member; Institute of Supplier Management (ISM) Member; JDRF volunteer (funds Type 1 diabetes research and advocates for favorable regulation); National Science Bowl Volunteer; Industry Mentor; Senior Design Team Member, OSU / IEM.
Brenda has been “marketing” Industrial Engineering as a guest lecturer at OSU; U of OK, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal State Bakersfield. She has been a guest speaker in high schools, ISM, IISE, SWE, OSU, OU, and more with topics that include career, supply chain, maintenance and reliability, energy industry, consulting, and women in engineering.