Shane P. Cantrell

About Mary Shane P. Cantrell

Shane Cantrell is a production manager from Joliet, Illinois, with over 28 years of experience in the chemical industry. He has a background in managing operations, ensuring safety, and driving efficiency. As a professional, he has a reliable approach to achieving operational goals and maintaining high safety standards throughout his career.

Early Life and Education

Shane P. Cantrell was born in Joliet, Illinois, on November 5, 1972. He grew up in a family of two children, having one brother. His early interests included sports, especially softball, which he would later coach, and hobbies like playing the guitar and photography.

Shane attended local schools and was known for his disciplined nature. After completing high school, he enrolled at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. He graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Although his academic focus was biology, Shane soon found his calling in the chemical industry, where he would build a stable career.

Career Beginnings at Stepan Company: A 28-Year Journey

Shane began his professional career in 1996 at Stepan Company, based in Elwood, Illinois, a company known for producing specialty and intermediate chemicals. His tenure at Stepan Company stretched for 28 years, during which he held various positions. He progressed from a QA Lab Technician to a Senior Team Leader, overseeing major chemical handling and production processes.

Early Roles: QA and Production Team Leader

From 1996 to 1999, Shane worked as a QA Lab Technician, ensuring quality control for the company’s chemical products. His attention to detail quickly earned him recognition, and he was promoted to QA Team Leader in 1999. In this role, he managed the quality assurance team until 2003.

In 2004, Shane transitioned to a more operations-focused role as a Production Shift Leader. This was a transformative period in his career, as it allowed him to apply his knowledge of chemical processing to the company’s day-to-day operations. His leadership abilities were evident, and by 2006, he had been promoted to Production Team Leader, overseeing the Blends, Drum Dry, and Drum Out departments.

From 2010 to 2013, Shane was the Production Team Leader in the Amphoteric department, managing production processes and ensuring safety and compliance.