About

About 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.

Senior Team Leader Role

In 2013, Shane was promoted to Senior Team Leader for the Phthalic Anhydride and Polymers division. This was his most significant role at Stepan Company, where he led a team of 16 employees, including 14 union workers and two salaried employees. His responsibility was overseeing the manufacturing of polyester polyols and phthalic anhydride, both in batch and continuous processes. Shane’s career at Stepan Company ended in February 2024, marking the completion of a remarkable 28-year journey.

Achievements as Senior Team Leader

One of Shane’s most notable achievements as Senior Team Leader was his focus on safety and compliance. Under his leadership, the division achieved nine consecutive years of injury-free performance according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. He also helped eliminate spills and releases by improving protection measures during high-risk chemical transfers.

Shane’s role required him to manage significant turnarounds and capital projects. He was supposed to safely execute maintenance and capital turnarounds that required careful planning of 75+ safe work permits per day and managing over 150 contract resources. Shane was also in charge of the division’s expense budget, which amounted to $36 million annually, and capital improvement budgets ranging from $5 to $17 million annually.

His contributions extended beyond operations. He worked with the research and development department and the engineering team to improve production efficiency. By utilizing new technologies, Shane helped these departments achieve record throughput and reduce batch standard times.

Leadership Style and Work Philosophy

Shane P. Cantrell has been an advocate for teamwork throughout his career. His approach to leadership is based on the principle of leading by example. He believes in staying involved in day-to-day operations and engaging with his team. This is evident in his participation in GEMBA walks, where he regularly interacted with employees to offer coaching and support.

Shane’s leadership style was crucial during challenging periods like the COVID-19 pandemic. His commitment to safety protocol ensured his team remained safe and operations continued without unplanned downtime.

Community and Advocacy

Throughout his life, Shane has championed various causes. He supports the Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Family Alliance, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals affected by VHL disease. VHL disease is a genetic disorder that causes the growth of tumors and cysts throughout the body.

In addition to his support for VHL, Shane is a proponent of human and women’s rights. He believes in equality and justice and uses his platform to advocate for these causes whenever possible.

Personal Life and Interests

Shane appreciates art, photography, and music and plays the guitar during his free time. He is also an avid golfer and enjoys spending time on the course, where he finds relaxation and a break from the demands of his professional life. Shane’s love for the outdoors extends to activities like mowing the lawn and visiting museums.

Shane is also a father to one child, whom he has coached in softball for many years.