AdvanSix celebrates Black History Month by honoring the rich diversity of our team. Our colleagues bring invaluable perspectives that strengthen our company. As part of our celebration, we’re excited to feature David Lyons — a systems control chief at our Frankford site and valued employee who has been with us for 37 years.
Could you please share a bit about your background and what led you to pursue your career and/or current role here at AdvanSix?
I came to AdvanSix right when I got out of the United States Marine Corps. My secondary training was with steel, and I took a liking to it. Following my time in the Marines, I applied to several refineries before ending up here, when we were still called AlliedSignal.
Can you highlight any mentors or colleagues who have inspired you and contributed to your professional growth?
I felt supported by some coworkers when I was first hired. James DeShields, Neal Delucia, and Bill Rodebaugh were all early mentors of mine. They helped me pay attention to detail and kept me focused when I was first learning and getting into this field. They were advocates for me and have helped me out a lot over the years.
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
I’m proud of being able to work consistently and be at this company for a long time. I’ve had a good career here and have been around some good people — a lot of different people over the years.
What advice would you give to early career professionals looking to enter this field?
Know as much as you can, knowledge is power, and do whatever you can to retain and preserve the knowledge that comes across you. Pay attention and listen to everyone — even the smallest things can help you along the way if you want to be good at what you do. I take pride in what I do and still try to learn as much as I can.
How do you stay motivated and inspired in your work?
I want to do the best job I can for the company. I like seeing us be profitable and successful, that’s what keeps me motivated. When I go to work, I like for people to think, “he knows what he’s doing and nothing bad is going to happen when he’s on.”
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black history is American history. Black History Month should be celebrated all twelve months of the year, instead of just being designated as one month, because we’ve played a part in everything, in the building of this country. Black history means being respected and taking the time to recognize the people that helped build this country and the contributions we’ve made to our society. That’s all American history to me.