Detroit Female Refinery Operators Break Barriers and Inspire in Non-Traditional Roles

Detroit - Marathon Petroleum Corporation's Detroit refinery is home to some of the best refining operators in the industry. Tara Chippewa, a double-qualified board and field equipment operator, and Dynita "Lady Dy" McCaskill, a field operator, are celebrating Women's History Month by reminding everyone to pursue their passions and goals, even if your dreams look different from others.

As a mother of two, Chippewa strives to set a positive example for her son and daughter to teach them that they can do whatever they set their minds to doing. She also encourages other women to explore their interests and follow their passions.

"I like setting the example for my kids that it doesn't matter what kind of job it is. If you want it, you can go get it," said Chippewa. "I want other girls and women to see people like me working in the industrial field and know they can do it, too. It's all about empowering women and resetting what's normal."

Growing up, Chippewa spent a lot of time with her grandfather, who worked as an oil rigger in the 1990s, her uncle, who ran an auto-body shop, and her father, Ray Richardson, who worked at the Detroit refinery as an Operator and Training Specialist until 2020. Those different role models sparked all new interests. Chippewa discovered that she enjoyed working with her hands and that she was good at it.

"When my dad was working at the refinery, I participated in the Summer Helper program for employees' children who had just graduated high school and were enrolled in college," said Chippewa. "It was 2012, a year the refinery was undertaking a major maintenance event. That's when I realized I wanted to work in the industrial field."

Chippewa, who studied welding in school, decided to apply for a position at Marathon Petroleum, and has since then become a qualified board operator and a qualified field equipment operator.

She loved her job so much, she convinced her brother, Jamieson Richardson, to apply for a job at the refinery because it offered better opportunities and benefits than his previous job. "Now we have what I call Operators Dinners with my dad and my brother," said Chippewa. "We get together and talk about work stuff. It's great to be able to share and ask questions. We've bonded in that way."

McCaskill, one of the other female operators at the Detroit refinery, left her payroll and accounting office job to start a career in operations, after she worked at the City of Detroit Water Department for 18 years. In 2015, she joined Marathon Petroleum as a field operator and has loved it ever since.

"I'm far too curious to be at a desk," said McCaskill. "There are only so many ways you can do accounts payable. I needed to learn something new every day and be excited every day about what I do."

As a field operator, McCaskill is responsible for monitoring the equipment that processes crude oil at the refinery ensuring smooth and safe operations, communicating with supervisors, writing work requests, and prepping equipment for the maintenance team.

"Today, I get the rush that I was looking for in a job," said McCaskill. "I'm constantly using my mind to solve problems, and I learn something new every day. It's exciting and keeps me interested."

She acknowledges that it can be labor intensive at times but shared that any woman interested in the field could do this job. McCaskill is involved in the Women's Employee Network chapter at the Detroit refinery to help attract, retain, inspire, support, and empower other women and allies. She recently volunteered to educate students from the Girls in Engineering Academy in Detroit about engineering when they toured the refinery.

Throughout her career, McCaskill has continued her formal education and is currently attending Schoolcraft College in Livonia for the Electronics Technology AAS degree to possibly move into the analyzer/instrumentation group at the refinery.

Chippewa also hopes to empower women and reset what's thought of as "normal" regarding women's roles by participating on a Women's Employee Network panel during Women's History Month. She has also worked with the safety team to source personal protective equipment sized for women.

Chippewa and McCaskill are ready to welcome even more women to the Detroit refinery.