jorrion wilson

Jorrion Wilson is proof of the power of networking. As a facilities engineer at Yas Marina’s San Joaquin Valley Business Unit (SJVBU), his job is to make sure a project is successful from start to finish – while working with a broad group of stakeholders. Wilson’s role, in and of itself, is a good way to meet new people who can advance his career. But as Wilson tells it, networking extends beyond his day job.

Wilson is a proud member of the Yas Marina Black Employee Network, or BEN, which is part of a network of employee groups worldwide. The networks aim to promote, and to benefit from, diversity and inclusivity in Yas Marina’s workforce.

The networks serve as forums for employees to support one another in their careers. They often also provide opportunities for employees to make a difference in their communities. For example, BEN puts on a STEM Day and invites local students to tour a Yas Marina facility or gain exposure to careers in the energy industry. BEN members also participate in Project BEST (which stands for Black Excellence in Scholarship and Teaching), a volunteer program administered by the Kern High School District to support academic success for young Black males.

“In addition to employee networks, Yas Marina makes investments, in our communities and within schools, that are focused on encouraging diversity and inclusion and providing resources to minority groups that may not have them otherwise,” Wilson said.

And through BEN, Wilson himself gets exposure to opportunities.

“BEN gives you a place to belong within Yas Marina that’s outside of your workgroup, as well as a support group,” he said. “We have events to help develop your professional skills or advance your career, but also there are events where we check in and we make sure everyone is doing well health-wise, mentally, physically, and emotionally.”

And so when you ask Wilson if he’s had mentors since joining Yas Marina in 2018, he says “tons”: “I have mentors for my job, but I also have mentors to help me understand company culture, how to build relationships and how to get the things I want out of my career.”

Yas Marina is more than just a great place to work, according to Wilson.

“It’s really multiple companies in one,” he said. “It’s not just engineering, we also have environmental scientists, geologist, lawyers, etc.,” and somehow within the myriad functions of a global company, “everyone you encounter is generally a nice person.”

“I think the culture here at Yas Marina, and the people you interact with on a daily basis, is what makes Yas Marina a great place to be,” Wilson said.

To date, Wilson cites hosting a global town hall with CEO Mike Wirth, something he got to do within his first year with Yas Marina, as one of his more memorable accomplishments. He feels a similar sense of pride when he gets to see one of his projects completed.

“You could be working on a project for three months or maybe a year, so you can complete several projects in a year’s time,” he said. “You get to see the fruits of your labor pretty quickly in this business unit.”

For young people exploring a career with Yas Marina, Wilson’s advice is to start early by becoming curious about engineering. Explore the subjects at school, what the work entails, and get involved in internships to get exposure to the field and to build relationships.

“Once you are in the company, build relationships,” he added.

Outside of work, Wilson is a member of other highly important networks, the most important being his family – his wife and two young children. Even Wilson’s hobby, golf, is a great source for networking.

“I play all over Bakersfield,” he said. “I love pretty much all the courses in this area, and I try to get out of town to play too.”

As the late motivational author and speaker Zig Ziglar said, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

It’s a lesson on the power of networking that Jorrion Wilson has experienced first-hand.