Member Feature: Jimmy Wooten, Manager, Terminal Optimization & Safety, Murphy Oil USA, Inc.

With over 30 years of experience in terminal operations, Jimmy Wooten provides a wealth of knowledge and insight. Currently, Jimmy serves as Terminal Optimization & Safety Manager for Murphy Oil USA, Inc. and has recently been appointed as co-chair of ILTA’s Security Subcommittee.  

We recently had the privilege of interviewing Jimmy to highlight his impactful contributions to the industry and his involvement with ILTA.   

Tell us about your career trajectory. How did you first get involved in the terminal industry? 

My first experience in the terminal industry was back in October of 2014. I had taken a position at a locally owned oil company in southwestern Ohio. It was a small jobber, so to speak, with an established cliental of residential and commercial customers. They owned a few bulk plants and eventually invested in a small terminal. This was the eye-opening experience I had been waiting for in my petroleum career. After a small tenure at this company, I elected to go back home to Arkansas and accept a position with Murphy USA, whom I had worked for previously. Once back there, I began working contracts and optimization for the unbranded division of the company. This allowed me to continue working with terminals from a different perspective. In 2021, I was promoted to Manager of Terminal Optimization and Safety for Murphy Oil USA, Inc. This was the position I was looking for because of my background previously with chemical storage and the mechanical aspects of running terminals. 

What do you like most about your job? What gets you out of bed every day? 

The best part of my job is the team I get to be a part of every day. They are like family. It is hard to explain as we aren’t a large midstream company, but we have an impact in the industry. Being able to accept those challenges with a small team makes working with them feel like family. I take my responsibilities seriously. As I tell my team all the time, “I want you to come to work to enjoy it and I want you to go home the same way you came to work. Safety is truly number one in our organization and family looks out for family.” 

How would you advise someone just starting out in the industry? 

For someone starting in the liquid terminal industry, I would tell them one main aspect to consider during your first year is that you need to listen and watch those around you who have been in the business for years. The experience the generation has today working in liquid terminals is vast and plentiful, but we need a new generation to understand where the industry has come from and where it is today.  The only way you can do that is to observe those around you and learn from them.  Always be open to new ideas and solutions to any challenge but also respect those who have come before you and have experienced this as well. 

Any advice to young people thinking about starting in the bulk terminal industry? 

If you have the desire to start a career in the liquid terminal industry, my advice to you is to act like a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as possible in a timely manner. The liquid terminal industry is here to stay. Entering this industry at this time can only lead you to better opportunities and places to make you successful and an asset to the company you work for. If you have the desire, there is an opportunity for you. 

How has the terminal industry changed over the course of your career? How do you see it continuing to change? 

The industry has made some dramatic changes over the past decade from regulatory statutes to new technologies in all aspects from operations to safety to security. I have seen numerous changes in just the past five years to increase the efficiency of terminals to be more productive and profitable. New technologies in loading have decreased loading times, and new mechanical technologies have increased the uptime for terminal operations. These areas continue to improve, making the industry an attractive place to work. 

The liquid terminal industry will continue to change over the next couple of decades as new regulatory actions are solidified and new technologies are introduced. The regulatory items will keep the liquid terminal industry moving forward as the effort to reduce the carbon footprint is increased. This is a major game changer for liquid terminals. In the next five to 10 years, you will see less of the emissions you see today around refineries and terminals.   

Tell us about your involvement with ILTA 

I have been involved with ILTA since 2021. Currently, I have the distinct privilege of being co-chair of the Security Subcommittee. I am also a member of the Government Affairs Subcommittee. I am humbled by both opportunities. I learn from others, so I am very fortunate to be involved with these subcommittees as they help me in my day-to-day role to be a better leader and a stronger team member. 

ILTA serves the industry well and members should be very proud of the association. I like networking with people at the events. The ILTA leadership team makes me feel like I am a part of their team. I love the interaction. Being a member of ILTA has helped me better understand my involvement in other organizations like Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl, as I serve on a couple of our local committees in the state of Arkansas.  

Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time? 

I am an avid waterfowl sportsman and have been for over 40 years. I am now getting the opportunity to pass down some of this heritage to my grandchildren and that gives me great joy to see them wanting to learn about the outdoors. I am a simple man with a loving wife of 34 years who enjoys working in the liquid terminal business and on a very small farm with my family. I like to keep things simple and enjoy life to help make memories and bless those who I can.