Karma Thomson: spearheading change.

• Author: Johnson, Melanie
• Position: Around Utah: Spotlight

For Karma Thomson, vice president of Tesoro's Salt Lake refinery, joining the oil industry wasn't on her immediate to-do list after college. But the Uintah Basin farm girl saw a possibility when approached about a refinery job in California. Now decades and several senior leadership positions later, she is helping others to see possibilities as well.

Emissions control is something Thomson is passionate about, and she knew the refinery could do much more to upgrade. She began to talk to the refinery's leaders and employees, helping them see the possibility of an improved refinery.

"The first thing I introduced was a forward-looking infrared camera which allows you to see hydrocarbon leaks in piping that normally the naked eye would not be able to see," she says.

Thompson didn't introduce the camera system by sitting on the sidelines or in her corner office. She really championed it by getting out into the field with the employees who would use it every day. She helped employees get comfortable with it and demonstrated how it was relevant to their work area.

"They saw the potential and how it could be used, and they became much more creative on how it would benefit them," says Thomson.

In addition to introducing the camera, Thomson has led significant capital upgrades that will reduce emissions. Tesoro has invested more than $550 million into the refinery to improve its safety and efficiency. The company has committed to selling Tier III gasoline in Utah, which has less sulfur and contributes less to air pollution problems.

"Reducing the emissions is the right thing to do, so it was easy to sell," Thomson says. And the changes have improved morale among employees. "They are pretty proud to work at Tesoro...