Tim Simpson’s journey from a diverse upbringing to a career in environmental management is as dynamic as his professional path. Born in India, spending his early years in Indonesia, and moving back to the U.S. after these experiences, Simpson developed a fondness for diverse environments.
Following his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, he earned a degree in environmental engineering from the University of Houston, and then spent 17 years working in chemical plants and as a government contractor, including positions in Texas, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. In 2014, he was recruited by Tenaris to help with the start-up of the company’s seamless pipe mill in Bay City, Texas. “When I joined, TenarisBayCity was just beginning, with only a few columns in place,” Simpson recalls.
In 2017 he became the regional environmental senior manager. By that time, the Bay City mill was up and running, so his focus shifted to other mills in Conroe and Houston in Texas, and Hickman, Arkansas, ensuring compliance and supporting transitions. He got involved in the IPSCO acquisition, which was an exciting part of his career: “We worked on it in the background for a year before it was announced, reviewing thousands of files to assess compliance history and identify potential issues. That project still stands out as one of the most memorable parts of my journey at Tenaris.”
Later on, Simpson became regional environmental director. “I’m excited about Tenaris's increasing focus on decarbonization. We’re exploring significant investments in green energy in the U.S., especially to leverage solar power, but with Tenaris, you never know what new opportunities might arise,” he says, “The good thing about working for this industry is we have the chance to make a difference; we have a chance to fix the problems.”
At a regional level, he’s dealing with permitting for different environmental projects at the manufacturing sites, while also focusing on community impact. “Our community activities range from cleaning up Matagorda Bay along the Texas coast by removing abandoned crab traps, to helping improve a wetlands park in Baytown, Texas” he explains, “We like to explore new ways to make a difference in the communities where we operate.”
One of the most challenging aspects of his role is leading a dispersed team across 12 different facilities in the U.S., which makes him spend a lot of time traveling to all manufacturing sites and yards. “As a supervisor, I’m easy-going but have high expectations because I want my team to grow and be capable of taking my job someday,” he remarks. “I share everything I know. I push my team hard, but they appreciate it because it leads to improvement.”
In turn, Simpson recognizes receiving feedback from other leaders and supervisors has been a learning experience for him over the years: “A major lesson I’ve learned is the importance of involving everyone in decisions, communicating openly, and sharing successes. In Tenaris, it's crucial to make your achievements and your team’s work visible for growth, which is a shift from a getting things done approach.”
When thinking about a piece of advice to give to someone starting a career in environmental management, Simpson says the key is to be energetic and have a deep understanding of the processes involved. “The goal is to balance operational flexibility with environmental consciousness. Stay involved in day-to-day operations to support clients effectively and help maintain efficiency and high production while staying within regulations and doing what’s best for the environment,” he summarizes.
Simpson has been married for 27 years and has a 26-year-old daughter. In his free time, he enjoys fishing in the bay for redfish and trout, occasional offshore trips, and managing a small cattle ranch in Matagorda County, Texas.
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