A major Northeastern Oil Refinery

Develop a cost-effective Community Advisory Panel (CAP) for the refinery

This Refinery had a poor reputation and troubled operating history, including the tragic recent death of a contract worker on-site. Area media, state regulators, elected officials and several environmental groups had adversarial relationships with refinery management.

Help devise a community relations “bridge building” program, with a new CAP as its core; explain the sophisticated new technology now being designed into the refinery to improve performance; help restore trust-based relationships, even as the refinery was being sold to a new owner.

Identified and contacted key stakeholders in the geography primarily affected by the refinery; determined existing attitudes and issues; recruited cadre of independent community stakeholders to populate the new CAP. Also facilitated the CAP meetings and provided opportunities for other community stakeholders to visit the refinery and have direct discussions with management. Helped new ownership differentiate itself effectively from previous owners.

Significant increases in understanding and acceptance of the refinery as a needed regional resource; energetic participation in the new CAP by more than a dozen involved citizens and key organizations. More positive media coverage resulted; the refinery reputation is rising steadily among previous refinery critics.