Posted About Five Years Ago
by
Mark Layne
Rotary Club Hears from Schlumberger Officials
April 16, 2019
The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from officials from Schlumberger at their noon luncheon.
Club Members John Mayeaux was in charge of the program and his special guests were local plant manager Billy Fontenot and Abby Landreneau, Human Resources Manager.
Fontenot, a native of Ville Platte, has been with the company for 22 years . The local Cameron facility primarily manufactures ball valves for the oil and gas industry from 2 inch to 42 inches. The largest department, manufacturing, employs 258 people,
Local real estate agent Charles Buller played a big part in having the facility relocate to Ville Platte in 1983. Through the years and its owners, the plant has under gone several name changes from Cooper to Cooper Oil Tools, Cameron and now Schlumberger.
The local Ville Platte plant has 225,000 square feet of manufacturing area while another 100,000 square feet of storage warehouse area. The plant works closely with two firms that are located on site to save on transportation costs: Ville Platte Iron Works and QAP Plating.
The firm has 420 employees working two shifts Monday through Friday. Landreneau said the facility has an on site gym/wellness center for its employees. She said 60 percent of the entire work force live in Evangeline Parish. Some 100 plus employees have 25 or more years with the company.
The two discussed the recent reduction in work force. Fontenot blamed it on the downturn in the market. "Due to the unpredictability of the markets, it resulted in a reduction. We have to stay competitive in the market.".
In other business, Mark Suellentrop of Cabot Corporation reported on the recent "Choices program" presentation at local schools last week. The class presented by club members reached 349 students over a two day period at three local schools. In the six years, the club has been sponsoring this program, over 1000 students have gone through the program to urge students to make good choices and