Kyle Vandermolen

Over nearly two decades, Kyle Vandermolen has built a solid career in chemical engineering, specializing in industrial safety and hazardous material management. His experience spans several sectors, including large-scale steel production and chemical processing. Over the years, he has cultivated deep knowledge in handling complex and dangerous substances, especially Hydrogen Fluoride. His work with this chemical has led him to be a contributing member of the Hydrogen Fluoride Panel under the American Chemistry Council, where his guidance supports industry standards on safety and best practices.

Hailing from Wentzville, Missouri, he completed his undergraduate education at Michigan Technological University in 2004, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. While pursuing his degree, he became a Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity member and participated in many university activities that shaped his leadership and communication skills. He served on the Michigan Tech Judicial Board, contributed to the Michigan Tech Student Foundation, and joined the football team. His involvement in New Innovations in Tech Entertainment (N.I.T.E.) also reflected his interest in technical and creative endeavors.

Kyle Vandermolen joined a US Steel Corporation Coke Plant as a Chemicals Coordinator early in his career. He managed a crew of union employees, gaining firsthand experience in operational logistics and safety oversight. His performance led to a promotion to Departmental Supervisor, where he oversaw multiple teams and more than 30 union employees. This role set the stage for future leadership responsibilities in the chemical industry. From 2013 to 2016, he returned to US Steel as a Process Manager in Granite City, Illinois, where he was responsible for key safety and emergency response programs, including Process Safety Management and Isolation, Purging, and Reintroduction protocols.

Later, his expertise led him to Cathay Pigments as a Facilities Process Engineer and Project Manager. He was responsible for planning and implementing facility improvements, including installing a new color pigment production line. His work continued to emphasize process upgrades and efficiency gains. He then was Operations Manager at Koch Industries' KCBX Terminals in Chicago, managing workforce logistics and operational reliability. He contributed to capital planning and facility enhancements as a Production Engineer at Innophos Inc.