Alumni Making a Difference
Vernon B. Chance, Jr., ChE '60
This spotlight is the first in a series of articles showcasing alumni who perform
beyond what is considered possible.
Graduates of the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech stand out in a crowd. Their passion for work and their enthusiasm for the world around them is as infectious as it is apparent. Vernon B. Chance, Jr.,’60, is one of those alumni who is known for his dedication and his generosity. He is not easily forgotten and has worked to “make a difference” since graduating from Georgia Tech. Mr. Chance enjoyed a 37-year career at Universal Oil Products (UOP), from which he retired in 1997 after 22 years as director of manufacturing for the Shreveport, Louisiana plant. The Shreveport location is the company’s main manufacturing plant for petroleum refining catalysts worldwide. He led a number of improvement programs for quality, safety, and environmental responsibility, as well as implementing self-directed work teams and leading a major expansion that doubled the catalyst manufacturing capacity. He also emphasized community involvement and was active in many civic projects and organizations.
Choosing chemical engineering was natural for Mr. Chance because his father was president of a petroleum refining company, and he had helped shape a similar career for his son. At Georgia Tech, Mr. Chance was involved with extra-curricular activities on campus, including his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. “Being a Georgia Tech graduate equipped me very well for my career, and it has opened doors for me in many situations, both professionally and in the community,” he says. “Chemical engineering provided an outstanding education in analyzing situations and making business decisions, which were important qualities to me in my management career.”
During the 12 years since retirement, Mr. Chance has been giving back to the Shreveport and northwest Louisiana communities. While many look forward to enjoying a slower pace after retirement, that is not the case for Mr. Chance. His schedule is filled with numerous volunteer commitments, including working with many of the same organizations he helped early on in his career at UOP.
“‘Retirement’ allows me to continue my volunteer efforts and renew others because I have more available time,” says Mr. Chance. He has served as chairman and as a board member of the Biomedical Research Foundation in northwest Louisiana for ten years, as president and board member of Providence House (a homeless shelter for families with children), and as president of the board of Holiday in Dixie (a spring festival). Also, he is currently serving on the boards of the Alliance for Education, Centenary College President’s Advisory Council, and the Strategic Action Council of northwest Louisiana.
Another of Mr. Chance’s major community involvements is his membership in the Committee of One Hundred of Shreveport-Bossier. The organization was chartered almost 50 years ago, and membership is limited to business owners and top local executives. Its purpose is to make improvements in economic development, education, and community relations. Mr. Chance has been active in this organization since 1992, served as president in 2003, and became executive director in 2004. He works closely with elected officials, executives of economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, and non-profit organizations that serve the community. Also, he has worked with state officials on regional projects that are influenced by the state, including the Louisiana secretary of economic development (LED), the Louisiana secretary of transportation and development (LADOTD), and the governor’s office.
Mr. Chance also leads the Capital Campaign Project at his church, the First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport. He currently chairs a steering committee charged with planning and implementing a major, comprehensive renovation and building project for the church. Originally built in 1925, the structure requires considerable system replacements, reconfiguring, and additions. Mr. Chance and his wife, Lynn, have been active in the church since 1970, both having served as deacons and elders. He has also served on the board of trustees and currently is president of the board.
In 2000, the United Way of northwest Louisiana awarded Mr. Chance the Volunteer of the Year award for his work. In 2007, his high school, C. E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, inducted him into its “Hall of Fame,” designated for graduates who have been successful in their careers and have made a difference in their communities.
Although Mr. Chance leaves little room in his schedule for free time, he and his wife manage to enjoy some of their favorite leisure activities, including boating and traveling. He and his family have a boat on which they cruise in Arkansas near Mount Ida on Lake Ouachita, and they also have a condo on the lake. The couple has two married daughters and five grandchildren. In addition to taking frequent trips to Arkansas, they also enjoy travelling to other places. They recently returned from a cruise on the Rhine River from Basel to Amsterdam. Additional trips are planned for the future, but for now, it is back to work for Mr. Chance. “I have a lot more that I want to do for my community,” he says.