We had the good fortune of connecting with Roger Tetrault Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Roger, how does your business help the community?
The reason I started the Instrumentation, Electrical, and Analyzer Network of Brazoria County is because I want to make training and continuous education more affordable and accessible for professionals who are seeking to increase their chance of getting a job or to simply improve their skillset to become a better technician. I also would like to use this network to foster a culture of collaboration and comradery within our community; to show people that they are not alone in resolving the complex issues that comes with our profession. By building a network of experienced professionals (over 500 members and growing) I have been able to leverage our strength in numbers to provide low cost training sessions for other network members that otherwise wouldn’t have access to it. In our industry there is plenty of training out there but it is simply not affordable for the individual. I hope to continue engaging vendors, subject matter experts and other members of my community in order to bring awareness to this issue and drive down training costs. I believe training should be of the upmost priority just under safety and production. With proper training people are both safer and more productive in the field. I hope to build a curriculum of ongoing classes that people can sign up for that will be a supplement to their associate’s degree or even just an update on the ever-changing technologies that we work with in our profession.   

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always had a strong interest in electronics and taking things apart to see how they work. This is something that helps me to this day. Being that what I do is more than a job to me and is something I thoroughly enjoy, I am able to stay focused to solve complex problems and retain new informationas new technology is made available. I started professional careeras an electronics fabricator and installer for special ops boats as a military contractor. I then moved to an electrical apprentice position in the industrial setting working within Dow Chemical in Freeport, TX. This is where I learned about industrial instrumentation. I quickly learned that my employer would pay for my degree and began working towards that. After a few years, a lot of work and obtaining several craft certifications, I was able to work my way up to a supervisory position in the Instrument& Electrical(I&E) department within my company. I was fortunateto be able to work on some impressive projects and commissioned several new constructions along the way. I then moved into an I&E Technician position within Dow Chemical and progressedmy way to the Sr. I&E Technologist role that I currently hold. I would say that this journey was not the easiest because training and knowledge was hard to come by, short of going in the field and figuring things out myself. I sought out vendor specific training on my own in an effort to educatemyself.  It was at that moment when I found out how expensive these trainings could be for an individual. I pride myself in doing what I can to give back tothe community for those just starting out their careers. So much so, that I have taught Industrial Instrumentation classes at the local community college, and have been active in the Dow apprenticeship program both training and mentoring young technicians. Most recently I was nominated to become the Program chair for the Brazos Section International Society of Automation (ISA) which entails coordinating and hosting all training and seminars for the local community through the ISA. One lesson I’ve learned through all this is that if you want to see change, you must be that change in order to inspire others to follow. There is no problem too big to undertake and you don’t have to know all the answers, you just have to start.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?Honestly I think if one of my friends came down for a visit we’d spend a little time in my shop working on some classic cars. I have a habit of working to relax. I’m not really a going out kind of person as I would rather be at home with my family. Nothing is better than hanging out at home and having a little get together with friends and family. As far as food goes I like to find the little spots that not a lot of people know about. I would definitely have to take them to Pinson’s Fish and Chicken in Brazoria. Mr. Pinson has the best fried catfish around next to none. Not only that but he is an active member of the community and loves to give back to those in need. Another favorite of mine is the Seahorse Bar & Grill on Surfside Beach. You can enjoy great burgers while you sit outside on their covered deck listening to the waves. This is also where I proposed to my wife at so it has a special place in my heart. I always enjoy the museum of natural science, the aquarium and MSR go-kart track in Angleton. Anything I can take my kids to and have a fun time is where you’ll find me if I’m not at home working on my cars.   

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My great uncle, the late Billy Jack Lewis, was a pivotal figure in my life. He showed me what it was to work hard and that you can learn anything if you put your mind to it. My mother showed me what it looked like to push through adversity and to keep going no matter the odds against you. These are the people that made me who I am today. I would also like to thank Shadrach Stephens for all his support, mentorship and encouragement he’s had for me along the journey of building this network. Of course I cannot forget the members of the network and people who have stepped up to help in any way needed to help with the many obstacles. Last but certainly not least, I want to give credit to my amazing wife! Without this strong woman by my side all these years I would not have been able to do the things I do and for that I am forever grateful. My family is everything to me and they are what I look forward to the most.

Website: ieanetworkbc.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-tetrault-jr-7577a118b/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ieanetworkbc
Other: http://www.isabrazos.org

Image Credits
Candy Hill Photography