Jefferson Parish Pulse: Cornerstone

This week on the Jefferson Parish Pulse, JEDCO interviewed Tom Yura, Chief Operating Officer of Cornerstone. This powerhouse company employs 500 people and produces 2.5 billion pounds of product a year. The business has a long history in Jefferson Parish and they look forward to continued growth and success in the future. On this episode, Tom and Kelsey talk about Cornerstone’s focus on innovation, emphasis on taking care of its people, corporate responsibility and creating the next generation of skilled workers for the local manufacturing industry.

About Tom Yura
Tom is Chief Operating Officer of Cornerstone with 29 years of experience in chemical manufacturing. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Tom serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Louisiana Chemical Association (Chair of the Safety and Health committee), the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance (Chair) and the Boy Scouts of America Istrouma Area Council. He also serves as a LaSTEM Advisory Council Member, and he serves on the Energy Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

Prior to joining Cornerstone, Tom was the Senior Vice President and General Manager for BASF’s Geismar, La. site, the largest of the corporation’s North American manufacturing locations. He has led both U.S. and European-based manufacturing organizations through growth and transformation. He was responsible for overseeing the daily operation of 28 plants manufacturing many different products, including urethanes, chemical intermediates and surfactants.

Tom received his Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Feel free to listen to the full interview below. You can also hear us anywhere you listen to your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts,  Spotify and Stitcher. We would LOVE your feedback. Please send your thoughts, questions and show requests to Kelsey Scram at kscram@jedco.org.