Coming out of high school, Alexis Gutierrez was accepted at four of Texas’ major universities. She had plans to begin her studies to become a pharmacist but, after her first semester, realized that wasn’t the path for her. She decided to switch gears and go into the workforce, eventually building a successful career in the banking industry, but she always had those “what if” thoughts in the back of her mind. With two little girls looking up to her, she knew that she wanted to set an example for them and show them that even if at first you don’t succeed, it is never too late to try again.
Gutierrez felt that if she was going to go back to college, she wanted to study something out of the ordinary, something that would challenge her, and get her out of her comfort zone. Her husband, who is a mechanical engineer, introduced the idea of an operator role to her and, after doing some research, she decided to enroll in the Process Technology Program at Del Mar College. She excelled in the classroom as well as in their hands-on training facilities. She maintained a 4.0 GPA in her classes and was honored to serve as the President of Del Mar’s Process Technology Club, where they provide outreach services to high school students interested in pursuing a degree in Process Technology.
Gutierrez says that, although she was one of few women in her degree program, she knows that she helped lead the way and break down barriers for other women who are coming after her.
After she graduated in May 2022, Gutierrez joined Cheniere Energy’s 12-month Apprenticeship Program. After completing the program, Cheniere offered her a full-time position as a production operator. She found out that she [was] expecting another baby girl and, while at first she felt that her pregnancy was going to be an obstacle, it [brought] her an amazing career opportunity. She was reassigned to Cheniere’s Corpus Christi LNG Stage 3 Expansion Project’s Operational Readiness Team and is so excited to be part of building something from the ground up!
Being a Woman in Industry has taught Gutierrez so much about her capabilities and [considering] she started from scratch, having zero experience in process technology, and seeing where she is now, she knows that taking a leap of faith was the best thing that she could have done for her and her family. She says that she could not have done it without the support of her husband, her daughters, and her family, who have supported her and kept her motivated.
Gutierrez says that if she could go back and give her 18-year-old self some advice it would be to be ambitious! Don’t be afraid to take big risks and allow yourself to grow. Step out of that comfort zone and let God lead the way!
Gutierrez lives in Corpus Christi, Texas, with her husband, Jose, their three daughters, Aiyana, Mila and Emriella, and their Great Dane, Jocko, and guinea pig, Clara. In her spare time, Gutierrez enjoys spending time with her family, taking her oldest daughter to her dance and jiu jitsu classes, and running 5ks.
(2 Corinthians 5:7 “We walk by faith, not by sight.”)
Headline photo: At the 2023 Coastal Bend Women in Industry Conference, Cheniere women gathered to share their career experiences and the different pathways within the company. Left to right: Bianca Hinojosa, Amy Quintana, Jana Russell, Jessica Muennink, Julie Konning, Alexis Gutierrez and Jaime Abarca.
Stephanie Hajducek is a territory sales manager for SAMSON Controls, a market leader in control valves for industrial processes. She is the founder of the nonprofit, This One’s For The Gals, which helps girls in grades K through 12 with career exploration and workforce development. Reprinted with permission. Alexis Gutierrez’s profile originally appeared on This One’s for the Gals.
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Stephanie Hajducekhttps://oilwomanmagazine.com/author/stephanie-hajducek/
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Stephanie Hajducekhttps://oilwomanmagazine.com/author/stephanie-hajducek/
Oil and gas operations are commonly found in remote locations far from company headquarters. Now, it's possible to monitor pump operations, collate and analyze seismic data, and track employees around the world from almost anywhere. Whether employees are in the office or in the field, the internet and related applications enable a greater multidirectional flow of information – and control – than ever before.
