Conducting Beautiful Music That Is Called EPC

— Gifferson J. Romero, Project Manager at CTCI Americas

Hello, my name is Gifferson J. Romero (Giff), a proud Venezuelan-American from Caracas and currently a Project Manager at CTCI Americas. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management with specialization in project management, and a minor in electronics. Six years ago, I was drawn to CTCI Americas for its ability to integrate smart engineering tools such as Intergraph Smart Plant Foundation into every stage of project execution. This means that engineering data is connected, allowing projects to be delivered more efficiently, collaboratively, precisely, and faster. I instantly knew that CTCI’s commitment to digital execution would let me grow professionally.

Mr. Romero is project manager at CTCI Americas.

Love for Project Management

Even though my field of expertise is project management, initially I worked at Instrumentation & Controls Engineering Department, where I learned the technical foundation of plant operations. Over time, my desire to support the company from a broader “big picture” perspective, combined with the passion for bringing people together, led me to the Project Management Department three years ago. A detour as it may seem, I enjoyed the diverse sceneries along the way.

While in the Project Management Department, at first I served as a Project Engineer, taking ownership of the management of change (MOC) process, which aimed to reduce the impact of change on projects. As challenges grew, I stepped into two dual roles: Project Engineering Manager and Site Engineering Manager for the Bakersfield Renewable Fuels Project. As Project Engineering Manager, I led the remaining engineering work in CTCI’s Houston office. At the same time, I had to manage the engineering team on-site in California to support construction and commissioning. Balancing these two roles—across office and the field—taught me how to solve problems quickly, lead teams under pressure, and keep projects moving forward despite obstacles.

Having a great time with colleagues at a Filipino restaurant during the Bakersfield Renewable Fuels construction project, with Mr. Romero pictured first from the left.

Learn to Lead and Make Decisions

As a project manager, I like to think of my role as the conductor of an orchestra: every section has its own rhythm, and my job is to make sure they play in harmony, so the project succeeds. Specifically, I need to take complex plans and turn them into fully operational facilities—safely, on time, and with the highest quality.

The fun part about project management is the variety and the impact that it brings: some days I’m reviewing risk registers and coordinating action plans in the office; other days I’m out on-site watching our designs come to life. I love the challenge, the collaboration, and the fact that my work helps transform ideas into facilities that contribute to the energy transition.

Needless to say, there were challenging aspects about this job. For example, I have been in situations where I must cancel refurbished equipment after risk assessment showed it was unsuitable; I quickly pivoted to procure new equipment while making sure the schedule would not be impacted. This job also required me to work day after day with subcontractors, clients, and the engineering team to ensure commissioning activities were completed on time, while making sure our office teams deliver the final as-built drawings. To protect the company’s reputation, I also had to make difficult decisions, even when such decisions were not the easiest or the most popular. With every challenge that I overcame, I became a better leader and a seasoned decision-maker. These memorable experiences taught me the importance of teamwork, clear communication, and doing the right thing under pressure.

A Proud Venezuelan-American

I come from Caracas, which is the vibrant capital city of Venezuela with great mountain views and delicious food. Venezuelans value family and community very much. People would come together, share a meal, and enjoy music and conversation on Sundays and national holidays. There are two famous Venezuelan delicacies I always love to share with others: arepas and hallacas. The former, arepas, are cornmeal patties filled with cheese, meat, or beans; the latter, hallacas, are boiled corn dough filled with a rich stew of beef, pork, chicken, olives, raisins, and capers, wrapped in plantain leaves. Hallacas is similar to tamales, a popular delicacy across South America, but it contains Venezuelan elements.

I’m a Catholic and love to spend time with my family. My wife and my incredible kids always remind me why I do what I do. Outside CTCI, I’m a lifelong builder at heart who loves to learn new technologies, share knowledge, and connect with people. A few years ago, I built and operated five full mining racks to mine Ethereum. Today, I channel the same hands-on curiosity into building a small language model (LLM) at home using the same mining racks.

My Venezuelan background taught me resilience in real terms, and adaptability. Even when life is challenging, people find ways to celebrate and keep moving forward. I carry that same spirit with me at work: focus on solutions, stay positive, and keep the team motivated no matter the circumstances.