“While I try to get everything done as close to perfect as I can, and remind myself all the time that I am a professional, my team is a big part of the success that we achieve; our team is like a family and their support, help and the strong team spirit makes the job easier and success possible”
Photo credit: Luvo Productions Ltd.
Leon Noel is a Mechanical Technician at Process Systems Limited (PSL), whose 14-year career in the energy sector began as a welder. He exudes pride when he speaks of being from Point Fortin where he grew up among a family of three siblings and his parents.
His path from being a teenager to where he now sits as part of the PSL team started at La Romain High School where he gained his CXC passes, allowing him to move on to Persto Praesto Youth Development and Apprenticeship Centre and then NESC where he took up welding. After becoming certified, his first job opportunity came at Damus Limited in 2016; in 2018 he was hired by PSL. The financial comfort which resulted from his successful career as a welder could not however extinguish his innate curiosity about how things work, and led him to fulfilling his dream of becoming a mechanical technician. In addition to this, when his weekly tasks at PSL end, his weekend routine includes yet another passion, auto mechanics. Leon believes that “we all have to set certain standards with regard to what we want to achieve.”
As a Mechanical Technician, Leon has completed critical valve servicing for Atlantic and Shell to name a few and shared his approach to completing jobs, regardless of who the client is “Firstly, I always stick to procedure, and this is to make sure that the job gets done safely and within the time frame required”. And this usually leads to what for him is the most satisfying aspect of his job which is the “feeling of satisfaction which I get from completing the jobs effectively and based on the time frame which the client expects”. Leon acknowledges that this is not just his doing and gave kudos to the team of 6 that he works directly with, “While I try to get everything done as close to perfect and remind myself all the time that I am a professional, my team is a big part of the success that we achieve; our team is like a family and their support, help and the strong team spirit makes the job easier and success possible”
While intrinsic motivation has been a driver of his success, Leon shared with us how privileged he feels to be able to learn from his Executive Chairman Dave Ayres, a self-made and very successful businessman who has built his company from a very simple start. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Junior Phillips, his YTEPP lecturer, whose mentorship during the Valve Maintenance and Repair Programme inspired his growth in both skill and character. Guided by Mr. Phillips’ encouragement and belief in his potential, he developed the confidence and determination to pursue his goals — an experience made possible through the PSL–YTEPP partnership aimed at strengthening the energy-sector workforce.
Leon ended his chat with us by emphasizing the importance of becoming certified and maintaining an open mind to the challenges and opportunities that one might encounter professionally.
While he admits to a very busy work schedule, he stressed the importance of nurturing family relationships and prioritizing time with family. His greatest personal challenge was the loss of his mother in 2015, but one which he used to propel himself further: “My mother played an important role in everything I worked towards, and when she passed I used the pain to motivate me to fulfill my dreams, knowing this would have made her even more proud of me”.
Leon hopes to continue to have the opportunity to impact positively on the energy sector and feels like this is where his efforts will be directed for a long time.