Key Points
- Jordan Boon leads with a people‑first mindset, focusing on listening, inclusion and developing others.
- His career at Marathon spans engineering, planning and operations, culminating in his role as operations superintendent.
- He is highly involved in community outreach, mentoring students and supporting programs that encourage future engineers.
For Jordan Boon, operations superintendent at Marathon Petroleum’s Canton, Ohio, refinery, leadership is about more than meeting production goals. It’s about listening, learning and helping others grow. It’s a role that combines people, process and performance, and Boon takes pride in helping his team, the refinery, and Marathon succeed.
“Everyone’s voice here matters, and leadership trusts me to make sure we’re aligned,” Boon said. “That trust goes both ways, and it’s something I never take lightly.”
Boon started his career through Marathon’s intern/co-op program while attending The Ohio State University. While earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, he completed two rotations with Marathon that gave him a strong foundation and showed him this was a place full of opportunity. He has held several roles, including unit engineer for the Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit, which converts heavier oils into lighter fuels like gasoline. He also spent time working with the Economics and Planning organization, where he helped evaluate production strategies and market trends to guide day-to-day operating decisions. He later moved into operations, first as an operations excellence specialist and now as operations superintendent, working directly with people at every level of the refinery.
“Much of my day does involve working with our operators, tackling challenges together and collaborating with other teams across the refinery,” Boon said. “Something else I really enjoy is training. I oversee both new and continuing training for our field and board operators.”
That people-first approach has earned Boon a reputation as a culture builder at the Canton refinery. It’s something he says comes naturally in a place that already feels like family.
“He listens, puts others first and looks for ways to make the people on his team better.”
“As cliché as it sounds, the family aspect here is real,” he said. “Being part of a smaller, close-knit refinery means I know people across departments, including many of our contractors. When the relationships are genuine, the work is better, and life’s a little easier.”
That genuine, people-first approach has not gone unnoticed by his peers.
“Since the first day I met Jordan, he has always had a team-oriented mindset. He listens, puts others first and looks for ways to make the people on his team better,” said Rob Dugan, Process Engineering Manager at Marathon’s refinery in Robinson, Illinois, who worked closely with Boon during his time at the Canton facility. “He has a calm, steady way of tackling even the toughest situations. When things get hectic, he does not just take charge; he jumps in beside you. He brings a contagious energy that uplifts everyone, and somehow makes you feel more confident just by being there. That is why people trust him.”
When asked what being a culture builder means to him, Boon doesn’t hesitate to answer.
“To me, it’s about inclusion. I try to make sure everyone feels heard, even if we disagree,” said Boon. “Most of the time, the best solution lies somewhere in the middle. When people feel heard, they feel valued, and valued people are the ones who build the culture.”
Boon’s impact reaches far beyond the refinery gates. Deeply involved in the community, he credits the guidance and encouragement he received from his mentors along the way for inspiring his passion for giving.
“I didn’t get here on my own,” he said. “The best way to show gratitude is to be part of someone else’s story, even in a small way.”
Two volunteer experiences stand out most to him. The first is recruiting the next generation of engineers, something personal to Boon after receiving his own break following a meaningful conversation with a Marathon employee early on in his career.
“Every time I visit The Ohio State University’s (OSU) campus, I think about that moment and how I can recreate it for someone else,” he said.
He spent two years volunteering on the OSU recruiting team at the Canton refinery before becoming a lead recruiter in 2021. Since then, he has partnered with student groups to organize campus recruiting events, plan informal meetups, and host refinery visits for more than 50 students.
The second is his work with youth through the Stark County Minority Business Association. Boon was invited to support the Youth Entrepreneur Program, where students turn their ideas into real business models. He mentors them on how STEM fits into the business world and how it can strengthen the ideas they are developing.
“Seeing the looks on their faces when they realize someone who looks like them once stood in their shoes is what it’s all about,” he said.
Boon’s motivation at work is also grounded in helping others reach their potential. Peers and refinery leaders see Boon’s passion for developing others in everything he does, describing him as a steady, humble leader who puts people and growth first.
“Jordan is passionate and driven, but it is never about recognition. It is about helping the whole team win,” said Michael Moore, Area Team Manager at the Canton refinery. “I have watched him grow from an intern to a tech services engineer who mastered every unit he touched, then transition into an economics role and now into his position as superintendent. Not everyone can make the shift from technical expert to people leader, but Jordan has done it with grit and determination. People trust him because he listens first, adapts quickly and brings out the best in those around him.”
Boon and his wife recently celebrated four years of marriage and welcomed their daughter, Raelee, who is named after both of their grandmothers. Boon was born in Ohio and spent part of his childhood in South Carolina. He also officiates high school and Division II and III college football in his free time.
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