Spencer Kirksmith

Background

About Spencer Kirksmith

As a Turnaround Manager at Valero Energy, I lead the planning and execution of multimillion-dollar refinery events, overseeing budgets that exceed $100MM and coordinating teams of 1,200+ personnel. With 15+ years across turnaround management, regional optimization, and mechanical engineering, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, operational leadership, and strategic insight to capital projects and refinery operations. I develop 10-year turnaround and catalyst forecasts, steward scope and contractor alignment, and deliver projects on schedule, within budget, and with measurable gains in efficiency and reliability. My leadership style emphasizes collaboration, clear communication, and talent development — guiding 40+ planners and supervisors while fostering cross-functional alignment with operations, maintenance, and capital project teams. Highlights include: Turnaround Execution: Delivered a $114MM FCC/Alky turnaround within 10% of budget and schedule, achieving best-in-company manpower efficiency. Operational Optimization: Completed a $61MM HCU/CCR turnaround 12% faster with 18% fewer manhours, improving site availability by 22%. Process Improvements: Rolled out turnaround excellence systems and contractor bid tools now used across multiple Valero sites. Strategic Forecasting: Built regional operating plans and five-year strategies, aligning refinery optimization with executive leadership priorities. Beyond project delivery, I have supported refining circuit optimization, blending strategies, and long-term reliability planning. My MBA and Mechanical Engineering degree allow me to bridge technical depth with business objectives, ensuring every project delivers lasting value. I am passionate about advancing turnaround excellence, capital project delivery, and operational reliability — and I welcome opportunities to connect with leaders shaping the future of refining and energy operations.