Kyle Vandermolen

With a career spanning more than 18 years, Kyle Vandermolen has established himself as a dependable professional in chemical engineering. His work has consistently involved high-stakes responsibilities, particularly safety management and hazardous material handling. Over time, he has become especially recognized for his expertise with Hydrogen Fluoride, a chemical used across various industrial processes. His knowledge in this area has led to his longstanding role on the Hydrogen Fluoride Panel, supported by the American Chemistry Council, where he helps develop industry safety standards. Kyle’s professional development began with his graduation from Michigan Technological University in 2004, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. As a student, he embraced a well-rounded experience, joining Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity and participating in several campus initiatives. These included service on the Judicial Board and involvement with the Michigan Tech Student Foundation. He also participated in athletic and creative outlets, such as playing for the football team and contributing to New Innovations in Tech Entertainment (N.I.T.E.). After completing his degree, he entered the US Steel Corporation Coke Plant workforce. He started as a Chemicals Coordinator, supervising a team of union employees and ensuring chemical processes were handled safely. His leadership abilities led to a promotion to Departmental Supervisor, where he oversaw four shift managers and a crew of over thirty union workers. These early experiences laid the groundwork for his future in operations and safety program leadership. Kyle later returned to US Steel in a more advanced role as Process Manager at their Granite City, Illinois facility. In this capacity, he managed programs such as Process Safety Management (PSM) and Isolation, Purging, and Reintroduction (IPR). He was also tasked with organizing response plans for chemical spills and plant outages, roles requiring foresight and technical skill. His time in this position deepened his understanding of large-scale safety planning and execution. Following that chapter, he joined Cathay Pigments as a Facilities Process Engineer and Project Manager, leading efforts to expand operations and install a new color pigmentation line. He later served as Operations Manager at Koch Industries’ KCBX Terminals in Chicago, focusing on improving logistics and reducing operational inefficiencies. At Innophos Inc., he worked as a Production Engineer, managing capital improvement projects to enhance product reliability and minimize plant downtime. Kyle Vandermolen enjoys an active and family-centered lifestyle outside his professional achievements. He is a certified technical scuba diver, often diving with rebreathers to explore underwater sites like caves and shipwrecks. His free time is filled with outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, and sharing meals with his family. Cooking is one of his passions, and he approaches it with the same thoughtful mindset he brings to engineering. His life is guided by three enduring values—faith, health, and family—which continue to inspire how he lives and works daily.