Title: Senior Project Manager (Retired)
Company: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
Location: Longview, Texas, United States
Billy H. McDonald Jr., retired senior project manager at Kellogg Brown & Root LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in construction.
Mr. McDonald has dedicated more than 45 years to an esteemed career in construction and engineering. He began his professional journey working for several family-owned construction companies operating in the Gulf Coast region. Showcasing his tenacity and drive, Mr. McDonald began as a general helper and worked his way up, becoming a foreman, general foreman, superintendent and finally senior construction manager for the world’s largest petrochemical plant. The owner of that plant, Exxon, was so impressed with his work that they asked him to leave behind contracting and work with them full-time.
Beginning in 2010, Mr. McDonald joined Fluor, a major construction and engineering firm, where he remained for eight years. In 2018, he was offered a position with Kellogg Brown & Root LLC (now known as KBR), a company that works with businesses and governments around the world to offer cutting-edge engineering and technological solutions to enduring challenges. Mr. McDonald served as a senior project manager there until his retirement in 2024. During this time, he led complex projects to successful completion.
Among the highlights of his professional journey, Mr. McDonald is especially proud of overseeing Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, a massive manufacturing infrastructure project that Kellogg Brown & Root handled in collaboration with Exxon Mobil Corporation. This project lasted more than three years, including during the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was the last person to leave on the last day of construction, ensuring that every element was accomplished with a high degree of quality. Mr. McDonald also points to being hired by Exxon as a noteworthy milestone, providing evidence of his expertise being recognized by higher-ups. This achievement was a direct result of his leadership on a challenging fabrication project for Exxon’s operations in Russia, where he navigated a harsh climate and difficult setbacks to guarantee production on time.
Though not formally schooled beyond earning his high school diploma in 1975, Mr. McDonald has demonstrated a commitment to continuous self-improvement. In 2014, he was certified as a project management professional through the Project Management Institute and as a construction manager through the Construction Manager Certification Institute. Mr. McDonald credits his success to the strong work ethic instilled in him by his father and grandfather, the latter of whom operated a construction business of his own. Mr. McDonald also points to the mentorship offered by Glenn Bristow, a senior journeyman pipe fitter who helped teach him during the early years of his career.
Mr. McDonald points to two key mottos that have driven his philosophy toward work: “I have a moral responsibility for everyone’s safety on this project,” and “Leave your ego at the gate.” He has gained great satisfaction in pulling together great teams and making sure that each member feels valued as an individual.
Outside of his professional life, Mr. McDonald is a devoted husband and a loving father to two daughters and grandfather to three grandsons. Though he has retired from full-time work, he is interested in pursuing consulting opportunities that could benefit from his years of experience. Mr. McDonald has recently taken meetings with companies for opportunities in this capacity and is eager to explore more. Wherever he works next, he aims to share his knowledge and empower both workers and management to achieve excellence.
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