Mark Swanson
Senior Vice PresidentOil, Gas & Chemical Group
Mark Swanson’s single metric is to make clients successful. He does so by executing predictable engineering, procurement and construction capital projects.
Mark Swanson is senior vice president of the Oil, Gas & Chemical Group at Burns & McDonnell. Serving the refining, chemicals, logistics/midstream and renewables markets, his main responsibility has been to diversify the oil and gas group into the chemicals, logistics, midstream and renewables industries. Whether it’s a new technology, a facility revamp or a greenfield project, Mark loves the challenge of creating solutions and delivering projects that add significant value to his clients. He is passionate about introducing proven, intelligent engineers and construction personnel to existing and potential clients.
In the community:
Mark serves his community in multiple ways:
- Lead To Read KC, board member
- Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, board member
- Wabash CannonBall, K-State Alumni Association, committee member
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City, volunteer
What inspired you to pursue your career?
From an engineering perspective, my big brother pursued a mechanical engineering degree and became, literally, a rocket scientist. He designs, builds and shoots off rockets as part of the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative. He has always been my hero and has inspired me significantly throughout my career.
My grandmother and mother inspired me in my career to value relationships above all else — relationships built on heart, integrity and trust. Both my grandmother and mother could talk to anyone, anytime, and find them fascinating in their own unique ways.
How do you and your team make the world a better place?
Starting off with the execution of capital projects: Such projects, in general, are hard. Executing capital projects is an art in the oil, gas and chemicals industry that is very rarely appreciated until projects go well. Our clients’ careers are made and broken off of the predictability and success of their projects. At Burns & McDonnell, capital projects are at the heart of what we do. There is nothing more rewarding than connecting our great teams with a client team and hitting the project out of the park (aka Wowing our clients). When our clients are happy, our clients’ teams get promoted in their organizations and the company we own gets more opportunities to make our clients successful. This creates a better place for everyone.
I am also extremely proud of our commitment to helping our oil, gas and chemicals clients in the energy transition. Everyone is searching for the next step in making the world a better place. When I see our incredibly talented and smart engineers working alongside our clients to solve the challenges in the future of energy transition, I am so proud. The energy transition will occur over decades, maybe even centuries, and Burns & McDonnell will be there with awesome employee-owners to solve the toughest problems.
What's the coolest part of your job?
The people, hands down. Burns & McDonnell is a family of employees focused together on making this company and the world a better place. It’s inspiring to work with such a wonderful group of people who care so deeply for their co-workers, their company, their clients, their families and the world.