Ole Miss Students Tour Mississippi Company in Singapore

Over winter break, 10 Ole Miss students traveled to Malaysia and Singapore for a study abroad class that offered a chance to immerse themselves in another culture while visiting tech consulting and engineering firms and U.S. embassies.

A highlight of the class, however, was visiting an island where Ergon's oil is stored.

"It showed that it's not just companies from big cities on the coast that can have a global presence," said Tong Meng, Ole Miss instructor and class leader.

"This demonstrated that Mississippi-based companies like Ergon can compete, adapt and lead globally."

Electrical engineering major Tyneah Buckley – who is from Jackson, where Ergon was founded – said seeing Ergon’s facilities gave her a new perspective on how interconnected global markets can be. 

"I was not familiar with how booming international business was in Singapore," she said. "I was also not privy to how or why businesses decided to invest in growth within the country."

The visit kindled Buckley's interest in international career opportunities.

"Seeing these concepts take shape in the real world exposed me to a myriad of factors that are not all covered in the classroom," she said. "Real-world operations involve logistical, financial and operational challenges that add complexity beyond what textbooks can fully capture."

Ergon is a global manufacturing and infrastructure company that began in 1954 in Jackson. It is a partner with the university's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where Meng is director of programs.

"The tour, led by Henry Chua, operations manager for Ergon Asia, gave students a deep dive into Ergon's history and how our global operations deliver quality solutions worldwide," said Rhyan Plumlee, manager of business development & strategy for Ergon Asia. "It was rewarding to connect with Ole Miss students and share the story of our company that began over 70 years ago in Jackson."

Seeing how classroom concepts are put into practice gives students insights into their career fields, Meng said.

"Over the course of four years they spend here, they learn about business, finance and logistics, but to see how it's applied in the real world – and on the other side of the globe – that provides some clarity," she said. "They see that people are using what they are learning in the classroom."

For Ergon's leaders, hosting the students offered a chance to discuss how the company's operations have expanded across the world while remaining rooted in Mississippi.

"I hope these students saw how our work touches communities everywhere, fueled by collaboration and a commitment to continuous improvement," said Lance Puckett, the company's executive vice president of energy & specialty solutions. "Those qualities will serve them well no matter where their careers take them.

"By engaging with future leaders, we're investing in the next generation of innovators who will shape the future of energy and specialty solutions."

Top: Ole Miss students visit an Ergon Inc. holding facility in Singapore as part of a study abroad class organized by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Submitted photo