Michael Didonato

About Michael Didonato

I\'m a driven and optimistic professional who brings a collaborative mindset to every environment—whether at work, out in the world, or at home. I approach challenges with a “glass half full” mentality, which helps me stay resilient and support others, especially during high-pressure moments. I genuinely enjoy what I do and am deeply committed to making a meaningful impact.My career has taken me across the country and around the world—I’ve relocated seven times for both national and international assignments, embracing each opportunity to grow professionally and personally. Outside of work, I’ve dedicated time to mentoring college students and served as Chair of Communications for The Chemists’ Club, a nonprofit organization that connects leaders across the chemical and pharmaceutical industries through networking and educational events.Most recently, I relocated to Houston, where I’m focused on continuing my development into a well-rounded technical leader—and improving as a long-distance runner along the way.

Experience

1. Process Development Engineer

   Phillips 66

   Jan 2023 — Present · Houston, TX, US

   Driving refinery capital project success through economic analysis, cross-functional alignment, and strategic engineering insight• Lead process development engineering support for capital projects across Bayway, Los Angeles, Rodeo, Wood River, Billings, and Ponca City refineries.• Own the economic evaluation and project feasibility analysis to ensure alignment with business goals and long-term strategy.• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to resolve unit constraints and align project scope with site and corporate objectives.• Develop and maintain HYSYS models and perform material balance calculations as needed to support technical and economic project assessments.• Author Project Objective Letters (POLs), translating complex technical and commercial inputs into clear project definitions.• Travel frequently to refinery sites to build relationships with customer teams, align on project direction, and validate design assumptions.• Serve as a key interface between site stakeholders and corporate technology SMEs, ensuring project development meets technical standards while supporting business needs.• Led major initiatives including FCC cyclone and stripper replacements, reformer optimization, wet gas compressor upgrades, and hydrogen plant reliability improvements.

Education

• Manhattan University

  Master's Degree, Chemical Engineering

  2012 — 2013

• Manhattan University

  Chemical Engineering, Math, Chemistry, Engineering Fundamentals

  2008 — 2012

Skills

• Microsoft Office
• Materials Science
• Heat Transfer
• Energy
• Customer Service
• Mathematica
• Aspen Plus
• Factory
• Project Engineering
• Thermodynamics
• Engineering
• Public Speaking
• Social Media
• Commissioning
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Time Management
• Chemistry
• Water
• Organic Chemistry
• Hazop Study
• Project Management
• Aspen Hysys
• Manufacturing
• Powerpoint
• Process Simulation
• Science
• Process Engineering
• Leadership
• Chemical Engineering
• Matlab
• Management