Name: Eric McMurphy
Title: Sales Manager, Aviation
Location: Houston, TX
Years with Phillips 66: 31 years total; been on the aviation side for four and a half years
Describe yourself in three words: Competitive, Compassionate, Caring
What do you love most about your job? What I love most about my job is seeing my team succeed within their day-to-day work. It’s very humbling to see their creativity shine and win with both new and existing customers. I’m very lucky to oversee a staff of talented people who truly enjoy their job.
What’s one work-related project you’re most proud of and why? In 2019, I was part of the team that supported the “Miss Montana to Normandy” mission. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, Miss Montana flew alongside the D-Day Squadron, the American fleet of C-47s participating in the flyover. The flyover consisted of more than 30 international aircraft to commemorate the day the Allies invaded Western Europe in World War II. Phillips 66 Aviation contributed fuel for the project with Miss Montana, specifically utilizing our avgas. It was incredibly rewarding working alongside this team and seeing our wings logo on the tail. The project was also covered in a segment on CBS Sunday Morning, so it was a great honor to have been part of this celebratory moment in history.
What’s the most unusual or interesting job you’ve had? During college, I was an intern for Mobil Oil Corporation (now Exxon Mobil Corporation). They placed me in a plant that included a new warehouse automation system that no one in the company knew how to operate, nor wanted to troubleshoot. As a result, I was tasked in figuring out how to use it, which I found enjoyable, being a natural problem-solving enthusiast. I spent about six months working on that system, establishing rules and processes every step of the way. But that wasn’t the end of it. Once I was comfortable with the system, I had to train the full-time Mobil employees on how to use it. It was not only an interesting job, but also an eye-opening preview of what was to come for my future career in the oil business, including aviation.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? My wife and I love to camp and have been doing it for almost 29 years. We’ve owned our fair share of campers over the years and love taking our two dogs with us during our travels. We travel more during the warmer seasons, but throughout the year, we try to camp at least two weekends a month.
What are you currently reading/ binge watching? I’m a big fan of Star Wars so I’ve been loving the Star Wars content on Disney+, including “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett”.
If given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? I’d like to be President of United States for a day so I can fully understand what this iconic position experiences. I’ve always been intrigued by our U.S. Presidents and their day-to-day responsibilities in keeping our country moving so it would be interesting to have a day in their shoes and see what comes at them.
What’s a surprising fact about you? Throughout my career at Phillips 66, I’ve relocated 13 times within the company.
What are you inspired by? I’m inspired by my stepdad – who I personally call my dad. I grew up in a divorced family and was very lucky to have fostered a great relationship with him when he entered my life. Today, he continues to be my mentor, and I couldn’t be more thankful for his love and support through the years. Although he’s getting older, I spend as much time with him as I can at his residence in Tennessee. His wise words remain with me and much of his advice has applied to my career with Phillips 66. One tip he often told me that I continue to remind myself is, “If you want people to work for you, you have to show initiative, get your hands dirty and show your employees you’re willing to jump in with them.” And as a manager, overseeing many folks and continuing to grow our aviation business line, I live by these words every day.