NuStar Celebrates New Digs

It’s been a long time coming.

After years of sharing office space in Paulsboro, NuStar Energy L.P. unveiled its new East Regional offices in a home of their own at the corner of Grove Road and Imperial Way in West Deptford’s Mid-Atlantic Corporate Center Monday.

“[Company officials] wanted a place that was NuStar’s–they didn’t want a place that was an Exxon-Mobil building and NuStar resided there,” said Mike Drager, general manager of refining operations.

The company marked the moment by raising a flag flown during a combat sortie in Operation American Freedom by members of the 23rd Fighter Squadron, as an honor guard of Marines from the Semper Fidelis League of Wenonah stood watch.

The new offices combine the regional staff and the refining division’s support staff, close to 50 people, almost all of whom get their own office–a break from the usual corporate standard of open floor plans and cubicles.

Drager said there were some initial concerns from employees about the move, but things like the individual offices were a big positive.

“Just to have your own space, where you can close the door and work if you need to, is something people enjoy,” he said.

And a skylight at the center of the building, a bright spot among the subdued office lighting, serves as a gathering spot most days–including during

“We meet every morning for a safety huddle under that skylight,” Drager said.

After wrapping up construction around the New Year’s holiday, the company began moving in its employees in January, bringing in the refining support staff before adding the regional employees in February.

The company took out a 12-year lease on the building–a big step, considering NuStar, which operates almost 8,500 miles of pipeline, 90 terminal and storage facilities and a pair of asphalt refineries, including one in Paulsboro, just celebrated its 10th anniversary last month.

“We’re committed to staying in the community, and we’ll be here a long time,” Drager said.