Several promotions within American Refining Group’s research and development team were announced recently.

Charlotte Layton has been promoted to quality-control director. As leader of ARG’s entire quality staff, she is responsible for planning and directing quality assurance policies, programs and initiatives as well as process and product testing to ensure production standards are met. Layton has been with ARG since June 22, 1981.

Yassin Al Obaidi has earned a promotion from R&D senior chemist to principal scientist. ARG’s principal scientists hold extensive technical knowledge in multiple areas of petroleum technology and are able to independently research, plan and execute complex experiments. Recognized as an expert in his field, Al Obaidi must stay current via literature and industry or academic contacts and leverage technical knowledge to assist leadership in making significant business decisions. Yassin joined ARG on June 10, 2013.

Prafulla Patil was promoted to R&D engineer II. Patil, who was hired April 8, 2013, designs and initiates processes for the manufacturing of chemicals and related products; researches, plans and executes laboratory, pilot and commercial-scale experiments; analyzes experimental data, summarizes results and presents findings.

John Peterson has been named R&D senior chemist. Senior chemists have significant petroleum technology knowledge and experience, and are able to execute complex experiments in support of new products and technology. Peterson must stay current with technological developments, conducts independent literature research, conducts statistical data analysis and communicates experimental results. He joined ARG on April 7, 1997.

Kurt Raymond, with ARG since May 7, 2007, has earned a promotion to R&D chemist II. As a chemist II, Raymond conducts method development, designs experiments, identifies areas for lab improvement, leads projects and is responsible for researching equipment purchases.