Mckenzie Channon

Academic Credentials

B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, 2022

Mckenzie Channon is an Associate Consultant at Exponent with 3+ years of experience in process engineering, including hands-on experience in oil refinery operations. She specializes in problem solving, data-driven decision making, and leveraging technical expertise alongside relationship building to deliver actionable solutions.

Ms. Channon has led numerous projects involving gross margin improvement, operational reliability, and external and internal equipment inspections. Having led more than 5 major unit shutdowns in the Oil and Gas industry, Ms. Channon brings firsthand experience in executing capital and maintenance plans that prioritize safety and maximize performance while minimizing operational interruptions. Her work encompasses process monitoring and data analysis, with expertise in driving production improvements through hands-on test runs and stakeholder engagement.

She has served clients across the oil and gas and food manufacturing industries, addressing challenges such as operational reliability, process inefficiencies, and regulatory compliance. Her consulting experience in food manufacturing spans P&ID development and leading the creation of an alarm management program from the ground up, demonstrating the ability to create critical operational frameworks.

Ms. Channon's consulting approach integrates data-driven decision making, confirmed by field observation, to deliver rigorous, defensible conclusions.

Before joining Exponent, Ms. Channon held Process Engineering roles for an oil major and an operations consulting firm that specializes in upgrading automation systems. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida.

Ms. Channon is a board member of the San Francisco Bay Area Young Professionals in Energy. In this capacity, she leads the Chapter's mentorship program, fostering the career advancement of young professionals in the energy industry. Additionally, Ms. Channon coordinates industry networking events and educational panels.

Refinery Process Unit Shutdown Mitigation
Applied data analysis skills to investigate the root cause of repeated unplanned shutdowns of a variable process unit. Insights gathered from daily process monitoring were used to devise 10+ process variable adjustments. The consultant partnered with various cross-functional groups, including operations and management, to align on proposed solutions and execute them in the field. As viable solutions were determined, downtime of the unit decreased, and deliverable inputs were developed for the next large scale planned shutdown. Each day of downtime eliminated prevented a $100K loss for the facility.
Refinery Operations Optimization Initiative
Through structured project management, cross-functional collaboration, and a phased testing approach, the consultant was able to increase daily output of a high value product. A clear project plan was developed with defined deliverables, timelines, and milestones, and assigned to relevant stakeholders based on expertise and accountability. A structured test run was then executed to validate assumptions and refine the process prior to full implementation. As a result, the project successfully achieved a significant increase in daily output, ultimately driving a $50,000 increase in daily profit.
Process Engineer Consultant, Muddy Paws Automation, Berkeley, CA, 2025-2026
Process Engineer, Chevron, Richmond, CA, 2023-2025
Young Professionals in Energy SF Bay Area — VP of Community, Membership, Board of Directors

Project Experience

Prior Experiences