Community

Connections

Spring/Summer 2026

Refinery Manager Message

Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to the Spring/Summer edition of our community newsletter. This July marks an important milestone as Torrance Refining Company LLC celebrates its 10th Anniversary of business in the City of Torrance. 

Refinery Manager

Jared Wimberley

Over the past decade, we have been proud to build strong relationships, support local community initiatives, and contribute to the well-being and development of the neighborhoods we serve. And recently, our company received recognition from the City of Torrance in honor of a decade of safe and responsible operations.

In this edition, you will find updates on our operations, highlights of our community engagement efforts, and stories that showcase the many ways our refinery team continues to make a positive impact. We are proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful for the support, collaboration, and trust of our business and community partners, and city stakeholders.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to continuing to serve the community and California’s energy needs well into the future.

Sincerely,

Jared Wimberley

Torrance Refinery General Manager

Employees celebrated with an inaugural Chili Cook-Off event, featuring celebrity community judges who are all neighbors of the Torrance Refinery. The judges joined us to sample each team's creative chili-making efforts and judged on appearance, aroma, flavor, texture/consistency, and heat level. The team of "Long Meat, Short Beans" took first place, followed by the teams "Beans, Brains, and BTU's," and "To Bean or Not to Bean." It was a fun time for all!

Chili Cook-Off Champions “Long Meat, Short Beans” proudly pose with their 1st Place Trophy, prizes and the Judges.

Cookoff Judges L-R: Torrance Refinery General Manager Jared Wimberley, City of Torrance Mayor Sharon Kalani, Torrance Refinery Community Relations Manager Barbara Graham, Torrance District 3 City Councilmember Asam Shiekh, and Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Donna Duperron.

The Judges prepare to begin their tasting.

Anniversary Giving Campaign goes live!

To celebrate this milestone with the community, Torrance Refining publicly kicked-off its Employees' Choice Giving Campaign. The company will provide $100,000 in total funding, distributed as ten $10,000 donations to city and South Bay nonprofit organizations supporting public safety, the environment, health, education and workforce development, and youth programs. Donation recipients will be selected by Torrance Refinery employees and announced each month through April 2027. The first $10,000 anniversary donation was presented on July 14 at Torrance City Council to The Friends of Madrona Marsh, a nonprofit organization comprised of volunteers dedicated to the preservation, education, and aesthetics of the Madrona Marsh Preserve for more than 50 years.

L to R: Suzan Hubert, President, Friends of Madrona Marsh, Barbara Graham, Ollie the Frog, Jared Wimberley, and Former Torrance Mayor George Chen.

Torrance employees celebrate legacy and leadership at annual Black History Celebration

At the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce 25th Annual Black History Celebration (BHC), on February 23, 2026, Community Relations Manager Barbara Graham had the honor of presenting the Chamber’s Founders Award to Clifton L. Johnson, a respected local businessman whose leadership helped establish and grow this meaningful city tradition. Continue reading

Company recognized with Legacy Award

At the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce’s 25th Annual Black History Celebration in February, Torrance Refining was presented with the Chamber’s Legacy Award, a distinguished honor recognizing the company’s enduring support and active involvement since the event’s inception. Continue reading

Refinery salutes achievements and leadership of Torrance area women

Torrance Refining Company recently sponsored the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce Women of Influence event, which honored the achievements and leadership of six remarkable Torrance businesswomen. Continue reading

Invention Convention highlights young innovators

Student Inventors packed El Camino College for the California Invention Convention: Southern Region, presented by Torrance Refining Company in partnership with Torrance Unified School District. Valerie Tse, Torrance Refinery Environmental & Process Safety Manager, was the guest speaker and presented the Safety and Energy Awards to students. Winners move on to the national competition. The day also included an Innovation Festival with challenges, games, experiments, and student-made items for sale.

Refinery business partners help raise record funds at YMCA Kids Classic Golf Tournament

Over the years, thousands of young people have benefited from programs at the YMCA Torrance-South Bay. The YMCA’s golf tournament began in 1993 and since Torrance Refinery took over as the presenting sponsor ten years ago, the event has exceeded its fundraising goal each year. Continue reading

Volunteers mentor students at TUSD Girls Cardboard Regatta

Our Workforce Involvement Program volunteer team had a blast mentoring students at the Torrance Unified School District Girls Cardboard Regatta. The company was the presenting sponsor of the annual event that helps girls from all Torrance middle schools and three high schools develop teamwork, adaptability, and perseverance as they collaborate to apply engineering principles to build a vessel and race across an Olympic-sized pool without sinking. Continue reading

Community Partner Spotlight

Energy Literacy

What year was the first gasoline pump invented?

1885! That year, Sylvanus Bowser of Fort Wayne, Indiana, invented the first gasoline pump. It was a simple construction, basically a metal tank in a wooden cabinet and operated by a suction pump, but Bowser successfully sold it to a grocery store owner in town. Little did he know his invention would change the world. (Source: The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers)

Pictured right: An antique gas pump at Empire Mine State Park at Grass Valley, California.

Community Calendar

Our Company continues to sponsor and support fun community activities for the general public.

Enjoy Torrance Summer Nights

The free Torrance Summer Nights series is sponsored by Torrance Refinery and runs through September 12. Enjoy, music, movies, and family friendly fun!

Emergency Preparedness