Al Melillo, Chevron

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Newark, NJ, and after graduating college I move to a rural part of central NJ to spend 4 years as a middle school science teacher. After that, I decided to go graduate school to prepare for a career in the oil industry. I came to New Orleans 25 years ago and have spent my entire time here with Chevron. I started work as a micropaleontologist, looking at microscopic fossils from wells we drilled. I made a career change in the mid-1990’s and now I am a geologist for one of Chevron’s fields in the deep water Gulf of Mexico. I love to fish and hunt, so Louisiana is a natural match for me. I met my wife when I chaired Chevron’s United Way campaign in 1989 and she was Executive Director of the United Way for South Louisiana in Houma. We have a beautiful 16 year old daughter and our current focus is helping her decide where to go to college.

2) What motivated you to volunteer with Rebuilding Together New Orleans?

I started with RT about 18 years ago at the invitation of a co-worker who was a House Captain. Right from the start I enjoyed the work and camaraderie that was present. However, it was the sense of contributing something that would immediately improve the quality of someone’s life that hooked me. These are generally people who have worked hard all of their lives and now find themselves where they are no longer capable of doing the things they have done for years to keep up their home.

3) What have you learned or gained from helping to rebuild?

I’ve learned a lot about people. That we are different in some ways, but similar in many of the most basic ways. We all want a decent place to live, we all want something better for our children, we all believe in a sense of fairness. If someone has contributed all of their life and now needs a helping hand, someone else should be there to offer it, this is what RT does so well.

4) What has been your best experience in New Orleans?

It would have to be the people, but the food and festivals are very close behind. People are just a lot friendlier and more laid back in New Orleans than in most other places around the US.

5) What is next for you?

I am looking at retirement in a few years, maybe here, maybe not. In the meantime, I will wait to get next year’s RT house assigned to us.