Chad Dlugoszewski was an aspiring gearhead when he enrolled in North Carolina’s NASCAR Technical Institute two-decades ago, working in the summer to mow grass for Williams while pursuing race car mechanics.

But that time at Williams was just a warm-up lap.

He joined the company as an operation technician after graduation, changing career tracks from car engines to compressors, the horsepower that fuels the natural gas industry.

“My original goal was to work for a NASCAR team, and I worked for a contract pit crew for lower-level races during my first year or so with Williams.”

He said that, pretty quickly, he decided that natural gas operations was the lane he loved.

“Starting as an operations technician, it was exciting to be introduced to a facility where the engines were so large that we would have to literally get inside to complete maintenance. But the similarities stop at the physical assets,” he said.

The biggest difference? Culture.

“Racing can be a cutthroat business where you are part of a team, but people are more willing to step on someone to get themselves ahead. My experience at Williams has been more collaborative, where the team really works together towards a goal as we strive for collective success.”

That teamwork is critical in his current role as coordinator of maintenance, where he helps plan day-to-day operations, manages internal projects and serves as a liaison between construction and operations teams. From overseeing turbine maintenance to coordinating gas handling projects, his work ensures Williams infrastructure runs efficiently and reliably.

Dlugoszewski also is an active volunteer for local nonprofits in the Charlotte area, organizing opportunities for fellow employees to give back. For several years, he has led Williams Volunteer Week projects at nonprofits close to his heart.

As a regular volunteer at Davidson Lands Conservancy, he’s led projects to clear debris, build bridges and beautify the property where his family enjoys the outdoors. This year, he also coordinated a volunteer day at FeedNC, a nonprofit addressing food insecurity, and participated in North Carolina’s Adopt-a-Highway cleanup efforts.

“I just really enjoy it,” Dlugoszewski said. “We’ve got a lot of great organizations in our community that make a difference””

While busy, his competitive nature hasn’t stalled out. The dad of four coaches youth sports – often listening to NASCAR races while driving to games and practices. Additionally, his family shares a love of traveling with plans to hit all 50 states before his children graduate from high school, plus international adventures along the way.

“Setting an example for my kids is what drives me to be better and challenge myself,” he said.

Want to be part of a team that moves forward together? Visit our careers page to learn more about working at Williams.