Cody Farmer’s story is deeply rooted in Orange, Texas.
She and her husband both worked at a local paper mill for years – until one of them no longer could. When Cody left the mill in 2016, she wasn’t sure where her path would lead. And when the mill officially shut down in 2023, it hit close to home – literally. Her husband was still employed there at the time.
“It personally affected our family,” she said. “We were fortunate because he was eligible to retire. But our hearts went out to so many others who suddenly had to figure out what was next.”
Amid that uncertainty, Cody became part of a story that’s now giving others a fresh start, too. Golden Triangle Polymers has hired many former paper mill employees – including Cody herself.
Working Towards Her Ultimate Goal
Cody didn’t end up at GTP overnight. In 2019, she joined Chevron Phillips Chemical as the Senior Environmental Engineer Permitting Lead for the Orange and Port Arthur sites – a role that would eventually pave the way to GTP.
With more than two decades of experience in environmental engineering and permitting, Cody saw something special in GTP—a greenfield project, built from the ground up, with a clear focus on doing things the right way.
“This opportunity was exactly what I was looking for,” she said. “It was a fresh start—but one that let me stay rooted in a community I love.”
Building Environmental Excellence from the Ground Up
Cody joined GTP in 2024 as Environmental Superintendent, bringing two decades of experience across air, water, and waste permitting. Her job is to ensure the plant has every environmental authorization in place and that it meets—or exceeds—compliance standards.
“We’re not just inheriting someone else’s processes,” she said. “We’re creating them. We’re writing the playbook for how this plant operates, from policies to monitoring to reporting.”
For Cody, the work is deeply rewarding—especially because it is done with intention and collaboration.
“We’re doing something most people in this industry never get to do,” she said. “We’re building something new, and we’re doing it together.”
The startup phase has allowed her to take a more proactive approach. Instead of adopting systems already in place, Cody’s team is writing the playbook from scratch—developing policies, setting up monitoring systems, and integrating record-keeping tools.
Finding Purpose Close to Home
Cody lives in Little Cypress-Mauriceville and has a deep appreciation for the Orange community.
“This town has heart,” she said. “It’s where I raised my daughter. We go to Shangri La Gardens, the Lutcher Theater, and all the local festivals. I love that GTP allows me to stay here and be part of something that’s helping Orange grow in a thoughtful way.”
When she’s not at work, Cody can be found traveling with her husband, gardening, decorating her home, or refinishing furniture. “I love living here. This new chapter at GTP is even better than I had hoped for. I love that GTP has allowed me – and so many others – to continue working in a place that holds such a special place in my heart, doing work that truly matters.”