Teammate Spotlight: Glenn Raney – Supporting Safety

Meet Glenn Raney, a Safety Consultant at Hargrove Controls & Automation. Over the last seven years, Glenn has been an essential member of the Hargrove Team, recognized for his “can do” attitude that strengthens relationships with clients and colleagues.

“I focus on Teammate and client goals,” Glenn explains. “I try to facilitate achieving those goals in the most efficient and, at the same time, enjoyable way possible.” This approach defines Glenn’s role, where he provides crucial support to clients with a strong emphasis on safety. Glenn employs the Functional Safety Lifecycle concept — a comprehensive method that ensures safety throughout a system’s entire life cycle from initial design to decommissioning. This process helps organizations effectively manage risks and maintain robust safety standards, safeguarding both personnel and equipment.

Early Career

Glenn’s career began at a young age as a butcher’s apprentice in his hometown of Liberty, Texas. His interest in electronics earned him an associate’s degree in electronics and instrumentation from Lee College. After serving in the Marine Corps, where he trained in communications electronics repair, Glenn transitioned to the oil & gas industry as an electrical field service engineer. His career further developed through roles as an instrument repair technician at Mobay Chemical and Exxon Chemical, where he moved from relay-based control logic systems to PLC logic systems.

During his time at Exxon Chemical, Glenn had the opportunity to work closely with Bob Adamski, a pioneer in functional safety. Under Bob’s mentorship, Glenn gained experience implementing complex emergency shutdown (ESD) systems using the early Tricon Version 5 systems. The evolving standards, such as OSHA 1910 in 1971 and ANSI/ISA S84.01-1996, emphasized the importance of considering the functional safety lifecycle in ESD. In 1997, Glenn followed his mentor to Premier Consulting Services (PCS), where he collaborated with another functional safety leader, Dr. Angela Summers, and a team of skilled professionals.

Becoming an Expert

In 2004, PCS approached TÜV Rheinland, a Germany-based global leader in independent testing and assessment services, to initiate a certification program for engineers in the field of functional safety. The TÜV Functional Safety Engineer (FSE) certification program was implemented, and Glenn received his FSE certification shortly after the program began.

Not long after the start of FSE program, TÜV instituted the Functional Safety Expert certification program. The FS Expert certificate is issued by TÜV to persons who have many years of practice-oriented professional experience and intensive, high-level specialist knowledge in functional safety. The TÜV FS Expert certificate is also a requirement for conducting the TÜV FS Engineer certification program.

Glenn states, “I really enjoy mentoring, and in 2006 I received TÜV Functional Safety Expert certification and was able to conduct the program. Since then, I have had the honor and pleasure of supporting many in reaching their FSE certification.”

Working at Hargrove

Now at Hargrove, Glenn has been involved in several major projects that highlight his expertise in functional safety, including working with clients in the refining and petroleum industries. These experiences have not only expanded Glenn’s technical expertise but also deepened his understanding of the complex safety requirements across various industrial settings.

“Glenn brings an exceptional depth of knowledge and a genuine dedication to every project he works on. His commitment to ensuring safety, along with his ability to mentor others, has made him an invaluable asset to our team and our clients,” says Chet Barton, Process Safety Leader at Hargrove Controls & Automation.

Outside of Hargrove

Beyond his professional achievements, Glenn is deeply engaged in his community. He and his wife, Becky, are dedicated to animal rescue, and Glenn volunteers with Special Olympics. Outside work and volunteering, Glenn enjoys restoring classic cars and motorcycles, fishing, and remote camping and hiking. He and Becky divide their time between their home in Spring, Texas, and their house on the Bolivar Peninsula, where they enjoy Jeep off-roading, boating, and road trips. Glenn is also eager to put more miles on his Harley and RV, blending his love for adventure with an appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.

Glenn looks forward to continuing his work in functional safety, collaborating with his Teammates and clients to share the extensive knowledge he has accumulated over the years. Glenn takes great pride in being part of a group at Hargrove that embodies honesty, fairness, and equality — values that have been the cornerstone of his life and career. For Glenn, ensuring that everyone goes home safely at the end of the day is more than just a job; it’s a responsibility he holds close to his heart.

As Glenn puts it, “Let’s send them home in the same shape they were in when they walked through the gate.”