SABIC Manufacturing – BSL Site
Leslie Henderson is a native Mississippian and has spent her entire career working in the manufacturing industry in Mississippi. In June 2023 she joined the Bay St. Louis site of SABIC Innovative Plastics as Sr. Operations Engineer for their Chemical Operations Division.
Leslie graduated from Mississippi State University with a master’s degree in chemical engineering with an emphasis on bioremediation of hazardous waste. For the next 5 years she worked for Mississippi Polymer Technologies (MPT), a start-up company at the Port Bienville Industrial Park. MPT focused on the commercialization of novel high-performance polymers. Leslie’s role included process and plant design, set-up of the R&D lab, and leading the QA team. MPT was eventually purchased by Solvay International, one of the largest chemical companies in the world.
Leslie Henderson is best known as the co-founder and former owner of Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company, a full service beverage manufacturer specializing in high-quality production of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in multiple package formats. She was CEO of the beverage manufacturer for 18 years (2005 – 2022) and lead the company through numerous challenges, including Hurricane Katrina, the 2008 Recession, and COVID. She and her husband, Mark led several successful initiatives to change beer laws in Mississippi, resulting in a more business-friendly environment for beverage manufacturers in the state.