Imperial Sugar CEO John Sheptor Reflects on Explosion

A year ago today Imperial Sugar C.E.O. John Sheptor was in the midst of a tragedy.
Eight of his employees were missing and many more were injured after an explosion rocked one of his company’s Port Wentworth Plant.
Only on the job for a couple weeks Sheptor was about to face what he calls the longest and most memorable year of his life.
News Three’s Alice Massimi sat down to speak with him about the ups and downs and the future of Imperial Sugar. 

He is a man of faith.
Freely admitting throughout the past year that Jesus Christ is what’s given him the strength to persevere.
“My strength does not come from outside to the inside it comes from the inside to the outside,” explains Sheptor. 
Inside the refinery the night of the explosion he knows first hand the terror of the night.
“I was in the factory with three other managers. We heard the first explosion looked at each other and within seconds the second explosion that knocked us all to the floor.” 
While some would see him as just a suit, John Sheptor feels the loss of fourteen employees.
Fourteen friends now memorialized at Legacy Park.
“Very emotional to walk around to each of the podiums and read the names remember the faces remember the families.”
It’s a year in which he will also recall the trials of not just dealing with loss but in trying to rebuild a company but he adds it’s the plans to rebuild that keep him and his employees going.
“It’s the hope that all of that represents that this factory is going to be brought back to life from the tragedy that we all lived through. We are preparing a business that will support this community for the generations to come.”
Admitting this past year has felt like ten he says it’s a year he in which he experienced the warmth and care of a community.
“It will be the year I will always remember as the most demanding and at times the most rewarding with experiencing true humanity and brotherly love.”
With peace in his heart Sheptor believes the 14 lost tare looking down on Imperial Sugar and smiling.
Sheptor says he expects to have the sugar refinery at the plant up and running within the next couple of weeks.
While many other businesses have been taking a financial hit Sheptor says people always need sugar.