Reigniting Purpose: Grit, Giving, and Javelina Engineering Pride
Publication Date: August 12, 2025
Author: Jesus A. Reina
When Jeffrey Torres graduated from 麻豆影视 A&M University-麻豆影视 in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, he left campus with more than a diploma. He left with a vision—not just for what his future could look like, but for how he could one day uplift others through the same system that helped shape him.
Torres, a Port Lavaca native, has built an impressive career in the energy sector. In 2019, he co-founded Genesis Fluids, a rapidly growing company that provides high-performance drilling fluids across the U.S. energy market. Today, the company employs more than 100 professionals and has become a significant player in the industry, operating across major basins including the Permian, Haynesville, and Eagle Ford. Torres currently serves as Executive Vice President of Sales, a title he modestly jokes was self-assigned when the company was still in its infancy. Yet, the success of Genesis Fluids is no laughing matter. Surviving early obstacles—including the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic just one year after launch—the company thrived under a business model rooted in financial discipline, vendor trust, and rapid response.
"We made it a point to pay every invoice within two weeks," Torres said. "That built credibility and helped us secure the materials we needed when supply chains got tough."
His commitment to people matches his business acumen. From his early days at 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视, Torres recognized the power of connection. As a student, he relied not just on textbooks but on teamwork, study groups, and mentorship from professors who treated students like future peers. That experience, coupled with a humbling early academic setback, taught him the value of perseverance, self-awareness, and community.
Today, Torres is more than a successful entrepreneur. He is a mentor, an advocate, and a passionate alumnus working to ensure the next generation of engineers has access to the same support and opportunities that helped him. As a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering, Torres brings not just expertise, but energy. His involvement has helped shape alumni engagement efforts, fundraising strategies, and student support initiatives.
"I wasn’t always eager to get involved again," he admitted. "But after meeting Dean Taboada and seeing her vision, it reignited something in me. She gave me a reason to come back, and a way to make a difference."
“Funny enough, it all started with an unexpected conversation,” she said. “Jeff reached out with a concern about student support, and what stood out to me was his sincere care for our students and deep affection for the college. Someone who cared that much was exactly the kind of person we needed on our Dean’s Leadership Board.”
Taboada invited Torres to join—and he didn’t hesitate. “Jeff embodies the kind of leadership and heart we hope to surround our students with,” she said. “What began as a simple miscommunication turned into a lasting partnership.”
Photo caption: Jeffrey Torres, 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视 engineering alumnus, pictured with his family—sharing a legacy of support, gratitude, and inspiration that spans generations.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Jeffrey Torres.
Torres believes strongly in creating tangible ways for alumni to stay involved. One of his most impactful contributions is the re-launch of the engineering golf tournament, an initiative he proposed to help reconnect graduates, engage corporate partners, and raise scholarship funds for future Javelina engineers. The event isn’t just about golf—it’s about building a bridge between past and future, between success stories and the students still writing theirs.
"Back when I was a student, Chunk Evans, a natural gas engineering student, hosted golf tournaments that brought everyone together," he said. "I want to bring that spirit back—but with a new purpose. It’s time to give back."
Taboada shares that vision. “I see the Javelina Engineering Golf Classic as a reunion of spirit, legacy, and purpose,” she said. “When alumni come together, they create opportunities not just for themselves, but for today’s students and those yet to come. Once you’re part of the Javelina Engineering family, you’re part of it for life.”
Giving back, for Torres, isn’t about obligation. It’s about gratitude and responsibility. He often reflects on the students who, like him, come from underrepresented or underserved communities and who need a chance to prove themselves. He sees the impact that support and mentorship can make, and he understands how transformational a single opportunity can be.
As the College of Engineering looks ahead to new programs, expanded research, and deeper community partnerships, Torres sees opportunity. He envisions more alumni stepping forward, more industry collaboration, and more support systems to help students enter and thrive in the engineering workforce.
"What’s next for engineering? It’s making sure our students are prepared, supported, and connected," Torres said. "It’s about building on what we started—and making sure this university continues to produce engineers who lead with integrity and purpose."
Taboada agrees. “Jeff’s journey embodies the values we aim to instill in all our students: resilience, integrity, and a commitment to serving others. His story reminds us what’s possible when engineers lead with purpose—and why Javelina Pride continues to make a lasting impact.”
From humble beginnings to high-level boardrooms, Jeff Torres continues to lead by example. His story is a testament to the power of persistence, the value of mentorship, and the lasting impact of a college that believes in its students. Through business success, alumni engagement, and visionary service, Torres is helping ensure that the future of engineering at 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视 remains bright, bold, and deeply rooted in community.
Join us for the Javelina Engineering Golf Classic on September 8 at Willow Fork Country Club in Katy, 麻豆影视. For event details or sponsorship opportunities, contact Laura Salinas at laura.salinas@tamuk.edu.
College of Engineering
Categories: College, Wayne H. King Department of Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering, Outreach, Achievement, Alumni, Announcement, Feature
Author: Jesus A. Reina
Photo caption: Jeffrey Torres, engineering entrepreneur and Javelina for life, bringing both vision and grit to every opportunity.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Jeffrey Torres.
When Jeffrey Torres graduated from 麻豆影视 A&M University-麻豆影视 in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, he left campus with more than a diploma. He left with a vision—not just for what his future could look like, but for how he could one day uplift others through the same system that helped shape him.
Torres, a Port Lavaca native, has built an impressive career in the energy sector. In 2019, he co-founded Genesis Fluids, a rapidly growing company that provides high-performance drilling fluids across the U.S. energy market. Today, the company employs more than 100 professionals and has become a significant player in the industry, operating across major basins including the Permian, Haynesville, and Eagle Ford. Torres currently serves as Executive Vice President of Sales, a title he modestly jokes was self-assigned when the company was still in its infancy. Yet, the success of Genesis Fluids is no laughing matter. Surviving early obstacles—including the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic just one year after launch—the company thrived under a business model rooted in financial discipline, vendor trust, and rapid response.
"We made it a point to pay every invoice within two weeks," Torres said. "That built credibility and helped us secure the materials we needed when supply chains got tough."
His commitment to people matches his business acumen. From his early days at 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视, Torres recognized the power of connection. As a student, he relied not just on textbooks but on teamwork, study groups, and mentorship from professors who treated students like future peers. That experience, coupled with a humbling early academic setback, taught him the value of perseverance, self-awareness, and community.
"College taught me that brilliant people fail all the time. The key is getting back up," he shared. "I learned to build teams and connect people—that skill became foundational to who I am in business."
Today, Torres is more than a successful entrepreneur. He is a mentor, an advocate, and a passionate alumnus working to ensure the next generation of engineers has access to the same support and opportunities that helped him. As a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering, Torres brings not just expertise, but energy. His involvement has helped shape alumni engagement efforts, fundraising strategies, and student support initiatives.
"I wasn’t always eager to get involved again," he admitted. "But after meeting Dean Taboada and seeing her vision, it reignited something in me. She gave me a reason to come back, and a way to make a difference."
“Funny enough, it all started with an unexpected conversation,” she said. “Jeff reached out with a concern about student support, and what stood out to me was his sincere care for our students and deep affection for the college. Someone who cared that much was exactly the kind of person we needed on our Dean’s Leadership Board.”
Taboada invited Torres to join—and he didn’t hesitate. “Jeff embodies the kind of leadership and heart we hope to surround our students with,” she said. “What began as a simple miscommunication turned into a lasting partnership.”
Photo caption: Jeffrey Torres, 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视 engineering alumnus, pictured with his family—sharing a legacy of support, gratitude, and inspiration that spans generations.
Photo credit: Courtesy of Jeffrey Torres.
Torres believes strongly in creating tangible ways for alumni to stay involved. One of his most impactful contributions is the re-launch of the engineering golf tournament, an initiative he proposed to help reconnect graduates, engage corporate partners, and raise scholarship funds for future Javelina engineers. The event isn’t just about golf—it’s about building a bridge between past and future, between success stories and the students still writing theirs.
"Back when I was a student, Chunk Evans, a natural gas engineering student, hosted golf tournaments that brought everyone together," he said. "I want to bring that spirit back—but with a new purpose. It’s time to give back."
Taboada shares that vision. “I see the Javelina Engineering Golf Classic as a reunion of spirit, legacy, and purpose,” she said. “When alumni come together, they create opportunities not just for themselves, but for today’s students and those yet to come. Once you’re part of the Javelina Engineering family, you’re part of it for life.”
Giving back, for Torres, isn’t about obligation. It’s about gratitude and responsibility. He often reflects on the students who, like him, come from underrepresented or underserved communities and who need a chance to prove themselves. He sees the impact that support and mentorship can make, and he understands how transformational a single opportunity can be.
"These students are smart, they work hard, and they often come from places where nothing is handed to them," he said. "That grit—that work ethic—is what makes a Javelina engineer. Supporting them is not just worthwhile, it’s essential."
As the College of Engineering looks ahead to new programs, expanded research, and deeper community partnerships, Torres sees opportunity. He envisions more alumni stepping forward, more industry collaboration, and more support systems to help students enter and thrive in the engineering workforce.
"What’s next for engineering? It’s making sure our students are prepared, supported, and connected," Torres said. "It’s about building on what we started—and making sure this university continues to produce engineers who lead with integrity and purpose."
Taboada agrees. “Jeff’s journey embodies the values we aim to instill in all our students: resilience, integrity, and a commitment to serving others. His story reminds us what’s possible when engineers lead with purpose—and why Javelina Pride continues to make a lasting impact.”
From humble beginnings to high-level boardrooms, Jeff Torres continues to lead by example. His story is a testament to the power of persistence, the value of mentorship, and the lasting impact of a college that believes in its students. Through business success, alumni engagement, and visionary service, Torres is helping ensure that the future of engineering at 麻豆影视 A&M-麻豆影视 remains bright, bold, and deeply rooted in community.
Join us for the Javelina Engineering Golf Classic on September 8 at Willow Fork Country Club in Katy, 麻豆影视. For event details or sponsorship opportunities, contact Laura Salinas at laura.salinas@tamuk.edu.
College of Engineering
Categories: College, Wayne H. King Department of Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering, Outreach, Achievement, Alumni, Announcement, Feature
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