Pat Avery, an Atlanta, GA native, served as the first women and first minority manager of employee relations at Mobil's Chemical Specialty Division in Beaumont in 1991, the first woman and first minority manager of employee relations at Mobil's Mining and Minerals Company in Pasadena in 1993 and manager of human resources at Mobil's Polyethylene Plant in Beaumont in 1996. Avery joined TOTAL's Petrochemical's and Refining USA Port Arthur Refinery in March 1998 and served as the administrative manager and human resource and communication manager.

Before she could settle into retirement, she joined Griffith Moseley Johnson & Associates in early 2013 as the Vice President of Global Business Development where she represented numerous petrochemicals and refining industry clients. Avery is president and CEO at Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology and a master's degree in public administration from Drake University.