Tim Musquiz: A Christian who happens to be in business

Tim Musquiz is a senior category manager for Plains All American Pipeline, having worked in the supply chain business for over 10 years, and is a member of Iglesia Bautista Maranatha in Houston. He is responsible for making strategic line decisions for business operations.

From deep in the heart of one Texan, Musquiz shares his background and thoughts on being a follower of Christ in the marketplace. To suggest a Texas Baptist leader in the marketplace to be featured in this column, or to apply to be featured yourself, click here.

Background

What other businesses have you been in, and what were your positions there?

I’ve spent time in multiple supply chain organizations ranging from Waste Management, Sysco Foods, Halliburton and now Plains All American Pipeline. The majority of my experience is held in the oil and gas field with upstream and midstream experience.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the great city of Houston. I currently live in a small suburb of Houston called Pearland with my beautiful wife Darlene.

How did you come to faith in Christ?

Growing up in the church and being the son of a Baptist preacher, my faith in the Lord started at a young age. I can say my love for the Lord started a little later in my early teens. When I was a kid, I knew of the Lord Jesus Christ, but it wasn’t until I was a young teen that I truly knew the Lord and loved him.

Where were you educated, and what degrees did you receive?

I received my bachelor’s degree from Houston Baptist University in 2011, where I double majored in business administration and management. I also received a master’s degree in business administration in 2015 from Houston Baptist University.

Life in the marketplace

Why do you feel called into the marketplace?

Someone told me one time that life was full of decisions. Every decision we make leads to harder or easier decisions down the road. Dealing in numbers with business and logistics and procurement in supply chain fascinated me to the point that I made an easy decision to pursue those as my career.

How does being a Christian influence your decisions in the marketplace?

My father taught me from a young age that I should treat all people with respect. It didn’t matter what their job title was or what ethnicity they were. Those same principles instilled in me came from his relationship with Christ. I carry those same principles with me into my meetings internally and when I deal with outside stakeholders.

Christ loved all people. He shared in their sufferings, and he rejoiced in their happiness. When and how you deal with people shows a lot about an individual. I like to think I’m not a business person who happens to be a Christian. I’m a Christian who happens to be a business person.

What is your favorite aspect of the marketplace? Why?

I love interacting with individuals from different backgrounds. One beautiful trait I got from my mother is the gift of communication. We are talkers and enjoy getting to know people.

I can say honestly that my mother has never met a stranger because by the time she’s done talking with them, she knows their whole life story. I have that same approach in my line of business. I love including that personal touch in my conversations, and I believe it helps not only with thinking of vendors as vendors but thinking of them as partners in business.

What one aspect of the marketplace gives you the greatest joy?

One of the greatest joys I receive is teaching people different and new things. From process improvements to technical applications, such as business data tools like Tableau and PowerBI, if I can help people make their job easier, I find joy in that.

How do you expect the corporate world to change in the next 10 to 20 years?

Coming from oil and gas and being involved in trucking and fleet, I’m always asked what I think about electric vehicles and if I’m scared about alternative energy substituting fossil fuels. Tesla always comes to mind.

While I think the technology is fascinating, it’s not realistic for emerging markets such as India and China, two countries that hold over a billion people and two countries that are now importing billions and billions of barrels of oil. When it comes down to it, oil will bring people past the survival threshold where they were not before.

Name the three most significant challenges and/or influences facing your place in the market.

Some of the most challenging situations are things I can’t control. The bombings of the crude oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz leads to oil prices increasing, which then leads me to have strategic conversations with our partners about costs. Sometimes, foreign governments play a huge factor in this line of business.

About Baptists

What would you change about the Baptist denomination—state, nation or local?

I think on the state level, we need to be more involved. We need to be engagers and not just viewers. Communication needs to be key moving forward. We live in an era where information is king, and we need to be able to supply that information to churches so they can become more engaged.

About Tim

Who were/are your mentors, and how did/do they influence you?

I have four mentors in my life who have helped mold me and encourage me through my entire life.

• Daniel “Tiny” Dominguez, lead pastor at Community Heights in Lubbock, Texas

Since I was a young teenager, Tiny has been a presence in my life. He’s been such a blessing in my life that I wanted him to do the ceremony for my wedding. I’ve had many conversations with him ranging from sports to personal life events. He has never steered me wrong, and he’s also never been easy on me. Like he would say, the truth hurts sometimes, but it’s the truth.

I look up to Tiny because of the way he leads his church and also the loving way he tends to his family. His heart and compassion for others is a true reflection of Christ, and it’s one of the reasons I look up to him.

• Jesse Rincones, executive director of Convención

Our family truly has been blessed by Jesse. He is a man who puts others above himself and leads in such a way that you see Christ in him.

For those who don’t know, Jesse holds a law degree from Texas Tech, but it’s his calling that proves him great. His choice was kingdom business over legal business, and I see no greater show of humility than that.

I’m not sure if he knows it, but Jesse actually was preaching at a youth camp I attended when I was a teen, and in one of his sermons God placed on his heart, I surrendered to the ministry. The Lord used him to give me the mindset that wherever I go and whatever I do in life, I will always be involved in some form or capacity in the ministry.

• John Matthew Musquiz, global operations manager with Chevron

My older brother has had a huge influence on my life. He’s an amazing father and husband and also a great leader. The way he conducts his home and work are staples as I start to lead. In regards to family, he is some of the main glue that keeps a lot of our extended family together.

From hunting trips to random dinners, I enjoy the time I spend with him. His passion for life and his attitude are a reflection of his love of God and a clear picture of God’s graciousness and blessings.

• Johnnie M. Musquiz, recently retired Baptist minister after more than 40 years in ministry

My father has been my stronghold. He has been the person I could count on to be in my corner. From his prayers to his wisdom, there are not enough words to describe this godly man. His love for both my brother and me is evident.

I can remember an instance when I was struggling with the idea of pursuing an MBA because of my financial situation. I talked and confided in a lot of people, and most of them directed me to hold off on it, but there was one man—my father—who stood in my corner and said, “If that’s your dream, go out and get it, and the Lord will provide.”

I always will remember those words and my father being the only person who believed in me and believed in the power of God. I might be a little biased, but I haven’t met a greater man than my father.

What is the impact of the marketplace on your family?

The Lord truly has blessed me with terrific positions. The higher up the ladder I climb, I understand the more taxing it will be, but currently, my company provides a great work-life balance and preaches having a great work-life balance.

Other than the Bible, name some of your favorite books or authors, and explain why.

I’m a huge fan of C.S. Lewis. His writings are thoughtful and impactful. His view on the world in the early 20th century is fascinating to me. Screwtape Letters is a great read that shows the complexity of Christian theology in dealing with issues such as temptation and resistance. Another Lewis book I enjoyed is A Grief Observed, which shows his true love for his wife and his thoughts after her passing.

One of the most enjoyable leadership books I would recommend is Extreme Ownership by Lief Babin and Jocko Willink, two Navy Seals who take field experience and transform it into business and organizational principles.

What is your favorite Bible verse or passage? Why?

My favorite Bible verse is James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

I understand nothing is my doing. How far I get in life and how well I’m doing is solely based on the Lord.

I understand everything comes from him or is permitted by him. In that, there is a fear in which I realize how small I am and how thankful I am.

I try always to remember Job saying: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job1:21). When I can remain humble, I know the Lord will continue to exalt me.

Who is your favorite Bible character, other than Jesus? Why?

I would have to say Paul. His story probably is the most relatable to us all. You might say, “Well, Paul had people killed, and I’ve never killed anybody,” and I would point you to Jesus’ sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:21-22.

I’ve heard people say they couldn’t come to know Jesus because of their past. Again, I would point them to scripture in Paul’s wise words to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:15-16). We are never too far gone from the reach of Christ. There is a little of Paul in all of us.

Name something about you that would surprise people who know you.

I think playing saxophone and moving to bass and guitar would shock people. I’ve never been the best musician on the stage, but I love playing.