I am Mission Success: Brenda Martin
Take 5 minutes to learn about Emergency Services’ Brenda Martin. This article details her role at Pantex and reinforces the diverse workplace culture Pantex offers. All views and opinions are the employee's own and do not necessarily reflect those of PXD.
“I enjoy feeling like I solved a problem, like I fixed something,” said longtime Pantexan Brenda Martin.
Camaraderie—at work and in her personal life—is a strong motivator for Martin, as is contributing to the community she calls home.
“I love giving back to the community,” she said. “When I say I have a lot of volunteer experience and that it’s my passion, that is my passion. I have been fortunate to sit on several nonprofit boards and raise a lot of money for many nonprofit organizations in Amarillo. There are so many worthwhile causes and it is a feeling of giving back that I can’t describe.”
This mindset is why Martin was named Amarillo’s Woman of the Year in 2012.
An enjoyment for working with people and supporting her community are traits that serve Martin well. Her role at Pantex involves problem-solving and tackling both known and potentially unforeseen emergencies. The tasks that she and her colleagues take on depend upon solid communication and mutual cooperation, and involve the safety of the entire Pantex community.
To anticipate, analyze, and resolve issues, Martin has to have a rock-solid understanding of Pantex and how it operates. In this, she has an advantage, though she didn’t initially set out to use it.
“My parents both worked out here,” Martin said. “There is another DOE site in Burlington, Iowa. My parents transferred to Pantex from Burlington in 1974 when I was just a kid. I had no earthly desire to come to Pantex after listening to my parents at the dinner table! My dad was DOE and my mom was Mason & Hanger. You can only imagine!”
Instead, Martin pursued a vocation in marketing financial institutions, spending more than a decade in that field before coming home, so to speak, to Pantex.
Part of her role at Pantex involves the Emergency Public Information team, a disparate group of employees across the plant who respond to emergency situations to share timely, accurate, and appropriate information with the media, public and their fellow employees.
“They do a great job communicating to our employees, the media, and stakeholders,” she said.
Looking back on a full career, Martin said her sense of accomplishment extends well beyond her own sphere of influence.
“I’ve been here more than 32 years, and I’m still in awe of our impact,” she reflected. “Being the only site that offers our specific contribution—the importance of what Pantex does for our nation makes me feel good.”
What is one thing your coworkers would be surprised to know about you?
I once got a speeding ticket in my driveway. I had been speeding down the street, and turned into my alley right in front of a police officer.
What’s your top bucket-list item, and why?
I would love to go to Italy. I had a friend who went there recently and showed me amazing beautiful photos. It looks picturesque. Would love to go and experience Italy.
What characteristics define a good leader to you, and why?
A good leader has to be able to listen. He or she must have integrity, respect, and compassion. They need to be trustworthy. They definitely must have great communication skills. I just think about what makes a leader you look up to, somebody you respect, and I’m thinking of influential people in Amarillo. Those are the words that come to me.
What advice would you offer someone who is new to Pantex?
Be thankful for what you have been given. Do your best at the job you have been given, do your best every day. We are so fortunate to have these good jobs with good benefits—don’t take it for granted.
Describe the evolution of your problem-solving skills. What was behind this change?
We are fortunate here at Pantex to have so many different trainings and tools from which to learn, particularly as issues management specialists. I have been fortunate enough to attend and learn from some of the best and most knowledgeable resources available. Our training and tools are genuinely excellent.