Pantex Blog
I am Mission Success: Liz B.
Take 5 minutes to learn about Elizabeth B., a Pantex senior administrative assistant. This article details her role at Pantex and reinforces the diverse workplace culture CNS offers. Now included in the questions is one related to a CNS performance element (communications, teamwork, problem‑solving, accountability, interpersonal, technical competence, or leadership). All views and opinions are the employee’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of CNS.
In her role, Liz B. sees firsthand the difference her Pantex colleagues make through their attitude and dedication.
“My favorite part of my work environment is the people,” she explained. “We have great people in our organization who work hard, get their jobs done daily, and can laugh and joke while doing that.”
Being able to laugh and have fun helps keep Liz grounded as she manages tasks that range from mundane meetings and room scheduling to the vital, such as document preparation and managing organizational changes. Through the flurry of daily activity, having encouraging, dedicated, and hardworking people around her, Liz said, creates a more inviting work environment that makes everyone more productive.
“It’s nice to want to come to work every day and be around great people—because when people are happy, they work harder and you can see the mission being accomplished.”
What Liz may sometimes forget, though, is the profound degree to which she contributes to the positive environment she, too, enjoys.
“She follows through on every detail, and is a great asset to her organization.”
That’s how one colleague viewed her, and he wasn’t alone. Liz’s supervisor, Monty B., called her a “perfect fit” for his team.
“She is very proactive about reaching out to her mentors to learn the multitude of business systems it takes to run the office, and then is very willing to share her knowledge with others in the team,” he explained. “Liz is always willing to help others, and her contagious, positive attitude is greatly appreciated by those who work with her every day.”
For her part, Liz sees herself as just modeling for others the kind of behavior she would want in their place.
“I think my greatest strength is [my] willingness to help,” she said, also stressing the importance of putting pride aside when outside assistance is warranted. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help,” Liz continued. “Be your own advocate because there are plenty of good people out here willing to help you learn.”
A collaborative spirit and a commitment to continued learning—these are hallmarks of employee excellence and, as Monty pointed out, the outcome of this approach often enriches not only individual employees, but the entire organization as well.
“Liz has a talent for coming up with better ways to accomplish the work, so she is a great sounding board for ideas,” he said. “Pantex is very fortunate to have someone of Liz’s character and competence help us with the incredible mission we have.”
For much of her life, that incredible mission went on completely outside of Liz’s attention.
“I have lived … my entire life close to the Pantex plant and had no real idea how this place helped protect our country until coming to work out here. I have a new respect for what this place does for our entire country.”
Perhaps she was too busy with her previous career as a nurse over an 11-year span which saw her provide vital services to those in need, a facet of her professional life that has not changed.
“I enjoyed working as a nurse, and I enjoy my job here at Pantex now. I just like helping people and knowing that what I do makes a difference.”
Make a difference?
Indeed, she does.
Everyone offers value to our tasks. Why must we be open to learning and hearing from others?
No one is right all the time. No one is perfect, and there is always someone out there who has more knowledge who we can learn from. We have to be humble enough to ask, pay attention when we are learning something new, and be a good steward by passing the information along.
How has teamwork allowed you to grow as an employee?
I am very independent, but working here has shown me that it is OK to ask for help when I need it, and that I can rely on my teammates to help so that I don’t become overwhelmed.
What characteristics define a good leader to you?
A good leader is someone who can inspire people to work hard for them and get the best out of people without even having to try hard. They lead by example, setting goals and expectations, hold people accountable while still understanding and realizing that we are all humans who sometimes make mistakes. A good leader will never ask someone to do something they themselves wouldn’t be willing to do.
What is your top bucket list item, and why?
I have a long bucket list, but one of the things at the top would have to be going to Alaska and going fishing for king salmon. I love anything outdoors, and seeing Alaska would be amazing to me.
In your view, what about Pantex makes it a unique community?
One surprise to me is how many different backgrounds make up the people of Pantex. The people who work here are from all over the country, and it makes us diverse and unique, and it increases the strengths of Pantex as a whole.
I am Mission Success: Jim F.
Take 5 minutes to learn about Pantex employee Jim F. This article details his role at Pantex and reinforces the diverse workplace culture that CNS offers. Now included in the questions is one related to a CNS performance element (communications, teamwork, problem solving, accountability, interpersonal, technical competence, or leadership). All views and opinions are the employee’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of CNS.
Linchpin––that term describes an object, function or process that holds together all elements of a complicated structure, making possible its operation or success.
Jim F. is just one of what he views as thousands of linchpins working at Pantex. He specializes in installing large commercial equipment across the plant, yet he sees his role through the lens of humility, as evidenced by one key memory he shared:
“There was an occasion while I was on travel,” he recalled. “I was picking up a rental car. The agent noticed I worked for Consolidated Nuclear Security. He asked me with a thick Russian accent, ‘Nuclear security? You must be pretty special. What do you do?’ I was thinking to myself, ‘Am I about to be followed? This situation could turn bad.’ I told him, ‘Not really, I just install commodes and roads.’”
“The true reality is,” Jim continued, “we are all pretty special here at Pantex because we are all vital to the mission, no matter what our job title is. We all make this place work.”
Jim’s share in this ‘pretty special’ place began in spring of 1994 when he was hired in Waste Operations.
The funny thing is that, despite having served his nation in the Coast Guard and proudly possessing a strong patriotic fervor, for much of his life, Pantex was nowhere on his occupational radar. Were it not for an early-career injury, he might have continued to pursue a career as an air-traffic controller. The unexpected turn of events has given Pantex decades of benefit from his personal and professional leadership.
“I did not have any intentions of seeking a job at Pantex,” he recalled. “However, it turned out some of my classmates and instructors worked at Pantex. My relationships with those folks led to an opportunity to interview for a position in the Waste Operations department.”
Key relationships combined with lots of hard work and dedication—these are reoccurring themes in any discussion with Jim, who has made the utmost out of these principles in both his personal and professional life.
Pretty special, indeed.
What is your top bucket list item, and why?
I would like to sail to Antarctica and pull ports in Australia and New Zealand on the way there and back. I have never been south of the equator. During my time in the Coast Guard, I served on a ship out of Kodiak, Alaska, that was capable of breaking ice. We sailed into the Arctic Ocean to escort research vessels into the ice.
What characteristics define a good leader to you?
There are a few virtues that I live my life by: trust, detachment, thoughtfulness, joy, kindness, courage, tranquility, focus, humility, wisdom, orderliness, generosity, gratitude, self-control, assertiveness, and integrity.
Share a lesson learned from a leader in your past. Why was this a good (or bad) lesson?
A good listener makes a good leader. Several years ago, I participated in a training for future managers. The plant manager at the time was listening to a discussion that my group was having. Later that week, he quoted something I had said during that conversation. I was impressed that he actively listened to what I had to say.
Who in your life has most inspired you, and why?
My wife has been my greatest inspiration. If not for my relationship with her, I would not be working here today. She encouraged me to go back to school and pursue a different path in my life.
Pantex Fire Department rolls out new technician award
Each department at Pantex is connected to every other department in one way or another. Some connections may be more obvious or well-documented, but support for other organizations is a common thread at Pantex.
A case in point is the Pantex Fire Department (PXFD), which depends on the highly skilled mechanics trained and certified to maintain emergency vehicles.
The emergency vehicle technician (EVT) program is vital for PXFD. Fire department apparatuses, the cost of which range from a few hundred thousand to more than $1M, are expected to last 20 years. With their sophisticated components, these vehicles require meticulous maintenance from EVTs to ensure they remain in optimal condition.
“Before [the EVT program’s] implementation, the PXFD faced challenges in maintaining operational apparatuses,” said PXFD Chief Mike Brock. “Since its inception, the EVTs have significantly enhanced the fire department's overall operation and readiness, proving to be invaluable assets.”
The EVTs at Pantex diligently adhere to maintenance schedules and manufacturer specifications to keep these vehicles operational, and they have become an integral part of the department's daily operations. The site’s six EVTs were recently recognized at a special luncheon.
Deputy Plant Manager Kenny Steward spoke at the luncheon and expressed his appreciation for the ongoing contributions of all the EVTs.
During the luncheon, the inaugural EVT of the Year award was given as a recognition of excellent performance. The award was created to honor an exceptional mechanic and department friend, one of the original EVTs, Roy Linton, who passed in 2020.
“Roy was a hard worker, positive, kind and above all else, a man of character. He approached his work with professionalism and took immense pride in ensuring our rigs remained operational, ensuring our firefighters returned home after every response,” said Captain Josh Brown of the Pantex Fire Department. “Roy was the embodiment of reliability and integrity.”
The 2024 EVT of the Year award went to Phil Davis. He was recognized for his unwavering commitment and dedication to excellence, reflecting Roy’s exemplary qualities and the spirit of this honor.
People of Pantex: Nate Copley
People of Pantex is a series of short features that highlights what makes Pantexans unique when they are not working and how those activities help them contribute to the mission.
Consolidated Nuclear Security Career ONE engineer Nate Copley is not afraid of a challenge. After all, he graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in mechanical engineering, landed his dream job at Pantex, moved to a new city, and paid off his student loans — all within 1 year.
When he made his final student loan payment in February, Copley knew he had to celebrate in a big way.
“At first, I thought about going out for a nice steak dinner by myself or having fun with the friends I’ve made here, but I wanted to do something bigger,” he said. “I wanted to do something ridiculous. I wanted to do something exciting.”
Enter the world-famous 72-oz steak challenge at The Big Texan Steak Ranch.
“I had heard about the big steak challenge since I moved to Amarillo,” he said. “One night I was driving home and saw that giant cowboy sign standing there and I said to myself, ‘You know, I bet I can do that. I can enjoy a really good, really big steak dinner for free.’ That’s where it all started.”
For more than 60 years, The Big Texan has served hearty meals to hungry travelers cruising down historic Route 66, but the restaurant quickly became known for its steak challenge.
The challenge is simple: eat a 72-oz steak, shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad, and dinner roll in less than 60 minutes and the meal is free. Over the years, more than 90,000 people have attempted it, but only around 11% have succeeded.
With Copley committed to joining an exclusive club of champions that includes legendary professional wrestler Andre the Giant, original host of Man v. Food Adam Richman, and funnyman Will Ferrell, he began to prepare for the epic test.
“I definitely took an engineering approach when preparing for this challenge,” he said. “My education and experience as an engineer at Pantex helped me break down the problem into small parts and work out a solution, which is what I do at work every day,” he added with a smile.
Part of that preparation was eating a version of the challenge meal with a smaller 16-oz steak, which Copley consumed in just over 10 minutes. The weekend before the big day, he powered down 2.5 lb of cabbage and another 2.5 lb of watermelon to simulate the approximately 5 lb of food he would soon face. He managed that in 44 minutes.
When the big day arrived, Copley was prepared and excited for the challenge ahead. The one thing he wasn’t prepared for was the number of friends and coworkers who showed up at The Big Texan to encourage him. In addition to the nearly 20 Pantexans who were there in person, he heard from several more who watched via the restaurant’s livestream.
“My parents and sister came down from Colorado to support me, but I had no idea so many of my new friends from Pantex would be there to cheer me on,” he remembered. “Having those people come out to support and encourage me helped keep me going.”
Steve Carder, Copley’s supervisor and the person who recruited him into the Pantex Career ONE program, knew he wanted to be there as soon as he heard about the plan to complete the challenge.
“Getting to know Nate over the past year like I have, this made perfect sense to me,” Carder said. “He is an enthusiastic person who approaches challenges well, especially fun ones. His family and friends joined him for this event not only to support him but also to celebrate him paying off his student loans. He took pride in completing his responsibility.”
Regardless of the outcome of his attempt to tackle the famous — and feared — food feat, Copley got exactly what he wanted: a celebration that he would not soon forget. The support he received, however, gave him much more.
“Seeing everyone show up for me was important to me, but it also meant a lot to my parents,” he said. “For them to see how well I am doing here and how incredible the people are really let them know that I am in a good place, with a good company, and surrounded by great people. For my family to meet my new work family and friends here was the best part of all.”
Congratulations to the 2024 Pantex Administrative Assistant of the Year
Shawna Clem won the 2024 Pantex Administrative Professional of the Year Award
Every year, Pantex celebrates its administrative assistants by recognizing their achievements and contributions. Recently, one distinct administrative assistant was chosen from 100+ other nominations at the plant and has been honored as the 2024 Pantex Administrative Assistant of the Year. This year, Pantex is proud to announce that Shawna Clem, senior clerk, was chosen as the 2024 Administrative Assistant of the Year!
Clem’s supervisor, Alvin Gomez, nominated her and said, “Our department, which normally has three clerks, has been down to one: Shawna. Besides always being dependable, reliable, steady, and trustworthy, Shawna never complains––she just shows up and not only gets the work done but does so with a positive, can-do attitude every single day.”
Gomez continued, “On the challenging days, she always goes above and beyond to make sure what needs to be done is carried out in a timely and efficient manner. She truly is the ‘X’ factor.”
“I’ve always been tasked with several different assignments workwise, but my greatest one so far was when I served on the Pantex Investment Committee,” said Clem, noting how beneficial her experience on the committee was in seeing how Pantex serves the community. “Being able to serve the communities around the Panhandle and help some of the major nonprofit organizations for the surrounding communities was very beneficial as a person.”
Clem was presented with the official plaque during the Monthly Manager Meeting, where she was recognized and celebrated for her outstanding achievement.
“I would like to say ‘thank you’ to Alvin [Gomez] for always supporting me and our team,” Clem said. “Just being nominated meant a lot, but being selected honestly means everything to me.”
Pantex is appreciative for employees like Clem who demonstrate passion and hard work at their job duties every day.
“I’ve been at the plant over 2 decades and worked with so many amazing people,” stated Gomez. “Shawna stands out as one of the best…I’m thankful for her and all she does for our department; our success wouldn’t happen without her.”