Pantex Blog
Working with your mom can be Bliss
Vicky Bails and her mom, Alma, have both used their talents to make Pantex great.
It’s important to see people who look like us and who we can identify with both to mentor and to help us grow in the workplace. Compliance, Assessments, and Analysis Lead Assessor Vicky Bails took that quite literally, as her mentor and hero at Pantex was her mom, Alma Bliss.
Bliss worked at Pantex from the late 1970s until she retired in 1994. She spent most of her career in Purchasing, which is now named Procurement. She told Bails stories of old, like rattlesnakes in Building 16-12 and the van pool she took from their home near Lake Tanglewood to Pantex, which was exactly 29.5 miles from her front door to the parking lot. When reflecting on her mom’s retirement, Bails recalls how sad she was to be leaving.
“It was really hard for her to leave and walk away from her team and the work that they did. She always told me it was a family out here, and I got to see that. I got to go on site many times to eat lunch with my mom. I got to go to her department Christmas parties. They really lived like a family. I was part of the Pantex family before I could even remember.”
As Bails prepared to start a family of her own, her mother encouraged her to apply at Pantex. She knew it was a good way to provide for a family and knew Pantex treated families well. Not long after starting her position in Information Technology in 1992, Bails met her husband Tony, who worked in her brother’s department. Two of Bails’ brothers have also worked at Pantex.
“It has been continual blessings. I got a bachelor’s degree for less than $500 because of the educational assistance. Additionally, we had a really sick child when he was first born, and our supervisors were very kind and understanding through the whole process.”
Though mom and daughter were in different organizations for the two-and-a-half years they worked together, there were lessons learned that translated across departments.
“My mom told me to let my work prove my worth. Because my dad died and left her with four children, she had to work. She had to be a very hard and dedicated person. I think I took after her in that respect.”
Since Bails has worked at Pantex, she has worked in Information Technology, Operations, Safeguards and Security, Engineering, and now Quality. No matter where she works, people love to tell stories of her late mother.
“She made people toe the line, and if they didn’t, she would let them know. I’ve heard countless stories about people who still revere her. Even when she was not the one in charge of the department, people say she ran that place.”
As an organization filled with people who take great pride in our history, it is easy to forget that generations of Pantexans have come through the gates. Though there are many lineages that span three generations of men at Pantex, there are far fewer women whose mothers or grandmothers worked at Pantex despite the majority of the workforce being women at Pantex during World War II. Generations of women being raised by Pantexans now are the future. As of today, Pantex is the proud employer of more than 1,000 women who play a critical role to further the success of the Pantex mission.
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PXD employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
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Employees and applicants are protected from discrimination, coercion, threats, intimidation, harassment, interference, reprisal, or retaliation for filing a complaint, assisting in an investigation, compliance evaluation, or hearing pursuant to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended by the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998, and the Jobs for Veterans Act of 2002; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended; Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act; Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act; Age Discrimination in Employment Act; and the Equal Pay Act.
At PXD, we treat each other with dignity and respect, while embracing diversity, integrity, open dialogue, and teamwork. An inclusive workforce that engages the unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of all employees yields innovative solutions, robust decision-making, and the greatest value for our customers. If you need additional or how to report a concern, issues, I encourage you to contact Talent Management team.
Kelly Beierschmitt
Ph.D. President and General Manager
Pantex Proud: Macey Ray
Take 5 minutes to learn about Macey Ray, Weapon Material Program materials engineer. 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 Pantex or PanTeXas Deterrence.
With close to 4,700 Pantexans employed, it may be easy to think of yourself as just a number in a sea of people; however, it takes every one of us to make the mission successful. Weapon Material Program (WMP) Materials Engineer Macey Ray contributes her success to being open-minded.
“I value hearing the thoughts of others because they bring their own experiences, opinions, and perspectives. Without any other input, there is a risk of putting yourself in an echo chamber, which limits your ability to find the best solution,” Ray said. “If I am the smartest person in the room, I am in the wrong room.”
As a material engineer in the Adhesives and Films, Sylgard, and Paints and Coatings Materials groups, Ray certifies and delivers quality production materials.
“Material engineers own the entire life cycle of materials used across the plant and are involved with various working groups and programs to assure their needs are met,” she said.
When Ray began her career at Pantex more than a year ago, she was surprised to see how different Pantex is compared to other organizations.
“I was surprised to find that coming to Pantex is comparable to entering a time machine. It is interesting to see the pros and cons of crucial work being completed using technology and equipment years behind its time,” she said. “It is a testament to the direct and reliable means of performing work, while simultaneously inspiring opportunities for improvement sitewide.”
Ray shared the phrase her organization commonly uses: “We are smarter as a collective.” She emphasized this when detailing the pride Pantexans take in their work and their representation of something larger than self.
What daily task (specific meeting, report, etc.) lets you know you’re helping achieve the mission we have at Pantex? How/why does that task let you know you’re working toward the mission?
WMP's main endeavor is continuous improvement. This is illustrated by improving processes and methods in supplying quality, certified material to the line. Some of the daily tasks that embody this endeavor are material/drawing reviews, which guarantee a material is meeting specific requirements and are being used properly, as well as equipment implementation in our laboratory and blending and packaging facility to ameliorate material production and testing.
What is your favorite aspect about your work environment? How does that aspect make you know the mission is being met?
My favorite aspect of my work environment is WMP's ability to collaborate with multiple organizations across the site. Getting to work with people in every department shows Pantex's dedication to the mission and how every person and job are necessary to support production.
What top strength do you bring to your organization and why?
I bring optimism to my organization—a cheerful attitude, which encourages open-mindedness within the team when faced with tasks. My positive perspective allows me to enjoy every day and take pride in the work that I accomplish for the Weapon Material Program.
What’s your top bucket list item and why?
My top bucket list item is to compete on Survivor. I have always been a fan of the show. I enjoy seeing the differences in competitors as they compete in physical, intellectual, and socially strategic challenges. Survivor is a game of balance—showing your strengths without becoming too much of a threat and balancing the needs of the group against the needs of the individual. I would love to adapt to this social experiment and see if I could become the sole survivor.
Uncleared connection: stories of friendship
Abbey Miller and Joy Taylor reunited for a photoshoot in the uncleared room where they first met.
Joy—It’s a name, but it’s also the emotion Abbey Miller felt when she entered the uncleared room at the John C. Drummond Center on her first day of work after New Employee Orientation. A friendly face welcomed her to an unfamiliar workplace as she began her exciting career at Pantex in Project Management.
Abbey was assigned to sit behind Joy Taylor and knew instantly they would be friends.
“Everyone needs a Joy in their life,” Abbey said. “When we met on the first day, she walked me through everything. She took me under her wing and made me feel comfortable.”
In Room 106, Row 4, Abbey sat across from Joy, a safety analyst in the Nuclear and Explosive Surety Department. The two formed a fast friendship.
“She was assigned to sit right behind me. She was so bubbly and fun, and I knew we’d hit it off well,” Joy said. “Abbey is hilarious. She kept us laughing with her stories.”
What is it about a room filled with up to 79 strangers from different backgrounds, education, experience, and interests that brings people together? Joy says it is all about leaning on each other.
“We’re all experiencing big life changes and learning new things at the same time,” Joy said. “Having the support from the people around you while navigating through new tasks makes a huge difference. The friendships I’ve made from being in the uncleared room are friendships that I can see lasting a lifetime.”
There’s no set time for how long it takes an employee to be granted a clearance so they can move to their permanent workspace. People can spend months to over a year in the uncleared room. During that time, networking helps build professional relationships and diversify personal knowledge of the plant. Joy and Abbey work in different areas, but owe their friendship to those professional conversations and work performed in the uncleared room together.
“It was nice to walk in to work and have welcoming faces smiling and letting you know the transition and all of the changes are going to be okay,” Abbey said. “We both support the mission in different ways and now we make an effort to see each other outside of work.”
Eventually both Abbey and Joy gained their clearances and moved out of the uncleared room.
“I was sad when I left because I was leaving the people that I was closest to,” Joy said. “Sad and happy at the same time. I was excited for the work I was going to get to do after gaining my clearance, having more responsibility and the opportunity to get to know my team better. But I knew I’d miss my friends from the uncleared room.”
The old adage, “it’s not what you know; it’s who you know” perfectly describes the significant impact connecting with coworkers in the uncleared room has by enhancing employees’ base knowledge and building professional – and personal – relationships in new areas.
“You find that person to answer your questions, calm your nerves, eat lunch with, be an outlet,” Abbey said. “We don’t work together anymore, but I’m so thankful to have met her.”
People of Pantex: Anne Marie Wilkerson
Information Release Office Lead Anne Marie Wilkerson is a self-described “reformed competitive horse-showgirl.” While horses may have been her obsession early on, it is the Australian shepherd dogs that she grew up with as a child on the farm that play such a big part of her life today.
“We've had this family of dogs since I was an infant, and I decided in 2012 that I wanted this puppy my parents raised named Lightning,” she said. “Australian shepherds are highly productive, versatile dogs that are driven to please their owners and are very task oriented. And like me, they crave a lot of structure, which is probably why I enjoy the breed like I do.”
Structure is cornerstone to Wilkerson’s position at Pantex, where she and her team ensure documents are examined thoroughly to prevent the release of sensitive information. Wilkerson’s experience at fact gathering and naturally inquisitive mind have come in handy as she thoroughly researches the bloodlines of her dogs. Lightning’s lineage can be traced back to the original Australian shepherds on both his mother’s and father’s sides. In order to save the bloodline of the dogs her family had for generations, Wilkerson established a kennel, Code Red, with the Australian Shepherd Club of America. Her goal is to breed the dogs to be structurally correct to meet breed standards, while preserving their brain power.
“Australian shepherds are smart. They can learn up to 3,000 words and are very instinctive animals,” she noted. “They’re able to perform almost any task that you want them to, whether it be working your cattle, bringing your chickens up, or asking them to perform in shows for fun. These dogs can achieve all the tasks you give them.”
Wilkerson’s competitive nature eventually led her to showing the dogs from her kennel, Code Red. She craves competition and strives for excellence with each run she does with her dogs. Though she grew up showing horses, she finds that dogs are much easier to haul around. And she has developed close friendships with many of the people she has met at competitions around the country.
“I crave the competition and I love the people who go to the shows,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of good-hearted people who share my love of dogs and love showing them as much as I do. It’s a great community of which to be a part because they all want to see you succeed.”
Though fun is the primary goal of competing for Wilkerson, winning titles for her dogs is a close second. The more titles behind each dog’s name, the more the dog has proven what it can do. Lightning, who passed away in 2022, has a legacy of winning that is continuing through his daughter, Ritzy (or her official registered name: Code Red’s Initial Public Offering).
Wilkerson and her husband have a daughter, named Claire, who is growing up with Ritzy’s puppies that arrived not long after she did. Wilkerson plans to teach Claire to compete as a junior handler with these dogs in both the Australian Shepherd Club of America’s Agility and Stock Championship Program.
“Staying close to this line of dogs is very much a family task for me since I’ve had them all my life,” she said. “I don't have a particular puppy picked out for Claire, but she will be raised with this herd of dogs, and it's interesting to see how they interact with her.”
"It is a constant puzzle as to how I communicate with my dogs. It is all about managing personalities —whether it be verbally or with my body language. In order to be an effective leader and trainer, I have to be flexible in my approach and tailor my approach to the individual dog.”
While it requires a considerable amount of time and effort to raise, care for, and train them, the joy Wilkerson—and now her young daughter—get from her Australian shepherds makes it all worthwhile.
“It’s a second job. It is a lot of hard work, and a lot people can't or won’t do it,” she said. “But I'm passionate about saving the breed, about saving and maintaining the Australian shepherd. So it’s well worth it to me.”
To find out more about Wilkerson and her dogs, watch this video.