Pantex Blog
Invest in our sustainable future: Buy ‘green’
The Department of Energy’s Sustainable Acquisition Program is committed to “green purchasing,” giving preference to products that are energy and water efficient, made from biobased or recycled content, are nontoxic or less toxic than conventional alternatives, release nonozone depleting chemicals, and support the overall use of alternative fuels and fuel efficient products.
A broader focus
Pantex and Y 12 are recognized across the Nuclear Security Enterprise as sustainability champions. Now, Sherith Colverson, who recently joined CNS, will lead broader efforts at both sites to evaluate CNS’s purchases to ensure they meet or exceed federally required sustainability criteria.
“We do a significant amount of recycling our different materials streams to keep them from becoming waste streams,” said Colverson of Sustainability and Stewardship Programs. “Now, we’re going to take the next step. My focus will be on helping organizations purchase green products to begin with.”
Colverson’s role is to provide oversight and assistance to CNS employees, which includes interpreting and implementing all facets of DOE’s Sustainable Acquisition Program. She will help organizations comply with Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements as well as Executive Order 13834.
“The Sustainable Acquisition Program simply ensures that our federal government leads by example in protecting the health of our shared environment and reducing environmental impact through the purchase of sustainable products, as well as services,” Colverson said. “It is an activity that spans all organizations. It is part of our contracts, cafeteria service, construction and remodeling of buildings, custodial operations, vehicle fleet, grounds and facility maintenance, operations and office environments, and information technology.”
Biobased products
One of the ways CNS can lead by example is by purchasing biobased products. Biobased products are derived from plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials and provide an alternative to conventional petroleum derived products. Products include lubricants, cleaning agents, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics. Some of these products, such as hand soaps and hand sanitizers, are already used throughout Pantex and Y 12.
“I look forward to learning more about how both sites are operating, building, and providing maintenance with current products,” Colverson said. “I’m here to work with all organizations to find those sustainable and biobased products or services that could potentially help increase efficiency, optimize performance, reduce environmental impacts, and cut costs.”
CNS hosts Manufacturing Practices Lean Summit
CNS hosted a Manufacturing Practices Lean Summit to grow continuous improvement through a community of sharing and practice. The summit, held at Y 12, included attendees from each site within the Nuclear Security Enterprise as well as the United Kingdom’s Atomic Weapons Establishment.
“A significant part of our operation is continuous improvement, and we learn from others in the complex,” said Pantex Site Manager Todd Ailes. “The summit has given us an opportunity to share lean strategies to help us continue forward. Our work is about people, core missions, and techniques for continuous improvement.”
Reed Mullins, senior director of Production Operations at Y 12, said, “We’re coming together as a complex to break out of our silos, to learn from our mistakes, and to look at what did and did not work well. Our goal is to better support our people daily.”
Pantex to hold external hiring event
Pantex is holding a targeted external hiring event on Saturday, July 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the JCDC. Applicants are encouraged to pre-register by applying for requisition 18-0000 on pantex.energy.gov/careers. Submit a resume and identify specialty for the following groups ONLY:
- Cyber security
- Information technology (system architects, service transition)
- Engineering (electrical, mechanical, industrial, engineering techs)
- Planning and control (planners, schedulers, estimators)
- Manufacturing (production managers)
- Metrology
- Supply chain (buyers, contract specialist)
- Skilled crafts: electrician, electronic, instrument, pipefitter, HVAC/refrigeration, fire service, electrical safety
- Security (system administrators, material control, technical security, IT security)
This event is NOT for production technicians, janitors, security police officers, clerks, yard workers, or material handlers. Children not permitted.
25 years of striving for excellence
For the last 25 years, a group of Pantexans have met during lunch to improve their communication and leadership skills. The Pantex Lunch Bunch Toastmasters Club recently celebrated the club’s silver anniversary with a special meeting.
“The Lunch Bunch is one of 15 clubs in the Amarillo area and one of 16,400 clubs around the world, “ said Pantexan Natalie Waters, Toastmasters immediate past District 23 director. “In the past decade, members of club number 9440 have received approximately 111 Toastmasters awards and the club has been designated as Distinguished in eight of the past 10 years.”
Waters, whose term ends June 30, recognized visiting Toastmasters dignitaries and shared the organization’s background and values for visitors and potential members during the event.
Dennis Williams, a Pantex laboratory technician and founding club member, shared how membership has impacted his career, and guest speaker Alonzo Everhart, a Pantex senior operations advisor, shared his tips for communicating in stressful situations. NPO Facility Representative Jessie Phifer acknowledged how far she’s come since her first speech full of fidgeting and filler words.
“I may not have been the ‘um’ queen, but I was the queen of other things such as ‘like’ and ‘you know’,” admitted Phifer.
Keynote speaker Deputy Site Manager Corey Strickland stressed the importance of building a solid communication pipeline and how active listening has helped in his nearly 25-year career at Pantex.
“Effective communication is the cornerstone of being a good leader,” said Strickland.
The 25th anniversary celebration also included door prizes, a club president “changing of the guard”, and a reception for members and guests.
The Pantex Lunch Bunch Toastmasters Club meets Thursdays in the JCDC S1.C102 conference room from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Guests are always welcome.
Safety engineers translate kickball passion to the office
Going by the name “Just Kickin’ It,” a group of employees in Pantex Safety Analysis Engineering (SAE) displayed the true definition of teamwork during last season’s kickball league. The league, organized by @Socialete Sports, gave the SAE team the opportunity to kick balls, run bases, and socialize with people from all walks of life.
The passion on the field translated to the office. “Safety analysts take their work seriously, and we consistently work as a team to get tasks done. Constantly in competition, we work hard against ourselves, peers, and deadlines to meet daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals,” team member Terrence Cooper said.
