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Take 5 minutes to learn about Sabrina Perez, recruiter for Pantex Mission Assurance and summer internship coordinator. 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.

Sabrina Perez knows how to find talent. As a recruiter for Pantex Mission Assurance, she considers managers’ needs and sources candidates who are the best fit. From application to onboarding, she helps candidates through the hiring process, but she also continues to care for employees’ journeys through career development and internal transfers.

Perez started as a recruiter in 2023 and was immediately impressed with the Pantex mission, and the way the workforce implemented their values into everything they do.

“I was really surprised at how critical the work we do here in little ol’ Amarillo, Texas, is to the nation and the world,” Perez said. “How unbelievably awesome is it that we get to serve our country and the world from this great city on the High Plains?”

Recruiting, Perez believes, is a special job because it gives her a hand in shaping the future at Pantex and the lives of those she helps bring to the plant.

“The absolute best part of my job is extending an offer to a candidate who has waited their whole life to get on at Pantex,” Perez said. “It’s the call that changes their life and sometimes their family’s lives. It’s overwhelming sometimes to hear about their backgrounds and the joy and hope they have for their future career goals at Pantex. Sometimes there are tears, and I’m a crier, so I jump right in there and join! It’s such a blessing.”

Perez also molds the future as the Pantex summer internship coordinator in charge of the internship experience at the site. She loves working with interns because she gets to learn about their interests and capabilities. Whether it is new hires or interns, she thinks Pantex employees stand out among the crowd.

“I love how people implement the values we learn at Pantex into their everyday jobs,” she said. “We all focus on getting our mission completed by making the right decisions for the right reasons, having a questioning attitude, or striving for continuous improvement.”

What daily task lets you know you’re helping achieve the CNS mission?
I love our regular meetings with the managers across Mission Assurance. When they are trying to hire for a new position or backfill one of their team members who has moved departments, I love getting to hear about the work they do and the skill set needed to meet deliverables. It’s so interesting to get to know their work and then go out and hunt for the perfect candidate to fill the spot and join their team. Knowing that my fellow Human Resources teammates and I are getting the right people at our company is rewarding.

What is your favorite aspect about your work environment?
My Recruiting and Placement team is awesome! We all have different strengths and personality types, but we’re all in it together to get people hired and give them a positive experience that fuels their love for the mission and their organization. We’re all here to be a catalyst for a candidate or a current employee’s next best step in their career. Because we are elevating the individual while also building great teams for our managers, we are elevating Pantex as a whole.

Why are communications important for all Pantex and Y-12 employees?
I had the opportunity to see Brené Brown speak at a conference. She said, “Being clear is kind. Being unclear is unkind.” That statement reminded me of the power behind purposeful communication. When you bring clarity to a situation (the who, the what, the how, the why), you set everyone involved up for success. You’re being kind by making sure you are providing accurate details, engaging others in the conversation, asking for clarification when there’s confusion, and correcting any miscommunication along the way. Communication helps serve the people around you.

What work advice would you offer someone who is new to Pantex?
There’s probably a form for that… Ha!

What’s your top bucket list item and why?
I love traveling! I’ve been to six countries (Cambodia, Spain, England, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic) and Maui a few times. My bucket list locations are a food and wine tour of Italy, walk where Jesus walked in Israel, play golf in Ireland, and take a Sound of Music tour in Austria!

More than $1.34 million dollars granted to area non-profits in history of program

AMARILLO, Texas– In its continuing tradition of granting requests from regional non-profit groups, Pantex has donated another $117,070.53 to twelve such groups, distributed with the assistance of the Amarillo Area Foundation.

Now in its ninth year, the fund has awarded a cumulative $1.34 million dollars with 164 grants to non-profits in the Texas Panhandle. The CNS Pantex Community Investment Fund is a partnership between Consolidated Nuclear Security, the managing and operating contractor of the Pantex Plant, and the Amarillo Area Foundation.

Amarillo Area Foundation CEO Clay Stribling said “We so appreciate our great partnership with CNS Pantex and their employees. They are fantastic community partners who truly believe in investing in the well-being of residents in our community. This program is an annual reminder of their generosity and commitment to our region.”

CNS first met with the Amarillo Area Foundation in 2014 to create an innovative and effective method for contributing to the community in a way that would also better engage Pantex employees. The Pantex Community Investment team is comprised of about a dozen Pantex employees voluntarily serving a two-year term on the committee, which listens to all the proposals and then makes the decisions regarding Pantex’s philanthropic gifts.

“Our goal is to give Pantexans a voice in determining where corporate dollars are invested in the community where they work,” said Ashlee Estlack, Pantex Site Communications Manager. “As a company, we are extremely pleased to partner with the Amarillo Area Foundation and community organizations for the betterment of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle—where our employees work, live, and give.”

The 2024 Pantex Community Investment Grant Award recipients are:

• Against All Odds Social Services: $10,000 to support cost involved with new clients aging out of foster care.
• Amarillo Independent School Foundation: $10,000 to support the Families in Transition Emergency Fund supporting for homeless students & resources.
• Amarillo Little Theatre: $8,712 for Check out ALT! covering admission for library cardholders.
• Another Chance House: $10,000 to support the self-sufficiency program.
• Brothers-Sisters of Our Military Adventures: $10,000 to support Hunting with Heroes Program.
• Camp Alphie: $10,000 to support Kid’s Camp for kids with cancers and their siblings.
• Downtown Women’s Center: $10,000 for support of program support for DWC’s Recovery Program.
• Dumas Education and Social Ministries: $10,000 to support the Senior Food Pantry.
• Family Support Services: $10,000 to upgrade the security system at the Safe House shelter for domestic violence survivors.
• Martha’s Home: $10,000 to support Present Needs and Future Success helping keep individuals enrolled and completing their education.
• Texas Ramp Project: $10,000 to support Texas Panhandle ramp projects.
• Transformations by Amarillo Angels: $8,358.53 to support back-to-school support for children, youth and families experiencing foster care.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Bechtel National, Inc. is the lead member of CNS; minority members include Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, LLC; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects, and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Steve Myers
Communications
Office (806) 573.0490
Cell (806) 236.2826

Stephen.Myers@pantex.doe.gov

Chelsey Westfall helps make sure the efforts of Safeguards and Security run smoothly.

The most visible part of Pantex’s Safeguards and Security division is the team of Security Police Officers patrolling every inch of the sprawling complex. However, the department is much more – it encompasses eight divisions responsible for protecting the people, technology, and information that makes Pantex so vital to our nation’s defense.

One of the team members who makes sure the fast-paced division flies down its assigned task list like an Olympic bobsled team is administrative assistant Chelsey Westfall. She is responsible for a wide variety of tasks, from authoring letters, to organizing spreadsheets, to responding to Emergency Response Organization calls.

“With constantly changing environments, people, and technology, there is never a dull moment for me in the division office,” Westfall said.

Westfall, a native of Spearman, Texas, joined Pantex in 2015. She worked first as a shipping clerk, then joined Infrastructure before settling in Safeguards and Security in 2019.

“I never realized just how much work goes into managing the stockpile, supporting the nuclear deterrent mission, or protecting our assets until I started working at Pantex,” Westfall said. “I was overwhelmed with the depth of our mission and layers of security at Pantex. The push for safety, education, OPSEC, and being good stewards of our funding have been a constant since I started working for CNS.”

Chelsey and her husband Kirk have been married for 17 years and share four children, all of whom are frequent subjects of her hobby as a photographer. Their oldest daughter, Kayleigh, lives in Ruidoso, New Mexico; Lexi is a student at West Texas A&M University; Ian serves in the United States Marine Corps; and their youngest, Kaine, is a student at River Road High School.

What stands out to you about Pantex?
The pride and patriotism that Pantexans share and feel for their work. Most employees are keenly aware of just how important our work is to the nation, and we are very proud to be the chosen few who are entrusted with these tasks. Working for Pantex is a job you can be proud of, knowing that you’ve made a difference.

What has surprised you the most since joining CNS?
I’m most surprised by the exponential growth Pantex and Y-12 have seen in employees over the last couple of years. The mission is growing, and to accommodate that, so is our workforce. When I started, I was explicitly told that you are still considered a “new” employee until you have been at Pantex for at least 10 years. I wonder if that still holds true?

What top strength do you bring to your organization and why?
My organizational and communication skills. I build spreadsheets for nearly everything that is important in my job, and having a system to easily track information and effective ways to communicate have made our department more efficient and timelier.

What advice would you offer a newer employee about the importance of solving problems and asking questions?
I would tell a new employee that it is important to get to know “people who know people.” A vast majority of the issues I deal with day-to-day are solved by asking someone for help who knows more about the issue at hand. It is always okay to ask questions if you aren’t sure about something; CNS promotes having a questioning attitude.

What’s your favorite outside-of-work activity and why?
I have always enjoyed photography, especially sports photography. When my kids were young, I used to spend insane amounts of money on professional photos from competitions. And sometimes, there just weren’t any good photos of my kids. I thought, why don’t I just teach myself how to do that? And I did.

I did a lot of research and watched a lot of videos, and I took a lot of blurry, awful photos! I started just taking pictures of my own kids. Eventually, people started asking me to get a few shots of their kids, too. I just love the look on someone’s face when they see a photo of them doing what they love.

Eric Bowen’s role at Pantex is a perfect mesh with his skills and interests.

The rules and instructions used every day by Pantex employees doing the hands-on work for the mission are exacting and complex. Humans are a wild card in the equation due to our tendency to perform small variations when completing tasks, whether by error or happenstance.

The solution to this variable has been the Human Factors Engineering group – a small number of employees who consider human tendencies and work to eliminate their risk in a process.

Among them is Eric Bowen, an Amarillo native and a generational product of Pantex. Both his parents were longtime Pantex employees, and hearing about a training course his dad attended related to human factors piqued his interest.

“I had an interest in psychology, but didn’t want to be a therapist,” Bowen said.

This seemed like a perfect fit – he went to college at Texas Tech to pursue higher education in psychology and industrial engineering. While he was earning those dual degrees, he felt a calling to do something more, and thus signed up for the Army National Guard.

He worked initially as a mortarman before he was given the opportunity to attend sniper school.

“I feel like every little boy, at some point, has a dream of growing up and becoming a sniper, and I was able to fulfill that dream,” Bowen said. “I loved being a soldier. I still say that being a sniper was the best job I ever had!”

When it was time to settle down with his wife, Laura, they chose to make their home in Amarillo and he joined Pantex’s efforts as a human factors engineer. The Human Factors group is housed within Process Engineering. The idea is common within high-reliability manufacturing industries, but it is rare in the Nuclear Security Enterprise – only Pantex and Sandia have Human Factors employees. Sandia’s team focuses more on design, while Pantex’s team focuses more on hands-on work.

“We look at human capacities and limitations — physical and psychological — and use what we know about that to fit the work to the worker instead of trying to fit the worker into something not designed for them,” Bowen said. “We want to get away from ‘blame/shame/retrain’ and look at actual processes and sequences without leaving anything out.”

They prevent errors by doing procedure validations, and inspecting the processes to evaluate everything from whether tools are designed appropriately, to the cognitive load being applied to a technician. They also advise in casual analyses after an error occurs to locate flaws in the process and work to eliminate them.

Their job primarily focuses on manufacturing processes, but they also provide advice to anyone looking for ways to improve their systems.

It is a perfect fit for Bowen’s interests and talents.

“There is nowhere else I would rather be today,” Bowen said.

What has surprised you the most since joining CNS?
I would say the complexity of everything that needs to get done every day to make the work we do at Pantex possible. Everyone has an important job that they must execute to enable our mission.

What stands out to you about your site?
The singularity of our mission. There is no other site in the nation that is equipped or staffed to do the very specific work that we perform every day.

Give an example when teamwork has helped you in your role.
Wow, there are too many to count. The Human Factors team is so close knit we are always sharing projects and contributing advice if an issue falls more within the realm of another’s expertise.

What is your favorite aspect about your work environment? How does that aspect make you know the mission is being met?
Without a doubt it is the people I work with. Our Human Factors Engineering team has some of the friendliest and smartest people I could ever have the pleasure to work with. Outside of our group, I love the culture within Process Engineering. Our department is close knit and always willing to drop what they are doing to lend a helping hand.

What work advice would you offer someone who is new to Pantex or Y-12?
Talk to people. Build positive relationships with everyone you can. We all have a different perspective based on our roles, the more of those different perspectives you can add to your own point of view, the better informed you are when making decisions.

What’s your favorite outside-of-work activity and why?
I really enjoy traveling to shooting competitions with a few of my sharp-shooting coworkers. We enjoy challenging each other and it is important to keep those skills sharp.

Sites reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, and money

Consolidated Nuclear Security’s Sustainability and Stewardship team was recently honored for their commitment to sustainable purchasing at Pantex Plant and the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Amarillo, Texas— Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) has been recognized as a 2024 EPEAT Purchaser Award winner, celebrating leaders in sustainable electronics procurement. The award comes from the Global Electronics Council (GEC), the non-profit organization that manages the EPEAT ecolabel.

CNS operates the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee for the National Nuclear Security Administration. EPEAT allows the two sites to efficiently address the lifecycle impacts of the electronics purchases, including computers, displays, printers, copiers, network equipment, mobile phones, servers, photovoltaic modules, inverters, and televisions.

Recognized for purchases in four categories

Pantex and Y-12 were both recognized for purchasing sustainable electronic products in four categories. This is the fourth consecutive year Pantex has been recognized, and the eighth year for Y-12.

As shown in the infographic prepared by GEC, Pantex realized a cost savings in excess of $60,000 for purchasing sustainable electronic products. With these purchases, greenhouse gases equivalent to taking 17 typical passenger cars off the road for a year, and the energy savings is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 10 average U.S. households.

Also shown, Y-12’s purchases with a cost savings in excess of $160,000. These purchases reduced greenhouse gases equivalent to taking 192 typical passenger vehicles off the road for a year. The energy saved is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 278 average U.S. households.

Reducing environmental impact

“Knowing our sustainability efforts make a significant difference in the environmental impact of our operations is the ultimate reward,” said CNS Sustainability and Stewardship Manager Jan Jackson. “Having our efforts validated by the Global Electronics Council helps assure our communities that we are making progress in sustainability and stewardship of the sites.”

By using EPEAT in purchasing contracts, vendors are required to only provide electronics that meet strict sustainability criteria. These products are more energy efficient, less toxic, longer lasting, and easier to recycle and also address labor and human rights issues along the entire supply chain. Buying these sustainable products minimizes the environmental impact of operations for both sites as they support their national security missions.

As shown in this infographic, the Pantex Plant realized savings in excess of $60,000 by purchasing sustainable electronic products.

As shown in this infographic, Y-12 National Security realized a cost savings of more than $160,000 by purchasing sustainable products.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Bechtel National, Inc. is the lead member of CNS; minority members include Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, LLC; and SOC LLC. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects, and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Steve Myers
Communications
Office (806) 573.0490
Cell (806) 236.2826

Stephen.Myers@pantex.doe.gov

Stefanie Hulcy and Zuleyma Carruba-Rogel were named as recipients of the 2024 Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Top 20 Under 40 award.

Two Pantexans have been named among the 2024 Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Top 20 Under 40. This annual distinction celebrates young professionals who have demonstrated professional excellence and bring value to the Amarillo business community. Recipients are selected based on their professional achievements and community involvement.

Stefanie Hulcy, Senior Security Specialist, a Pantexan for more than eight years, is a spearheaded the launch of the Mothers at Work affinity group, which seeks to help mothers transition back in to the workplace. Outside of Pantex, Hulcy and her husband founded the Yellow City Spark Fastpitch, a girls’ softball organization. The organization requires their athletes to do 10 hours of community service each season. She also has led the Be the Spark Sporting Good Drive, which has provided more than 100 children with gear they needed to get started in their chosen sport. Currently, Hulcy has assembled a school-supply drive and serves on the West Texas Fastpitch advisory board, where she works closely with the youth sports community.

“Being recognized by the Amarillo Chamber is incredibly humbling,” said Hulcy. “I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, and I truly do have the best group of people around me. So many people help me out each day and I know that I couldn’t do any of this without them.”

Zuleyma Carruba-Rogel, a Pantexan for more than three years, worked on the HR team at Pantex and championed various educational partnerships. She then joined the Performance Improvement team and has started building her skillsets as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, to help Pantex improve processes.

Carruba-Rogel started demonstrating community service when she was in the Fourth grade. Her volunteer experience focuses on providing college and career advice to support Amarillo citizens and others through various networks across the nation. While at college, she founded a student organization which provided at-risk high school students with college-readiness support services.

On her visits home to Amarillo, she led presentations to help disadvantaged students see college as an option for them.

After receiving her education, she went to work for Amarillo Independent School District, where she established the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department through which she developed and delivered various programs and trainings for parents across the district.

“I feel incredibly honored and humbled for this recognition,” Carruba-Rogel said. “I’m deeply grateful for all the people God blessed me with along the way to help me break generational cycles. Thanks to my parents’ sacrifices, I get to live a life that as a child was unimaginable.”

Carruba-Rogel has also served on a range of committees in support of the community, including United Way, Operation First Five, Panhandle Community Partnerships, and Los Barrios de Amarillo.

“We are very proud of both Stefanie and Zuleyma’s selection as Top 20 Under 40 recipients,” said Site Manager Colby Yeary. “Their achievements exemplify the company’s values of excellence and commitment to the community. This recognition is a testament to their hard work and the positive impact they have made on our team and the Amarillo community. We are incredibly proud to have them as Pantexans.”

Both recipients were recognized for their achievements on August 22.

People of Pantex is a series that highlights what makes Pantexans unique when they are not at our plant, and how those activities help them contribute to the mission. Do you have a talent or hobby that makes you stand out in a crowd? Were you ever a contestant on a popular daytime game show? Are you a former member of a famous 70s rock band? If so, we want to talk to you and share your story in an upcoming feature.

Pantex Classification Officer Marley Hoggatt regularly finds herself giving presentations and teaching classes to large groups of employees about how they can identify sensitive information. While the mere thought of speaking in front of an audience causes many to recoil in terror, it’s second nature for Hoggatt, thanks to her years of experience playing to a crowd.

Hoggatt was a shy child, and her parents thought that theater camp might help bring Hoggatt out of her shell, so they signed her up for camp at the one and only Amarillo Little Theatre (ALT), an Amarillo institution established in 1927, making it one of the oldest continuously operating community theaters in the country. Hoggatt describes her first camp show as the moment that she knew that theater was something of which she would always want to be a part.

“I was terrified, because it was a musical, and we had to go onstage and sing in front of everyone—and I don’t think I’d said a word to anyone all day. I didn’t know any of the other kids,” she said. “I got up there and started singing, and the music director looked up like he was surprised that the girl who’d tried to hide in the back could actually sing. I was terrified of him, the director, and the choreographer. Allen Shankles, the director, never stopped scaring me—but he also made me laugh, helped me grow as a professional, taught me to dream big, and challenged me to strive to make things the best they can be in the places I have influence.”

Since then, Hoggatt has been an actress in around 25 productions. She has also been on the board for ALT for the last 7 years, including the last 2 serving as board president. Hoggatt has even lent a hand backstage on a few shows to run sound and lights and helped out by printing props on her 3D printer. When asked why she is so active in ALT and why it is so important to get involved in activities outside of work, Hoggatt’s answer is simple: community.

“Being a part of ALT means being a part of an incredible community,” she said. “Everyone involved is different. We all have different strengths, beliefs, values, and viewpoints—but we come together as a community to create something that brings joy to others.”

Though Hoggatt remembers fondly the good times she has had with her ALT community, she also has to remember the times that the same community brought her through a tough period.

“In 2018, I was cast in Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 with some good friends and some people I didn’t know as well,” Hoggatt said. “We were about 2 weeks into rehearsals when I found out that my dad was very ill. I decided to quit the show, but my dad told me I couldn’t—'the show must go on’ and all that.

“[My dad] went into hospice care the day we opened the show,” she continued. “I don’t remember much about doing the show at all, but I will never forget the way the cast and crew carried me through it. Their kindness and love helped me survive the most devastating time of my life, and that cast are some of my best friends to this day—that’s why ALT is a community that I will always treasure and feel so grateful to be a part of!”

There may not be many similarities between her job and the theater, but one thing that remains consistent is the sense of community and hard work that Hoggatt brings to her roles on and off the stage.

“I always find room for improvement in my performance, no matter where I am,” she said. “I also believe that you can accomplish great things on your own, but if you’re not bringing others up with you, you’re not really a success. If I’m with the cast of a show or with my team at work, I want everyone to have the same opportunities, be able to learn and grow, and receive recognition for their own work.”

Tramicah Young, who also lives in both the Pantex and ALT worlds with Hoggatt as an ALT board member and as a member of Hoggatt’s work team, complimented her on the way she treats her community at both places.

“Marley is a highly motivated, artistic, goal achieving individual,” Young said. “She leads by example and wants the best for all around her.”

Hoggatt was recently asked to be a part of an all-female showcase in which she sang “Somewhere That’s Green” from her previous leading role in Little Shop of Horrors, as well as “You’ll Be Back” from the musical Hamilton. The show, Leading Ladies, brought together women who have performed in the ALT over the past 20 years.

“I was incredibly honored to perform alongside some of the most talented women I know—it was the most fun I’ve ever had on stage,” said Hoggatt. “Nothing is quite like the Amarillo Little Theatre.”

To hear more from Hoggatt about why it’s important for Pantexans to have a community outside of work and see her prepare for her latest performance, watch this video.

Occupational Health Services staff at both CNS sites perform a wide array of services to support employees’ physical and emotional health.

Occupational Health Services employees may not typically be viewed as “front-line workers” for Pantex’s mission, the people who are part of this team embody the site’s purpose just as much as the protective force or technicians working the line. They’re part of a team that has served Pantexans for decades.

“Pantex is now the longest-running accredited clinic in [Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care] in the history of DOE facilities being audited,” Morris noted.

Having cared for employees’ health since the 1970s, employees might be surprised at the incredible range of services today’s clinic provides. They perform hundreds of physicals each month, on top of on-the-job injuries, job-transfer physicals, and hew-hire physicals. Morris regularly meets with Human Resources staff to project the number of those pre-employment physicals so his team can appropriately staff to address the demand.

“We have been able to give HR eight empty slots per day,” he said. “We fill the rest with reschedules, follow-up appointments, etc. On any given Monday, we could have 50 [return-to-work approvals],” Morris said. “Our case managers are really good at triaging those and flowing them to the providers. We get lots of calls with people asking, ‘I’ve got a headache. Do you have ibuprofen?’ And, we do –– we’ll take care of those things.”

Morris compared OHS to an urgent-care facility in town, stating that people may come in and say things like, “I’m having chest pains. Can you check me out?”

Such instances call for urgent action.

“About once a month, we will see somebody in [atrial fibrillation] or having a heart attack, and we’ll send them to the emergency room,” Morris said.

Not every request, though, is predictable.

“We got a phone call last week: ‘Do you guys do pregnancy tests?’” Morris recalled.

The answer?

“We never have before, but we will if the person needs a medication or medical test that may interfere with, or be a risk to a pregnancy.”

Luckily for Pantexans, challenges don’t intimidate OHS clinic staff.

“Professionally, [the benefit of the clinic is] the urgent-care aspect,” Morris said. “If you have a stuffy nose, you don’t have to suffer through it, and don’t have to go home and take

Take 5 minutes to learn about Brandon T., Bay/Cell & Prod/Disposition project controls representative. This article details his role at Pantex and reinforces the diverse workplace culture CNS offers.

Staying on budget and on schedule—two high-priority tasks that Brandon T. ensures in his work supporting portfolio and project managers.

“I work with the Integrated Project team to develop solutions to challenges that arise on multimillion-dollar and multifaceted construction projects and enjoy the collaboration of working with so many Pantexans,” Brandon said. “It’s truly a team atmosphere.”

Being part of a team is something Brandon is used to. He has been at Pantex for 3 years and previously worked for the Department of Defense, plus served in the U. S. Navy for 10 years.

On a daily basis, Brandon manages a spreadsheet that tracks all costs for the entire bay/cell portfolio –– which includes the design, build, and testing of the high-pressure fire loop, the Flame Detection System, and the updates to the Radiation Alarm Monitoring System in production facilities.

“Continually updating that spreadsheet and tracking portfolio costs makes it a continually moving target that must be managed constantly to ensure the budget does not get overrun,” he said. “Managing that makes me feel like my role in portfolio works toward keeping a successful mission.”

Brandon enjoys discussing the bay/cell portfolio and project costs with managers. He is always ready to defend and explain the numbers of a project to ensure accurate reporting. Making a decision and sticking with it is one way he has dealt with problem-solving in his role.

“Everyone has their own ways of problem-solving, but when it comes to making a decision, people tend to become hesitant and question themselves on if they have made the best decision,” Brandon said. “There are many ways to handle an issue, but it cannot be resolved unless you or someone else makes the decision on how to do it and sticks with it.”

Whether he’s solving a problem, laboring over a spreadsheet, or crunching numbers, Brandon is proud to be a Pantexan.

“I love having this great opportunity to continue my service to our country,” he said. “I see so many people at Pantex who want to serve our nation and protect our national security, making America and Amarillo an even better place to live.”

What has surprised you the most since joining CNS?
Coming from the Department of Defense, I wasn’t surprised with much of the security measures or quality checks, but how far in advance projects are being planned and managed to forecast expected costs from contractor to CNS support surprised me.

What is one thing your coworkers be surprised to know about you?
I enjoy helping my wife make candles! Shoutout to her and her company Scenter Stage!

What’s your favorite outside-of-work activity and why?
I enjoy going shooting! I picked up the joys of shooting when I was in the Navy and it has stuck with me since. It is a skill that always must be practiced or will be lost and there are always new skills to be learned or improved.

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.