August 2009 1

WIN Bestowed Awards on Former NEI Executive, Oak Ridge National Lab Researcher

Women in Nuclear, a global organization of nearly 4,000 professionals in the nuclear- and radiation-related fields, and its U.S. affiliate, U.S. Women in Nuclear, bestowed honors on a former NEI executive and a research and development leader at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Angelina Howard, president of Howard-Johnson Associates, received the WiN Global Award in recognition of her decades of achievement in communications, education, leadership and mentoring in the nuclear energy industry. Howard retired last May as vice president, office of the president and executive adviser to the president at NEI after 13 years with the Washington-based policy organization. She joined the industry, working for Duke Power Co., in 1969, before serving for 16 years with the Atlanta-based Institute of Nuclear Power Operations as vice president and director of industry relations and information services.

Since then Jan has moved on to become the chair of Region 4 WIN. That group is spearheading an initiative called Women for Nuclear made up of people in the public. It is a great idea. I recognized that the best thing that I could do was to get out of the way. Sometimes the best kind of leadership is simply to open a door, hold it open and let people know you are committed to keeping that door open.

“Angie Howard, over her years of involvement in the nuclear arena, has consistently demonstrated excellence in the WiN Global Award’s four focus areas—communication, education, leadership and mentoring—and she has done it on a global stage,” said Cheryl Boggess, WiN Global president. “Angie interacts with heads of state as easily and with the same intensity as she does one-on-one with each individual who has the great fortune to talk with her. She is truly deserving of the honor that has been bestowed on her by her Global WiN colleagues.”

Howard-Johnson Associates is a consulting practice specializing in energy and utility issues, as well as public relations and community outreach.

Julie Ezold, an R&D manager in the Oak Ridge facility’s Nuclear Science and Technology Division, received U.S. WIN’s Patricia Bryant Leadership Award. Ezold is a nuclear engineer who has worked at Oak Ridge in various technical capacities since 1992.

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She was honored for positively influencing her community and the next generation of nuclear workers by leading and supporting numerous education programs and other WIN-sponsored events.

“Julie tirelessly promotes young engineers she mentors, works to provide a network through which women and men can further their professional development, and continuously exhibits her commitment to the WIN organization’s core values. She truly is deserving of this recognition,” said Bonnie Bryant, the WIN award chairperson.

The awards were presented at the combined U.S. WIN and WiN Global conference.

Political Strategist Further Endorses Advocacy

Veteran Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile addressed WIN members during a luncheon to further encourage advocacy among members.

Brazile, who has worked on every presidential campaign from 1976 to 2000, told attendees to take the myths and misinformation about nuclear energy, and tell the correct story.

“Change will always come from the bottom up,” said Brazile. We should all be looking for the changes that make sense, she added.

Brazile told attendees to utilize all methods of communication, from Facebook to Twitter and letters to editors to reaching out to other community-based groups. “Inject your ideas. Inject your facts,” she said. Furthermore, let your representatives know that you want to be a part of the energy discussion.

Brazile also told the predominantly female audience that it was important to raise their visibility and encourage other women “in the pipeline.” With encouraging stories and examples, she promoted stronger roles for women in the workplace, and told attendees they should be bold in taking their place in society.

“It’s time to take our seats at the table, even if we have to bring a folding chair,” she said.

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AREVA CEO Said Nuclear Part of Energy Revolution

The world is experiencing an energy revolution, AREVA CEO Anne Lauvergeon told conference attendees, and nuclear and renewable energy are both important.

Lauvergeon said that the revolution is fueled by limited resources, increased energy needs around the world, a growing population and recognition that emissions need to be reduced.

“Solutions to the economic crisis, the energy crisis and climate change go hand in hand,” she said. Among those solutions, nuclear and renewable energy sources “are complementary, not antagonistic.” They are complementary because renewables cannot supply baseload energy, and nuclear energy is the only non-emitting baseload source, she said.

We need new solutions, but we cannot wait 20 years for research and development because we need solutions for today—and we have solutions for today, she said.

“We have to invest now … in renewables and in nuclear,” said Lauvergeon, adding that we will be judged by future generations if we wait too long.

To be successful, the nuclear industry needs stable government policies, said Lauvergeon. Especially with nuclear, policies cannot change every five years. The industry needs a stable government that accepts it for the long term, she said.

Misconceptions about the technology also need to be addressed, Lauvergeon told participants. Insufficient uranium fuel supply and inadequate used nuclear fuel management solutions are among those misconceptions, she said.

Uranium is available and well-distributed around the world. Recycling used nuclear fuel is economically and socially responsible and ultimately makes dealing with used fuel easier. Carbon emissions, however, have no borders and no confinement, said Lauvergeon.

August 2009 4

WIN 2009 Sponsored Students: In their own words…

Women in Nuclear take on Capitol Hill by Lauren Boldon

Have you ever voiced your opinions in person with your representatives, senators, and their staff members? The average person would in all likelihood answer, "No." The truth is, our representatives and senators hear more from lobbyists than from their own constituents, which probably causes them to make decisions based on an obviously limited (and, often, somewhat biased) information pool. This is exactly why the U.S. Women in Nuclear (WIN) Capitol Outreach experience was so rewarding. I was able to meet with the staff of Minnesota senators Klobuchar and Franken, and of representatives McCollum and Bachmann, and representative Paulsen himself. They

were happy to hear from us and to discuss our hopes and concerns regarding the nuclear industry.

On an issue that had not been widely discussed to date (due to bills, such as health care, currently running through Congress and headlining most media outlets), the congressmen and their staffers were eager to hear our viewpoints, based on personal experiences as employees and as women in the nuclear field. In addition, we were able to inform them of newer technologies that could be utilized in the United States, which could help solve many of the concerns of our Congressmen—such as nuclear waste management. It should be noted that security was a close second as an issue. These two issues were brought up countless times at the WIN Conference by numerous speakers who pointed out that France currently recycles its nuclear fuel, so that 96 percent may be reused to create additional energy. The residual four percent waste material is radioactive for a much shorter period of time (hundreds of years instead of thousands of years) than the material to be disposed of in the United States.

We were also able to clarify what the nuclear industry needs from Congress, such as greater loan guarantees for the four plants to be built over the next several years, and political aid to increase awareness of the industry's potential and need for future expansion. Updated knowledge in the public and private sectors can do much to improve the image of our industry. The state of Minnesota currently has a moratorium on the issue of nuclear power, and for us, this was a major point of discussion. We were also able to comment on the permanent, high-paying jobs that nuclear plants provide and the positive influence that such plants have on the surrounding community.

Our state representatives and senators all agreed that nuclear energy must be part of the permanent base load for our country’s energy needs and acknowledged that it is already producing approximately 20 percent of the United States' total electrical supply. Many of them were interested in hearing our thoughts on the major role nuclear power could play in our country's future, and, realistically speaking, how many plants could be built in the near future.

Unfortunately, a few representatives claimed they would not support nuclear power unless the nuclear waste and security issues were resolved. In response, we offered a new perspective—fuel reprocessing, such

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as what is being done with waste in France. We also made certain they knew that a law passed under President Carter's presidency had prevented reprocessing by the United States. As a result of our visit, I know our Minnesota senators and representatives were far better informed, in terms of nuclear industry issues and accomplishments. It is my hope that they will continue to discuss these matters amongst themselves, spreading the additional knowledge we provided, with the understanding that what is economically and environmentally important to everyone on this planet is energy. Perhaps with WIN on the Hill, great strides will be made in this ever-expanding and important field.

An Eye Toward the Future by Tiffany Brown

Although my mother has been a Woman in Nuclear all my life, attending the 2009 Combined U.S. Women in Nuclear and WiN Global conference gave me a whole new perspective on nuclear power and women’s contribution to the field.

I’m currently pursuing studies in radiological technology, with some uncertainties still regarding my long term career goals. Although the primary focus of the conference was related to commercial nuclear power, I was still able to gain a greater insight into which direction I can apply my current studies in the ever expanding world of nuclear energy. Additionally, I was exposed to data that increased my depth of appreciation and

understanding of nuclear energy’s role in meeting our growing energy needs.

I am truly grateful in having had the opportunity to be a part of this experience and hope this program will continue to be made available to other aspiring students.

The WIN Experience by Kaitlyn Corbett

This summer I was an intern at Entergy Nuclear at the James A. FitzPatrick nuclear plant. Entergy and U.S. Women in Nuclear gave me the opportunity to attend the 2009 Combined U.S. Women in Nuclear (WIN) and WiN Global conference in Washington, D.C. This was my first chance to attend a large conference, and my first experience with WIN. I was able to meet and interact with other Entergy employees from around the country, as well as employees from other industries and companies from around the world. There were speakers from different plants, equipment suppliers and regulatory committees from around the globe. The speakers for these companies were their presidents and CEO’s, who discussed the roles their companies played in the nuclear industry.

As an intern just beginning to explore specific careers, this conference was very beneficial. I was able to learn about many different companies

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in the nuclear field. When I begin my job search I will have a better idea of what companies I would like to investigate. Along with listening to speakers I was also able to personally talk with employees, CEO’s and Presidents of a variety of companies. I was able to learn some of the positive and negative aspects of potential employers by speaking with real workers who were not trying to recruit new employees.

Outside of the formal sessions we were able to walk around and visit booths set up by a variety of companies. Even if someone was not actively looking for a job, they could still enjoy walking around and learning about the background of companies from all over the world that are associated with the nuclear industry. In addition, I was able to learn about different designs other countries have and expand my horizon on what is really involved with nuclear energy.

On the first day, all sponsored students were partnered with a mentor. My mentor, Ms. Gilda Bocock worked as a Customer Project

Manager for U.S. Fuel Customer Operations for Westinghouse Electric Co. I was surprised to have a mentor from a different company but as we talked and got to know each other I learned we were paired together to help me step outside of my Entergy comfort zone and talk to with people from different companies. She introduced me to other employees from Westinghouse and employees of other companies as well. Ms. Babcock also helped me decide which sessions to attend during the breakout sessions that would benefit me as a learning student.

After meeting with our mentors, I attended an Entergy Operations dinner reception. At this reception I was able to meet all the Entergy attendees from different sites and different fields. This included meeting our President, CEO and CNO for Entergy Operations, Michael Kansler and our Senior VP of Planning, Development and Oversight, Donna Jacobs. It was nice to sit down to dinner and visit with everyone socially.

Some fun activities that I participated in were the dinner boat cruise on the Potomac River and attending the Nationals versus the New York Mets Major League Baseball game. These special events were exciting to go to as a group with people that you are just getting to know. On the boat cruise, dinner was served on three indoor levels and an upper deck. The weather was perfect for this event. We were all able to enjoy the scenery, food and music. As for the baseball game, all the women were able to have fun by cheering on whichever team they wanted to win. Entergy Operations arranged for their employees to wear pink polo shirts that day. So at the game, if you did not know an Entergy employee, you could easily pick them out of the crowd. This helped me recognized my colleagues.

Some of the other special events that you could attend included tours of plants like Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, North Anna Power Station, Three Mile Island Generating Station and Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. Other activities that people participated in were tours of places like Mt. Vernon, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Operations Center, and meeting with the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration.

Of course the main objective of this conference was to meet and learn about other companies and their primary nuclear responsibilities. All of the speakers were very informative and interesting. There were

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speakers from France, Japan, Korea, Spain and the United States. My favorite session topics were Securing Nuclear Materials and Technology, Leadership Courage, and Managing Nuclear Risk.

The speakers for Securing Nuclear Materials and Technology included Susan Eisenhower, Eva Gyane, Corey Hinderstein, Amb. Jackie Wolcott. The first speaker, Susan Eisenhower, stated that nuclear energy cannot boom until the public learns to trust nuclear. Most people not involved in nuclear production do not trust nuclear energy because of false facts and accidents like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Eva Gyane from IAEA discussed the importance of the four pillars. The four pillars are technology, verification, safety and security. This means that all companies must be trusted but they must also be verified. Another speaker of this session, Jackie Wolcott, stated that “a nuclear accident anywhere is a nuclear accident everywhere.” Wolcott believed that everyone in the nuclear industry has to work together because with accidents like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl the industry as a whole will lose the trust of the public. The last speaker, Corey Hinderstein, discussed how regulations cannot control facilities without the support of the industry and other organizations. NTI needs the government’s support to help take control and stop disastrous weapons from being produced.

The next session I attended was more hands-on and a “test yourself” session. The Leadership Courage session was presented by Judy Domanico and Julie Mihm. The session broke up into groups and discussed three main questions. First, how would you define a leader? The second part of this challenge was to discuss situations where somebody was in a position of leadership, and to describe what they may have done to deserve that position. The last discussion was about the responses or reactions a person receives when taking a leading role. Leadership courage can be defined as “saying what needs to be said at the right time, to the right person, in the right manner.” With these main points, getting your point across and making changes may become easier. This was a good session to learn when one should speak up and how to have the courage to do it.

Another session I really enjoyed was Managing Nuclear Risk. Speakers of this session included Marjorie Berger, Greg Wilks and Janice Dunn Lee. Marjorie Berger, an employee for American Nuclear Insurers (ANI), discussed court situations that plants must go through when taken to court by residents living near plants. A common case against a nuclear power plant might involve residents living near the plant who might try to obtain additional health care or a discount on the land because of their perceived risk from their proximity to the plant. To help the public feel more comfortable about living near a nuclear power plant, the ANI regularly inspects plants and informs the public of its findings. Greg Wilks, an employee for Nuclear Energy Insurance Limited, discussed how his company provides property damage and decontamination coverage, similar to homeowners’ insurance. Lastly, Dunn Lee from the Nuclear Energy Agency discussed her belief that there would be four times as many nuclear reactors in 2050 as there are today!

Overall, this conference was very beneficial. I was given the opportunity to meet many important people from Entergy and other companies, and was able to network with many people in the nuclear field. I learned about the specialties and activities of many companies and agencies. Since I am about to begin my senior year of college and start job searching, this conference gave me great exposure to a multitude of organizations and to learn firsthand what they do. I started this summer not knowing very much about nuclear power; however, through a summer internship at Entergy and the 2009 Combined U.S. Women in Nuclear and WiN Global conference, I have learned more than I ever thought I would.

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It’s a Small World After All by Jill Holian

Over 600 professional women representing countries from around the world, two and a half days of outstanding presentations from distinguished speakers, a political satire comedy performance and a dinner boat cruise along the Potomac were just a few of the highlights that I got to experience as a student attending the 2009 Combined U.S. Women in Nuclear and WiN Global conference in beautiful Washington, D.C. I never thought I would find myself at a technical conference where the men’s bathrooms were converted to women’s in order to accommodate the incredible

number of female attendees!

The conference was both an energetic celebration of the great strides taking place in the industry, as well as a reflective look at the contributions of women in the field. With session topics covering everything from “Global Nuclear Construction: Experience Gained” to “Community Outreach Best Practices,” the content was just as diverse as the audience. Each speaker delivered a unique presentation while contributing to a main idea that although we come from different nations, we all work for the same industry.

“Obama-Mia.” These words rang out in perfect harmony above roars of laughter from conference attendees during a performance by the acclaimed “Capital Steps” at the welcome reception. Although the Obama administration was the target of musical jokes during this segment of the conference, his outlook and policies were given a serious discussion during sessions called “Perspectives on Nuclear Technology” and “The Role of Government in Providing Effective Oversight.” Speakers assured the audience that although our President does not publicly embrace nuclear energy as much as his former running opponent Senator John McCain does, nuclear energy is currently being included in all the latest legislation discussing climate change and energy.

“Tell Your Story.” This was the charge given to audience members by political strategist Donna Brazile during a luncheon presentation that was both inspirational and hilarious. Having spent years working on Capitol Hill, Ms. Brazile spoke from her heart about her climb to success and offered advice to conference attendees taking part in the “Capitol Hill Outreach” event about how to speak to legislators about nuclear power. Her presentation left audience members jumping to their feet in applause, with smiles on their faces and a feeling of empowerment in their hearts.

“Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” The lyrics to the 80’s Cyndi Lauper hit served as fitting background music before a breakout session titled “Leadership Courage.” This session was very interactive and encouraged women to shatter the professional ceilings often placed over our heads from fear and stereotypes, and to aggressively pursue our goals in leadership. The “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” theme presented itself in full force on the “Spirit of Washington” dinner boat cruise along the Potomac River. Here conference attendees were able to strengthen friendships while showing off their countries' traditional dress on the dance floor.

Perhaps the aspect of the conference that will leave the longest impression on me was the incredibly warm atmosphere. In every direction I looked I could see old friends reuniting and offering each other hugs,

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strangers extending their hands to one another during introductions, and smiles lighting up the room. Throughout the conference I was constantly impressed at how the U.S. WIN organization always managed to maintain a high level of professionalism while creating a friendly environment that was welcoming to everyone—from prestigious speakers from foreign countries, to college students from the United States.

I cannot thank the Bechtel Corporation and U.S. Women in Nuclear enough for this wonderful personal and professional development opportunity. Attending the combined U.S. WIN and Global WiN conference was an invaluable experience that I will carry with me wherever my career takes me. I not only left the conference with a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm about nuclear energy, but with professional contacts, a personal mentor, great friendships, and a few new dance moves.

My WINning Experience by Jacquelyn Marsh

I was first introduced to the nuclear industry this summer while working as an intern at Westinghouse Electric Company. Everyone at Westinghouse was eager to guide me in learning more about the field and the exciting opportunities associated with the nuclear renaissance. My manager, Janet Bunecicky, informed me about the U. S. Women in Nuclear conference and an opportunity to apply for a sponsorship through the Nuclear Energy Institute. After applying for the sponsorship, I was ecstatic at being selected to be a part of the 2009 Combined U.S. WIN and WiN Global Conference. My goal for the conference was to meet and network with other participants and to learn as much as I could about the nuclear industry and explore future employment opportunities.

Monday was the first day of the conference and it was the highlight of my trip. We toured Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in York County, Pa. After going through a maze of security, we were walked

through the turbine building and viewed the spent fuel pool and control room simulator. It was exciting to actually see a functioning nuclear power plant. Later that evening, we had a chance to meet up with our mentors. I was paired with Julie Ezold, who works in the Nuclear Science and Technology Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I really enjoyed spending time with Julie. She gave me several suggestions on how to get the most out of the conference and shared her knowledge about the nuclear industry. She also encouraged me to pursue my career goals and gave me the confidence that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.

Tuesday was the kickoff of the conference. Upon entering the ballroom, I was truly amazed at the number of participants attending the conference. I was inspired by all the successful women in the nuclear industry surrounding me. After the welcoming session, several prominent individuals from major companies spoke about nuclear technology. An award luncheon was held early in the afternoon. My mentor, Julie Ezold, was selected to receive the 2009 Patricia Bryant Leadership Award. (Congratulations Julie!) The afternoon was full of several smaller breakout sessions. I found the Global Nuclear Construction: Experience Gained session to be very interesting. Later that evening, everyone had the opportunity to take a dinner cruise on the Potomac River. I was a great opportunity to socialize with other conference participants and relax.

Wednesday’s sessions went quickly. I volunteered to work the Westinghouse booth and the Region I booth which gave me the opportunity to meet several women in the industry during the networking breaks. I was inspired by their passion for the nuclear industry.

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The conference drew to a close on Thursday afternoon after a communications workshop and a session on managing nuclear risks. After lunch, Anne Lauvergeon, Chief Executive Officer of AREVA, spoke to all the participants of the conference. Her story of success in the industry has motivated me to pursue a future career in the industry.

I first arrived at the WIN conference with little knowledge of the nuclear industry and unsure of what to expect. I came away from the conference with a deeper understanding of the industry and many new contacts, both professionally and personally. Throughout my career, I hope to attend future WIN conferences. The 2009 Combined U.S. WIN and WiN Global Conference was truly a WINning experience.

Gaining a WINning Perspective by Meagan Richardson

I attended the 2009 Combined U.S. Women in Nuclear (WIN) and WiN Global conference in Washington D.C. in July and am happy to say that I had a tremendous amount of fun. I am one of those people who enjoys sitting around with friends and family just talking about whatever happens to be on our minds; at this conference there was something very specific on my mind and it seemed to be the same thing on everyone else’s mind as well, which was nuclear energy and everything related.

I originally thought that WIN was nothing but a bunch of nuclear engineers but was pleasantly surprised to be proven otherwise.

WIN is comprised of many wonderful women who are either interested or work in something related to the nuclear industry and I had the pleasure of meeting a great many of them.

The conference started out with a dinner where I met the women that I eventually latched onto for the entire conference. One would think that a conference in this sort of industry would be very formal and limited on what you should say or how to address people but it was the exact opposite. The main purpose of this conference was to network with people who have common interests in relation to their profession. Everyone was very approachable and didn’t hesitate to answer any of my questions. I myself am still trying to figure out what I want to do when I graduate. I have my bachelor’s degree in physics and will be receiving a second bachelor’s in nuclear engineering next May. I have been told my options are limitless—which ironically does not help in narrowing down my options! In my opinion the week of the conference was one of the most important in my life as it helped me gain perspective on my future career and eased my nerves on job hunting issues. It has only been a few weeks since the conference and I already have job possibilities available when I graduate.

This summer I had an internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and my mentor there was already a well established WIN member, she won the Patricia Bryant Leadership Award this year; she was able to introduce me to many people she knew that were in attendance as well. That first night also included a performance by the Capitol Steps, who are a music and political satire group. There was a boat cruise as well, which was very enjoyable. The boat ride included delicious food on 4 separate floors and music was played on every floor.

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Since the conference also consisted of WiN Global attendees, I was able to meet women from all over the world—which was exciting because I got to find out the status of the nuclear industry around the world. Even though the conference was an all-day thing we had the nights free to go out with some of the people we had met and to get to know them better. One of the women I latched onto has invited me to visit and accompany her and her family to the beach just to have a good time.

There are no down sides to attending one of these conferences. It not only allows you to meet people within the industry but it also gives you a chance to really get to know some very interesting and fun people in general. I would recommend going to a national conference as a student, as it really helps gain perspective on what awaits you in the real world as opposed to just course work. It has been said it is all about who you know, and I am very happy to have met so many entertaining and down-to-earth women. Who knew so many existed in the industry?

Through the Eyes of a Novice by Eve Rowshanaee

It was about midterm time during the first summer session and my mind was trying to absorb the many formulas I needed to learn for my Calculus III exam. Studying is very hard to accomplish when your roommate is happily knitting in the corner—so I opted to check my email instead. There waiting for me in my inbox was a note from my advisor alerting the nuclear engineering department that the U.S. Women in Nuclear conference student sponsorship application deadline for student sponsorship had been extended. U.S. Women in Nuclear conference? What is this? As I looked further into it I knew that I had to fill out an application. There are other women in the nuclear field? I have to meet them! I figured if I went to the conference, I might learn about the industry a little, network a little, and hopefully make some contacts that might help me get an internship next summer. But it was so much more than that!

Being a sophomore majoring in nuclear engineering at North Carolina State University, I have had little experience with anything nuclear yet. I have seen the research reactor that is on campus (the Pulstar) and have been to a few American Nuclear Society (ANS) meetings, but other than that my contact has been limited. The idea of being with over 600 U.S. and Global WIN members, almost all being professionals and with a wealth of knowledge, was … daunting. That is why I was quite relieved when I found out about the mentor program. My mentor Elizabeth McAndrew-Benavides, an employee of NEI, was extremely helpful, providing me with lots of information about the industry and what WIN was all about. She introduced me to a lot of women working in the same aspects of the nuclear field that interest me, as well as explaining what the sessions were all about. I had no reason at all to be apprehensive.

After learning about the different activities at the conference, I was excited about the different breakout sessions. Even though I have yet to take a nuclear class, the sessions were very informative. I learned a lot about what can be done about radioactive waste, which is an area I want to look into. I was also glad to learn that U.S. WIN was hosting WiN Global this year. Hearing about what is happening in nuclear waste management, construction, and public opinion around the world opened my eyes to the field outside the United States.

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This conference was exactly what I needed to get me extra pumped about being in the nuclear industry. It made me aware of different nuclear areas I want to explore and gave me tremendous networking opportunities. I was introduced to a lot of key nuclear topics, met many influential women, and had a great night frolicking on the dinner cruise. I will not forget my experiences at this conference and hopefully will attend many more!

The Write Way to WIN by Courtney St. Peters

When Richiey Hayes, coordinator of the student and mentor program of the U.S. Women in Nuclear conference, asked if I would be interested in writing about my experience as a sponsored student at the 2009 Combined U.S. WIN and WiN Global Conference, I jumped at the chance. My mentor had recommended me for it because she knew I have a love of writing. I couldn’t wait to share my experiences as a sponsored student.

I arrived Monday morning at my hotel. My roommate had arrived a day earlier. I was a little nervous because I had no idea what my

roommate would be like. Needless to say, we got along great. Richiey did a good job of matching roommates. We met some other sponsored students and interns before going to the conference hotel for our first meeting with our mentors.

I was paired with Melinda Otte from Luminant Power. She had patiently answered all of my emails filled with countless questions before the conference. I think Richiey did a great job pairing us. Melinda was extremely helpful to me during the conference. She was able to answer all of my questions and gave me some great advice. I doubt I could ever thank her enough for all she did for me during that week. I just hope she realizes I’ll probably still be emailing her with questions while I work on finishing my degree.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect from the breakout sessions. I was worried I wouldn’t understand everything going on because I’m entering my junior year of college and have no real experience in the actual nuclear workforce. Luckily, all the sessions I attended were interesting and I gathered a lot of knowledge I could bring back to my university’s WIN chapter. These sessions opened my eyes to even more possible job opportunities. The speakers did a wonderful job of providing different perspectives on the various topics.

I was also fortunate enough to also attend the Capitol Outreach. I had previously attended the Washington delegation in March and was eager to go back to Capitol Hill. Since this was a combined U.S. WIN and WiN Global conference, some of the international participants came along to the Capitol. I was fortunate to be in a group with a few. It was interesting to hear the differences between their governmental systems and the American one.

Attending the conference was such an amazing experience. I was able to meet, interact, and gain information from people in the industry; people who started out very similarly to how I will. This conference has made me feel so excited to join the work force. I only hope that I can stay in contact with everyone I met and that someday, I’ll be mentoring a sponsored student at a WIN conference.

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Region I News

U.S. Women in Nuclear Conference Kicks Off With Record Numbers

More than 600 participants from 34 countries gathered in July for the combined U.S. Women in Nuclear (U.S. WIN) and Women in Nuclear Global (WiN Global) conference in Washington, D.C. The number of attendees is a record for the WIN conference.

Members arrived from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America for a week of informative sessions, tours and evening events.

Opening the conference, Cheryl Boggess, president of WiN Global,

spoke of the wide range of diversity in both organizations, encompassing women and men from all ages and backgrounds. She also told attendees of the need to reach out to the public by educating them on the many benefits of clean nuclear power.

“We’re all about education and information that’s factual and backed by our members,” Boggess said of the organizations.

Also welcoming attendees, Michael Kansler, president and chief nuclear officer of Entergy Operations, highlighted the importance of women in the industry. He also noted U.S. WIN’s and WiN Global’s effectiveness in “demonstrating how vital nuclear technologies are.”

The opening session presented goals for both organizations, ranging from increased leadership visibility, to the publication of key documents, to the direct participation of executives and board members.

10th Anniversary of U.S. Women in Nuclear

This year also marked the 10th anniversary of U.S. Women in Nuclear. The formation of US-WIN stems from a WiN Global held a meeting in Washington, D.C., in May 1999. During the meeting, U.S. attendees met and agreed to establish U.S. Women in Nuclear. The meeting was a result of the efforts of the Nuclear Energy Institute—the meeting’s sponsoring organization—nuclear industry executives, the WiN Global board and U.S. members of WiN Global.

In the decade since that meeting, U.S. WIN membership has grown to nearly 4,000 and is the premier network of nearly 4000 women and men

who work in nuclear- and radiation-related fields around the country.

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International Regulators Shared Goals of Safety, Security

A safe and secure nuclear industry is the primary goal of international regulators, four agency leaders told conference attendees.

Speaking at the conference, leaders of international regulatory agencies said that being committed to the goal of safety and security, regulators can help instill public confidence in the nuclear industry.

Isabel Mellado, the nuclear safety general director of the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council, highlighted the importance of safety cultures in regulatory agencies. With regulatory processes that are similar to the NRC’s, the council also continues to work toward regulating safety culture throughout its facilities.

Commissioner Kristine Svinicki of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that nuclear regulations are the “public’s business,” and the NRC strives to maintain a high level of public

accountability.

“We believe [nuclear regulation] should be transacted in a fair, predictable and open manner,” said Svinicki. “The public needs to be informed about our regulatory processes and to have the opportunity for meaningful intervention by participating in these regulatory processes under a framework that is prescribed, predictable and clearly understood by all parties.” The public also should insist that the agency communicate clearly about both the risk and benefits in the management of nuclear materials, she added.

In Canada, transparent decision making is crucial for industry regulation, said Michael Binder, president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. There is an inherent fear of nuclear technologies, and it is important to increase communication with the public to help overcome those fears, he said.

“Communicate, communicate, communicate,” Binder said. Those in the industry need to do better in talking about the benefits of nuclear energy to all stakeholders, he added.

Communication also extends to regulator-to-regulator relationships, the panelists said. Svinicki said she finds the relationships between established and emerging regulators are strong.

In establishing a regulatory agency in the United Arab Emirates, William Travers, director general of the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), said those international relationships are much relied on. Many goals of FANR count on expatriate help because the country’s infrastructure is under development, he said.

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Established agencies reviewed the proposed UAE’s nuclear law, he said. The law will establish FANR as an independent federal regulatory authority charged with regulation of all nuclear activities in the country. International review and input has been beneficial in the law’s development, Travers said, and he expects it to be passed soon.

The UAE also works with the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international safety instruments in evaluating the effectiveness of their regulatory system. Travers said the country also has or is in the process of establishing effective bilateral cooperation with governmental-level agencies in several “mature nuclear nations,” including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Korea and Japan.

Summarizing the goal of international regulators, Binder said that guarding against rare but possible accidents requires “eternal vigilance and a never-ending fight against complacency.”

Advocacy Efforts Encouraged

WIN members are in an industry that helps people tremendously, but it’s hard for people to understand why the nuclear industry is important if they do not understand its contribution, NEI President and CEO Marvin Fertel told attendees. Further encouraging outreach activities, he told attendees to “keep doing what you’re doing.” However, the continued safe, reliable operation of existing plants is vital to those outreach activities, Fertel said. Positive public opinion is high in the United States and continued public support and leadership are reliant on current operations. Complacency is perhaps the biggest threat to public perception and regulatory stability, he added. Ana Palacio, senior vice president of foreign relations for AREVA, said that public support in Europe is not as high as in the United States, despite having approximately 45 percent of the world’s installed capacity.

People need to realize the importance of the world’s “energy equation,” she said. Globalization has to be inclusive and sustainable, and there is no solution to these worldwide challenges that does not include energy, she said. “Nuclear is not the solution, but no solution can be without nuclear,” Palacio said.

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International Safeguards Stressed

Conference attendees heard from international leaders about the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards in securing nuclear materials and technology.

Eva Gayne, an inspector with IAEA, explained the principles and legal basis behind IAEA safeguards as well as inspector activities when in the field.

The IAEA’s challenge is to distribute nuclear technology while implementing safeguards, she said. An inspector throughout his or her verification activities will “trust but verify” all information, Gayne added.

Corey Hinderstein, director of international programs for the Nuclear Threat Initiative, said that there is an inherent responsibility to reduce the threat of material diversion in the nuclear industry.

“Vulnerable material anywhere is a threat to people everywhere,” said Hinderstein. A major diversion could significantly decrease public confidence.

Therefore, it is important, Hinderstein said, to identify safeguards challenges, act toward those challenges and also catalyze others to act.

Attendees Offered Opportunities to Sharpen Skills, Discuss Industry Issues

The week-long conference provided attendees many opportunities to improve professional skills and discuss industry issues.

Skills workshops covered a variety of topics including improving outreach efforts, obtaining leadership skills and meeting work force development challenges.

The conference broadened participants’ knowledge of industry issues through

breakout sessions with in-depth briefings on global approaches to the nuclear fuel cycle, developments in nuclear technologies and experience gained in reactor construction efforts around the world.

Some participants also had the opportunity to tour a nuclear power plant and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s operations center.

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Mother and Daughter in Nuclear

For those of us lucky enough to have a daughter, I doubt many have had the thrill I experienced when she chose to follow in my footsteps—and join the nuclear industry. Engineering was what Dad did and with both parents working at Indian Point, the nuclear field was something Caty took for granted, not something she aspired to. Caty was a gifted dancer from the age of three so that appeared to be a possible career path but in school, math was almost intuitive for her. She went to college and discovered the thrill of mechanical engineering, but it wasn't until she took a summer internship at Indian Point and attended the national WIN meetings that Caty found that the nuclear industry was where she belonged.

This year in Washington, she roomed with another student (thanks to the NEI sponsorship). She attended some breakouts with me, and for others we separated. My interests at this point in my career are more aligned with communication skills for community outreach while she is soaking in all the information on new construction, regulation and global nuclear development. Her experience with the Student Mentor Program has been extremely

rewarding. WIN has opened opportunities for her as a student that I am still encountering even after thirty years of familiarity with the industry.

We learned a lot and the social activities were fun but I think the event that was the most memorable to both of us was the cultural tour of Dupont Circle. We led a lovely group of ladies on an amazing tour of the Anderson House and around Embassy Row and made friends with Karin Rantamaki, a research scientist from Finland. Later in the week she introduced us to Käthe Sarparanta, her mother, and explained that they were also a "Mother and Daughter in Nuclear!"

Westinghouse Columbia WIN Sponsors Girls in Science Event

More than 100 middle school students and about 60 adults gathered for the 4th annual Girls in Science Day at the South Carolina State Museum on Friday, June 5. The event, sponsored jointly by Westinghouse, the Columbia Site’s Women in Nuclear (WIN) chapter and ETV, seeks to expose students at an early age to careers in engineering, technology and mathematics.

“One of the goals of WIN is to develop and implement community and educational outreach programs to inform the public about nuclear energy and nuclear technologies,” said Alicia Lemieux, Columbia Site WIN Chair. “We had a number of great volunteers who talked with the students about nuclear power and the role Westinghouse plays in fueling reactors here in South Carolina and around the world. It’s important for these students and their parents to know that Westinghouse is working hard in their community, helping to provide them with emission-free electricity.”

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Twelve representatives from WIN, as well as North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN) took turns sharing a presentation about electricity with the students. At the conclusion of the presentation, volunteers worked with the kids on a hands-on science experiment. The day’s activities also included various educational demonstrations, tours of the museum’s science and technology exhibits, and a career and information fair. Volunteers manned the Westinghouse booth to hand out Westinghouse souvenirs, answer questions about a model PWR fuel assembly and demonstrate an electric motor made from household items. Additionally, Columbia Site volunteers discussed jobs that incorporate science and math. “We encouraged them to continue to do well in school, to go to college and to be the best that they can be,” Lemieux said. “It was wonderful to hear students say that they loved math and science, and that they wanted to be engineers when they grow up. If we helped one student to find his or her path, the whole day was worth it.”

Westinghouse Columbia WIN Sponsors Girls in Science Event

More than 100 middle school students and about 60 adults gathered for the 4th annual Girls in Science Day at the South Carolina State Museum on Friday, June 5. The event, sponsored jointly by Westinghouse, the Columbia Site’s Women in Nuclear (WIN) chapter and ETV, seeks to expose students at an early age to careers in engineering, technology and mathematics.

“One of the goals of WIN is to develop and implement community and educational outreach programs to inform the public about nuclear energy and nuclear technologies,” said Alicia Lemieux, Columbia Site WIN Chair. “We had a number of great volunteers who talked with the students about nuclear power and the role Westinghouse plays in fueling reactors here in South Carolina and around the world. It’s important for these students and their parents to know that Westinghouse is working hard in their community, helping to provide them with emission-free electricity.”

Twelve representatives from WIN, as well as North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN) took turns sharing a presentation about electricity with the students. At the conclusion of the presentation, volunteers worked with the kids on a hands-on science experiment. The day’s activities also included various educational demonstrations, tours of the museum’s science and technology exhibits, and a career and information fair. Volunteers manned the Westinghouse booth to hand out Westinghouse souvenirs, answer questions about a model PWR fuel assembly and demonstrate an electric motor made from household items. Additionally, Columbia Site volunteers discussed jobs that incorporate science and math. “We encouraged them to continue to do well in school, to go to college and to be the best that they can be,” Lemieux said. “It was wonderful to hear students say that they loved math and science, and that they wanted to be engineers when they grow up. If we helped one student to find his or her path, the whole day was worth it.”

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Region II News Duke Energy WIN Chapter Horsin’ Around in North Carolina

Twenty-two volunteers from the McGuire Nuclear Station WIN chapter participated in Duke Energy’s 2009 Global Service Event (GSE). Each year during GSE, which runs from May 1st thru June 30th, Duke Energy employees and their families work with local non-profit organizations to complete service projects. Duke Energy employees can also apply for grants to fund these projects through the Duke Energy Foundation. This year

alone, Duke Energy volunteers performed more than 440 volunteer projects across their service territory. Also, the Duke Energy Foundation provided approximately $84,000 in volunteer grants to support these efforts.

McGuire’s WIN chapter worked with Calicos Haven in Huntersville, N.C., during this year’s GSE. Calicos Haven is a non-profit organization that provides equine-assisted psychotherapy to the public, including at-risk youth. The volunteers were able to obtain $2,000 in grant money from the Duke Energy Foundation to buy materials for two open-air horse shelters. The volunteers worked on two separate days assembling the shelters and a roundpen. They also cleaned out pastures, repaired wood board fencing, pulled weeds in the arenas, wiped down white poly fencing, and gave the therapy horses baths. It was a very rewarding experience for both the chapter and Calicos Haven.

Helping Soldiers Stay Connected with Their Families

More than 150,00 troops are serving overseas and away from their families. During the month of July the McGuire Nuclear Station (MNS) WIN chapter proudly organized a used cell phone collection drive to help our soldiers stay connected to their families. With the goal of generating funds to afford U.S. soldiers the means to call home free of charge, MNS had three on-site drop-off locations enabling employees and the surrounding community to make donations. Phones collected were delivered to Cell Phones for Soldiers, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization that sells them to a recycling company.

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Money raise from the sale is used to purchase prepaid calling cards. Each donated phone provides an hour of talk time for soldiers to connect with their families. It is so important for our brave service men and women, who risk their lives to keep us safe, to be able to connect with their loved ones back home. We are proud to have been a promoter of this efforts. With the help of MNS employees, members of the community and the Toddville Operations Center, we collected over 200 used cell phones along with numerous accessories. The McGuire WIN chapter is grateful to those motivated to give to such a worthy cause.

Westinghouse Columbia

Last month, twelve Columbia Site Women in Nuclear (WIN) members traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the annual U.S. WIN national conference, “Enhancing Our World Through Nuclear Technology.”

“This year’s WIN conference was unique because it was a combination of the national and global organizations,” said Alicia Lemieux, Columbia Site WIN chair. “Hundreds of nuclear professionals came together in our nation’s capital and sent a strong message to our leaders about the importance of nuclear as a critical piece of the energy mix. We networked with utility customers, discussed existing and emerging technologies, and were advocates for nuclear on Capitol Hill. It’s important for Westinghouse to have a presence at these meetings to show our commitment to our industry’s success.”

More than 600 women and men from 34 countries—50 of which represented Westinghouse— participated in sessions such as:

• Global perspectives on nuclear technology provided by Entergy, NEI, Exelon and AREVA: This session included the Department of Energy’s assertion that the U.S. needs 250 or more base load plants by 2030. It also included a discussion of the difficulties utilities face in choosing which technology to build when there is so much uncertainty in government loans and support.

• Communicating nuclear issues with opinion makers: Representatives from Entergy, European Atomic Forum and Prime PR discussed how clean-air energy is reliable and plays a vital role in a diverse energy portfolio.

• They also stressed the importance of encouraging opinion makers while providing them accurate and appropriate information.

• Focus on performance: Representatives from Constellation, South Texas Project, EdF and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations discussed the qualities of an excellent plant. These qualities include an aggressive approach and response to issues, the ability to embrace critical feedback, working directly on problems, having effective corrective actions and an urgency to improve. It was noted that the key elements to sustaining plant excellence are providing the right leadership and priorities; investing in and maintaining equipment; finding and fixing problems; and developing human capital.

• Frontiers in nuclear research: Kate Jackson, Westinghouse senior vice president and chief technology officer of strategy and research, led this session. She outlined the research Westinghouse is involved in and spoke about small-to-medium reactors for countries with limited nuclear experience or low energy growth demands. Jackson also discussed the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR).

Additionally, Columbia Site WIN representatives visited the offices of our elected officials to promote nuclear energy and to encourage the effective implementation of the federal loan guarantee program.

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The WIN conference included a tour of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Operations Center, as well as tours of Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station and the Three Mile Island Generating Station.

“Visiting Three Mile Island Unit 2 was a grim reminder of how equipment failure and human error permanently changed the nuclear industry,” Dianne Marshall said. “The disaster could have been avoided if human performance tools were used. Even though it didn’t lead to immediate deaths or injuries to plant workers or members of the nearby community, the TMI accident had a devastating impact on the nuclear power industry forever.”

AREVA Lynchburg

The 2008/2009 end-of-year social for the Lynchburg Chapter of Women in Nuclear (WIN-LC) was held on May 26, 2009, at Acorn Hill in Lynchburg, Virginia. Approximately 35 people were in attendance. George Beam, Chief Operating Officer of AREVA and AREVA Corporate Sponsor of WIN-LC, ad-dressed the group. George highlighted many of the major events of the nu-clear industry from the early 1980’s, when George himself started his career as a reactor engineer at the Oconee Nuclear Station, up to the present day, which holds

the promise of the rebirth of nuclear energy here in the U.S. as well as abroad. George referred to himself as the “Forrest Gump of Nuclear Power,” a term which perfectly describes George’s well-rounded career, longevity and commitment to this vital industry.

The 2008/2009 session of WIN-LC marked the first year of the group’s scholarship program. A $1,000 scholarship was awarded to Ms. Danielle Montalbano, a graduating senior of Brookville High School who plans to major in either Environmental or Civil Engineering with the hopes of a career in the nuclear industry. Danielle and her parents, Dana and Victor, were present to receive the scholarship, which was also awarded on May 29 at the senior assembly at Brookville High School. Our best wishes are extended to Ms. Montalbano as she begins her college education at Central Virginia Community College with a planned transfer to Virginia Tech.

Cathy Woody, the 2008/2009 chapter president, thanked Tina Snyder and Amy Napior for their efforts toward making the WIN-LC newsletter a success. Cathy also announced the upcoming officer election to be conducted this summer and urged members to attend the WIN-US and Global conference to be held July 20-24 in Washington, DC. This conference offers a unique opportunity for members as it provides an opportunity to meet and network with members from both the U.S. and abroad.

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Brandy Rector gave an update on recruitment efforts, highlighting some planned activities for the upcoming year. Peggy Hobbs reported that a WIN-LC website will be a planned activity for the 2009/2010 session. Wanda Brooks-Crocker presented awards and recognition to the 2008/2009 slate of officers, the corporate and executive sponsors at AREVA and Babcock & Wilcox, and the 2008/2009 scholarship program participants. Committee chairs are sought for other committees, including Activities and Professional Development, Public Outreach/Speaker’s Bureau, and Mentoring. Etta Ash-well gave the final 2008/2009 treasurer’s report and announced that the budget process for 2009/2010 is underway.

After the business meeting, the social began with delicious food supplied by Mary Anne Kerr and mini spa treatments offered by staff members from The Spa and Salon at Acorn Hill. Drawings for door prizes rounded out the evening.

AREVA and Duke WIN Groups Team Up

AREVA WIN Charlotte Chapter is a new chapter and it has been established since November 2008. To boost their membership and to have an opportunity to network with other local chapters, a WIN AREVA Charlotte and Duke social event was planned. On Thursday evening, June 11 at 5:30, the WIN AREVA and WIN Duke chapters met at Hickory Tavern for a joint social event. The gathering was a wonderful professional development opportunity for our local WIN community to get together and get to know one another. Everyone had a great time, and future joint events are expected.

The social meeting really gave AREVA WIN the opportunity to find out what a more experienced chapter does. One of the Duke members is even on the national board and was able to give us much insight into the logistics of WIN on a national basis.

It was very exciting to find out that most of those who attended were going to be able to meet again at the WIN Global conference in late July.

Overall, the joint social event was a great success and was a wonderful opportunity to bring two local chapters together.

Nuclear engineering program prepares future researchers

An Oak Ridge National Laboratory program for nuclear engineering students is helping provide the workforce to produce carbon-free nuclear power for the future.

Students like Nikki Sheppard, a senior at North Carolina State, are taking advantage of the Nuclear Engineering Science Laboratory Synthesis program, which has grown from two to 50 students since 2002.

"I chose to study nuclear engineering at Oak Ridge because of its focus on research," Sheppard said. "Also, ORNL exposes you to a variety of opportunities compared to another internship I participated in where there was little diversity."

Bernadette Kirk, Nuclear Science and Technology Division, and Hamilton Hunter, Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, initiated the program seven years ago to help boost the declining number of students in nuclear engineering programs.

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"The NESLS program aims to bring in student interns so they can get some research experience," Kirk said. "As nuclear engineers begin to retire, we want and need to fill those empty spots with a new generation of qualified professionals."

Kirk said some energy analysts expect an increase in U.S. nuclear power generation, creating good job prospects for students graduating with a nuclear engineering degree. Industry estimates cite about 8,000 nuclear engineers currently working at the 104 U.S. nuclear power plants. Doubling the number of reactors to 200 by 2050 would require 21,500 engineers with nuclear training.

Even without that many new plants being built, the aging nuclear energy workforce will soon retire, leaving job openings for incoming nuclear engineers, Kirk said. Although new plants aren't under construction in the U.S., several licenses are being renewed.

Julie Ezold, also of the Nuclear Science and Technology Division and an NESLS mentor, said the intern program plays a significant role in training tomorrow's nuclear engineers. Last year, ORNL hired four nuclear engineers who had participated in the program.

"Nuclear power has to be part of the mix," Ezold said. "Currently, U.S. nuclear power plants make up 20 percent of the electrical capacity. We want our interns to actually work on research projects that could advance this significant portion of the energy sector."

UT-Battelle manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Department of Energy.

Region IV News

Nuclear Jobs Attract Nontraditional Trainees

Jeanette Smith was a casualty of the economic recession. After being laid off in 2008, the 47-year-old single mother had a hard time finding work and making ends meet.

“I cannot live off of unemployment. There’s no way to get ahead,” she said. With a bachelor’s degree already under her belt, Smith felt her best alternative was to make herself more marketable—and that meant going back to school.

Smith researched the possibilities. What she wanted was a career that paid well, needed workers and would not require her to relocate. She found an industry with tremendous growth potential—the nuclear industry.

Now majoring in energy systems instrumentation and controls engineering technology at Idaho State University, Smith meets recruiters on a regular basis. “Jobs are coming to us,” she said. “That just amazes me because this is what I thought college would be like all along.”

Smith has not been the only one to experience the nuclear industry’s growth. According to a survey conducted by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), the number of bachelor’s degrees

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awarded in nuclear engineering rose by 10 percent last year and was the highest recorded in 20 years. Master’s degrees in the field increased by 15 percent, and doctorate-level degrees were up 43 percent.

“The promise of an imminent nuclear renaissance has undoubtedly helped to drive increasing graduation and enrollment rates in nuclear engineering,” said Eric Abelquist, a vice president of Oak Ridge Associated Universities, in a statement released by ORISE. “Nuclear power is a vital component to our country’s energy mix and has found renewed favor. Construction of nuclear plants requires thousands of workers, and when the plants are built, several hundred persons are needed to operate them.”

In addition to the planned expansion, the nuclear industry also has been preparing for an exodus of workers—approximately half of the industry’s work force will be eligible to retire during the next 10 years. The plans for industry growth and the expected attrition of such a large portion of the total work force have prompted an unprecedented recruitment effort throughout the industry.

Carol Berrigan, NEI’s senior director of industry infrastructure, said the industry continues to work with government, educational and other organizations to address its work force needs and is implementing specific policies and programs to develop the future nuclear work force.

For example, in addition to targeting nontraditional labor pools, the industry has fostered development of curricula and educational programs and deployed staff as instructors at community colleges.

“Overall, the industry has been working to identify and fill the growing generation gap among its workers, and those efforts are paying off,” Berrigan said. “Early analyses have shown the programs are working and that more engineers and support staff are entering the field each year.”

For Smith, the move has not been easy, but it has been rewarding. “Things have been falling into place since I made this decision,” she said. “This is going to offer me and my daughter a real living.”

An Enthusiastic Experience: A Male Perspective of the 2009 U.S. WIN and Global WiN Conference by Earl McAlpine

If I could choose just one word to describe the Region IV and U.S./Global WIN conference, it would be enthusiasm. The atmosphere was alive with positive vibrations from women (and a few men) that love what they do and are happy to share what they know with anyone who will stand still and listen. This was a very positive experience for me as I spoke to young I&C technicians and WIN members willing to share their opinions and experience with a guy who’s been in the business for years.

The weekend was off to a running start with the Region IV conference. The first morning we boarded the bus and headed to the headquarters of Dominion. As we entered the offices we were greeted by the CEO of the company. Although we are not in his region, I am impressed by the fact that he was willing to sponsor our group and open his plants for us to tour. We had the opportunity to learn about some of the programs Dominion has in place. Among them are the training methods they use, and their philanthropy program. Again, I was impressed with the enthusiasm presented by the group at Dominion. We were taken upstairs and shown their bragging hall, which has hanging banners from each of their plants with the INPO 1 status and year each plant carried the distinction. I was fully aware of the fact that we had no such bragging rights at SONGS and nothing comparable to show off to guests who visit us.

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When we moved on after lunch to visit the Surrey Power Station, I was very impressed with their learning center, which is set up to help the general public understand where electricity comes from and how it is delivered to their door. There are also exhibits for kids to learn about electricity and the environment. What really impressed me though, was the tour of the plant and seeing how different things look there compared to SONGS. The plant was clean with no personnel working on projects that seemed to have been staged for ages, no contractors (only during outages), no construction, and no maintenance tags hanging throughout the control room and the plant signifying just how many things are broken. The plant operates with approximately 900 personnel. Although they are not on the coast and don’t have the same issues with corrosion we do here at SONGS, the white paint they used throughout the plant and turbine deck, made the plant look infinitely cleaner and brighter than ours. I could also feel the pride and employee morale there, just another thing missing from SONGS. If I could have bottled the vibes I felt there and transplanted them to SONGS, I would have loved to have done it. It would be nice to see that kind of enthusiasm, pride and morale here among my co-workers.

During the U.S. WIN conference, I had the pleasure of visiting the North Anna plant, also owned by Dominion. I was happy to see the American flags lining the driveways throughout the plant. Upon questioning, I found they had done a fund raiser to support the troops by selling the flags in honor of a loved one and using the funds to send boxes to troops related to employees who were stationed in “the sand box”. I know Robin and I would love to do this here. With a son in the Navy, who is heading to Afghanistan, it would be wonderful to show him that the company we work for appreciates his service to our country. It would also be an awesome way to work with Camp Pendleton in showing our appreciation for our neighbors and the service they provide so we can continue to enjoy our freedoms.

The North Anna Station mirrored my findings from Surrey. If we could only pass the pride and enthusiasm among our team here at SONGS, we would be head-and-shoulders above where we are now, and well on our way to returning SONGS to excellence and an INPO 1 rating. Another thing that impressed me was the control room simulator. Although I understand we have one here at SONGS, I have never had the opportunity to see it. It was very informative to see a sequence run and get an idea of what the operators train for. I think it would be great if the SONGS “general population” could have the same experience.

The session I found most fascinating during the conference was the “Enrichment and Conversion Technologies” breakout session. I was dumbfounded by my lack of knowledge of uranium enrichment techniques, especially in the separation of uranium by bonding it with fluorine gas and sending it through gas centrifuges to separate the U235 from the U238. A new plant in the U.S. that will use this process is being built in New Mexico, and will be operational soon.

Overall, the WIN conference was invigorating and created in me a renewed sense of urgency to get SONGS returned to excellence and an INPO 1 rating. I appreciate the opportunity to experience the camaraderie of my co-workers in the industry and the chance to learn some of the new and exciting things ahead for the nuclear power industry.

This and That

Latrícia Vaughn at the Missouri University (MIZZOU) in Columbia collaborated with Region IV board members Janese Neher and Vivian Wagnon to choose a clothing line for the region. Latrícia met with Kammie Teter, owner of White Dog Promotions (whitedogpromos.com) in Columbia, who recommended styles from her online catalog that she will embroider with our WIN Region IV logo. As another option, we can also have our plant name embroidered in the logo. The link button to the PDF catalog and order form is on the front page of WIN Region IV near the bottom. Happy shopping!

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STPNOC WIN Scholarship Banquet and Member Meeting

Thursday, June 18, 2009 STPNOC WIN held their third annual scholarship banquet and members meeting at the Bay City Convention Center. STPNOC WIN Scholarship winners and their families were invited to attend this celebration. WIN begin the evening with a meet-and-mingle, followed by a fantastic dinner. The meeting began with the Presentation of the Colors performed by local Boy and Cub Scouts, children of WIN Members. The 2009 STPNOC WIN Scholarship winners were then announced and included Haley Ann

Hubenak, daughter of WIN member Russell Hubenak; Rebecca Kristin Page, daughter of WIN member Mark Page; Nolan Ney Oldham, son of WIN member Cheryl Glover; Sophie Hsaio-chi Huang (not pictured), daughter of WIN Member Shih-Fang Huang; and Lori Bumguardner (not pictured), POWERSET mentee of WIN member and POWERSET mentor Laura Brieden. (POWERSET stands for Powerful Opportunities for Women Eager and Ready for Science, Engineering and Technology.) STPNOC WIN provides mentors for young women participating in this local Palacios High School program and the mentees were the only non-WIN dependents allowed to apply for a WIN Scholarship. STPNOC awarded $6,000 in scholarships in 2009, $4,000 of which was raised through various fundraisers sponsored by the STPNOC WIN Scholarship Committee. After recognition of the WIN Scholarship winners, local Palacios Mayor Joe Morton and STPNOC President and Chief Nuclear Officer Joe Sheppard gave inspirational speeches enjoyed by all in attendance. STPNOC WIN President, Debbie Towler, concluded the meeting by congratulating the scholarship winners and thanking the presenters, the WIN members in attendance, and the WIN members responsible for this wonderful event.

STP Nuclear Operating company WIN Chapter news

The STPNOC WIN Scholarship Committee held a “Back to School” raffle in June, 2009. WIN members enthusiastically volunteered to sell the tickets. Some of the items in the raffle included a dorm-size refrigerator, towels, personal items, sheets and bedding items, an iron, flash drives, alarm clock, laundry detergent, etc…

We successfully raised $1,700 towards our 2010 scholarship fund. The big winner was Bill O’ Mallan.

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WIN Region IV Board of Directors Host First Annual Conference

The first WIN Region IV conference, “Power On—Re-Energizing Altruism, Leadership and Mentoring,” was held in Washington, D.C., on January 17-20, 2009, prior to the US-Global WIN Conference. There were 50 members in attendance (see attached photo). This 3-day event was sponsored by Ameren UE-Callaway Plant and the WIN Region IV Board of Directors. The conference program and printing was sponsored by Luminant Power‘s Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant.

It was a power-packed conference, with the first day beginning at 7:00 a.m. with a bus trip to Dominion Power’s Leadership Academy. Lectures on the bus began by Amanda Reed, president of “Chews To Be Healthy,” who spoke on choices to become more physically, spiritually and mentally healthy. In addition, Ms. Reed led morning walk/runs during the conference and kept attendees energized after breaks throughout the conference. In addition, a healthy breakfast was provided to us by Ms. Reed for our consideration for future food planning. Other presentations were: Changes in You Through Journaling by Janese Neher of the Callaway plant; Leadership and Mentoring our Youth by Vivian Wagnon of the South Texas Project; Mentoring by Peggy Henderson of Comanche Peak; Shannon Stacy (MSTU) on the interfacing with the new generation; Marjorie Grier of APS who spoke on the success of their benefits program; and many more excellent presentations.

Upon arrival at Dominion Power, CEO Dave Christian welcomed WIN Region IV to his Leadership Academy. Leslie Hartz, vice president of Nuclear Support Services, Marjorie Grier, director of corporate philanthropy and vice president of Dominion Foundation, and Carol Loubier, supervisor of Dominion’s leadership development spoke to the WIN group on Altruism, Leadership and Mentoring. These leaders at Dominion encouraged WIN’s altruistic outreach to further leadership and mentoring skills throughout the journey. The day ended with a bus trip to Surry Nuclear Plant, one of Dominion’s INPO 1 plants and one of the best maintained plants in the industry. The day ended with a dinner in Williamsburg and a “ghost walk.”

Day 2 of the conference began with keynote speaker Steve Trautman, author of Teach What you Know, a practical leaders guide to knowledge transfer. Steve discussed mentoring and leadership with practical examples to implement. Other keynote addresses were made by Adam Heflin, senior VP and CNO of AmerenUE’s Callaway Plant; Rafael Flores, senior VP and CNO of Luminant Power’s Comanche Peak on the culture of leadership at nuclear facilities; and Sudesh Gambhir, vice president of Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Plant on diversity. A question-and-answer session with these nuclear industry leaders was held after their presentations.

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The luncheon keynote address was made by Carol Berrigan, senior director of industry infrastructure of NEI. Carol discussed her life story and how the influences of other individuals helped her achieve successes throughout her journey in nuclear.

Several awards were presented after lunch by the WIN Region IV Board of Directors. These included four “2009 People of the Year Awards” for outstanding service and WIN support. Award winners were: Adam Heflin, CNO Callaway Plant and sponsor of the Region IV WIN Board; Fadi Diya, vice president of Callaway Plant and executive sponsor of the Region IV WIN Board and sponsor of the Region IV conference; David Christian, CEO of Dominion Power and sponsor of Day 1 of the Region IV Conference, and Carol Berrigan, NEI senior director and manager of US Women in Nuclear. These outstanding individuals have achieved executive positions in nuclear by their dedication to altruism, leadership and mentoring. All of these individuals have supported and promoted women in leadership roles in nuclear, and for these individuals, WIN Region IV members are forever grateful.

In addition, the WIN Region IV “2009 Leadership Awards” were presented to Vivian Wagnon, whose continued dedication to WIN Region IV was being recognized by all of the WIN membership—and for her efforts in website development and communications. Luminant Power’s Peggy Henderson, who coordinated the Region IV conference and chaired the Region IV mentoring committee; and the University of Missouri’s Dr. Mark Prelas, who sponsored the WIN Region IV website and chaired the Region IV educational committee also received Leadership Awards for their efforts and support for the advancement and education of women and men, particularly in Region IV.

The afternoon included speakers on the NRC litigation and hearing processes by Morgan Lewis Consultants attorneys Ester K. Park and Janet Ecker. Other presenters were: Leslie Compton Kass of NEI on the future of the nuclear industry over the next 10 years; Pauline Alten and Robin McAlpine of SONGS on how to start and build membership; and Alvesa Martinez on women as security officers in nuclear power plants. The evening ended with a bus trip to a winery where dinner and grape stomping led to a relaxing ride home.

The last day of the conference included a Region IV business meeting led by WIN Region IV’s chairman Janese Neher from the Callaway Plant on the new goals, objectives and projects for 2009-2010. The WIN Website was discussed by Vivian Wagnon, STP and the US Win Steering Committee was discussed by Melinda Otte of Luminant. The future mentoring and exchange program was discussed by Debbie Towler, QA Manager of STP, and each WIN Chapter in Region IV made a presentation on one of their more successful projects during the 2008-2009 year.

A walking tour of Washington, D.C., and a cultural reception held by U.S. WIN ended the day and the conference.

This year’s conference committee was composed of Janese Neher and Peggy Henderson, Melinda Otte and Peggy Henderson, Vivian Wagnon Veera Gutti Pauline Alten, Robin McApine, Earl McApine, and Shannon Stacey.

It was one of the greatest bonding experiences and networking activities for regional members. Next year’s conference is hosted by SONGS and is one that no one wants to miss.

August 2009 29

Energy Northwest WIN Chapter News

• The Energy Northwest Chapter of Women in Nuclear (WIN) has hosted two of several lecture series. The first lecture featured Kathy Vaughn, Snohomish County PUD Commissioner and Assistant Secretary to Energy Northwest's Executive Board. Kathy discussed her career as a PUD Commissioner and the challenges and obstacles she faced.

• The second lecture featured Faith Martin, lead singer of The Shades (a local band), and former KNDU morning news anchor/reporter, who spoke on professional development and maintaining work-life balance. Faith discussed her career and challenges in life. (see attached photo).

• The next lecture series is scheduled in January and will host Energy Northwest's CEO, Vic Parrish, and vice president for operational support Dale Atkinson. Mr. Parrish and Mr. Atkinson will speak on the future of nuclear power.

• The chapter will be participating in the Expanding Your Horizons conference in March. Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics™ conferences nurture girls' interest in science and math courses and encourages them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.