Where are they now? Y-12’s previous 40 Under 40 winners

  • Posted: Tuesday, August 11, 2020, 2:20 pm
Y-12's 40 Under 40

Y-12 has always attracted top professionals. Evidence of that can be found on the lists of names of the annual tribute to the best and brightest among the under 40 age group, Knox.biz’s coveted 40 Under 40 award. The award, going into its 14th year, recognizes individuals, younger than 40, who are making an impact on the Knoxville area through their professional, philanthropic, and civic efforts. Recently, we caught up with four Y-12 employees who made the list: Ashley Stowe (2014), Cary Langham (2016), Reed Mullins (2017), and Katie Roberts (2018).

Ashley Stowe

Ashley Stowe
What are you doing now? Senior Manager, Engineering Technical Operations; Fellows Program Manager; Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program Manager. I am building relationships with area universities to create critical skills pipelines for both Y 12 and Pantex and providing mentoring to early career technical staff wherever possible. I am also leading Mission Engineering cost savings efforts as well as managing the organizational overhead budget.

How did making the list impact you professionally and/or personally? I strive to do the right thing every time, in any situation. It was nice to know that people noticed my hard work at Y 12, on campus, and within the community.

Any other thoughts about the list? The Knoxville 40 under 40 list is an excellent recognition for an individual’s impact on East Tennessee professionally as well as in the community.

Cary Langham

Cary Langham
What are you doing now? Director, Cost Savings Reinvestment for CNS enterprise. I manage the reinvesting of our cost savings into infrastructure, new technology, and quality of life projects, such as breakrooms, restrooms, office areas, and locker rooms.

How did making the list impact you professionally and/or personally? Making the list really helped highlight some of the important work that is critical to our country’s national security that I was able to play a major role in. This list brought exposure to my technical and leadership expertise, which created more professional opportunities for me. Making this list also revealed a larger networking group that I had no idea existed.

Any other thoughts about the list? Making this list brings instant credibility to you and your professional abilities. Being recognized as one of the top professional talents in the City of Knoxville is a huge deal that I don’t take for granted, and this is why I try to do my best to live up to that expectation.

Reed Mullins

Reed Mullins
What are you doing now? Senior Director of Production Operations

How did making the list impact you professionally and/or personally? On a personal level, I met people that I would not have otherwise and got more involved in new organizations outside of work. I have a passion for education and the next generation of employees at Y 12. My involvement in these areas has grown as a result of being a 40 under 40 honoree and having the opportunity to discuss these topics with others.

Any other thoughts about the list? I didn’t start out with a goal of being on this list, but with a goal of helping my community and adding value for Y 12 on a daily basis. It was humbling to be recognized in this way.

Katie Roberts

Katie Roberts
What are you doing now? I recently transitioned to Y-12 Production as a senior technical advisor working for a fellow winner, Reed Mullins.

How did making the list impact you professionally and/or personally? I don’t talk about work outside of [the boundary of Y-12], so this was the first time my friends and family got to hear about my work and understand what I do. It was fun to share that experience with them. Also it was nice to get a congrats from folks throughout the plant. After eight years on-site, you sometimes forget how many people you’ve worked with over the years. It was nice to reconnect with those folks.

Any other thoughts about the list? It was exciting to see the energy the honorees had towards making a difference. I was honored to share the stage with them.