Y-12er Spotlight: Stacy P., Construction laborer
The Y-12er spotlight shines on one of our own, Stacy P., Y-12 Construction laborer. It takes all Y-12 employees to make the mission happen successfully and safely. All views and opinions are the employee’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of CNS.
Stacy P. has had many roles in her life: teacher, mother, nurse assistant, and construction laborer. She started her construction career with UCOR at the former K‑25 plant (East Tennessee Technology Park) in Oak Ridge before coming to Y‑12, where she has supported construction work alongside other classifications of construction craft employees for 7 years. She readily shares the lessons she’s learned with her coworkers.
“I’m here to help my team, and I like to look after them,” she said. “I often remind them to ‘think about that’ before they make a final decision.”
Stacy’s advice to “think about that” is her way of reminding coworkers to press pause before jumping immediately into action. She thinks of the team she works with as her family, and for her, a family works in sync, understanding one another’s strengths and weaknesses. She brings experience with situations where quick decisions can have lasting impacts to her current role.
“Stepping back provides a chance to think through the what‑ifs, the ‘plan B,’ and the potential consequences, because everything changes, sometimes minute‑by‑minute, on a Construction job. No one can settle into a routine,” she said.
Stacy emphasized that on a construction site, even if the jobs look the same, every day is slightly different than the day before. Routine tasks could turn into serious situations at any time based on even the slightest variable. Active communication is key to ensuring a workday goes smoothly.
“We all have to be on the same page,” she said. “If not, something could be unsafe and the job could be shut down, or worse, someone could get hurt. We all are responsible for holding space for each other and working to ensure the job is done the right way, every time.”
What is your favorite aspect of your work environment?
The feeling of making a positive impact through our work; the opportunity to learn new skills and grow professionally; and having a supportive and collaborative team.
What value, principle, or pillar of the CNS mission success model drives you to be successful?
I like being recognized for my skill and talent. I appreciate that a significant project could be assigned to you unexpectedly based on your potential and current skills rather than on your job title and current role.
What work advice would you offer to someone who is new at Y‑12?
Be open and honest. Speak your mind, share ideas, and ask questions no matter what. Standing up and speaking out is hard, but important. What you think and share out loud could make the job safer or easier for you or someone else. Never be quiet, settle, or get complacent. Communicate everything to make sure everyone is on the same page before you start work.
Who in your life has inspired you most and why?
My family has inspired me. They always have my back and provide encouragement. They provide an extra push when I need motivation. At work, I do the same thing for my team, pushing them to improve, having their backs, and giving encouragement.
What’s an example of how teamwork has helped you in your current role?
I encourage my team to speak up, but I also remind them to try to leave hard feelings outside the blue line. Open and honest feedback lets a team know they can speak comfortably with each other. Hard feelings shut teams down. We have a job to do, and good communication helps us all get home safe.