The Y-12er spotlight shines on one of our own. 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.
Michelle H. brings a runner’s mindset to Project Management. Photo by Jordan Ray.
You’d be hard-pressed to find Project Manager Michelle H. lounging around on a weekend. Michelle is an avid hiker and runner. She has completed a trail run across the Grand Canyon from rim to rim and back again, and recently took up longer distance running, even entering a few ultra-running races, which are often all-day endurance tests.
“Running helps filter out what was stressful during the day, and that perspective helps reset the next day,” she said.
Michelle brings a runner’s mindset to Project Management, where she works in the group of projects called the stockpile portfolio.
“While on a project, it’s easy to feel like you’re taking one step forward and three steps backward. For me, running builds a perspective and attitude of ‘we’re going to get through this’ that I bring to each project,” she said.
Michelle started her career in civil engineering outside Y-12. Early in her career at Y-12, she worked on the UPF Project by developing the original site planning package. After taking a few years off to be with her kids, she returned to Y-12 determined to lean into the mission and found herself loaned out as a project engineer.
She loved that role, but was ready for the challenge being a project manager would bring.
“I want to leverage my experience in the private sector and different roles at Y-12 to make sure we’re doing things the most efficient way that makes sense for the work, not the way they’ve always been done,” she said.
Give an example of a time when teamwork has helped you in your role.
The first project I was assigned in this role faced a lot of technical, schedule, and supply chain challenges. To help meet a tight deadline, there were a lot of moments of quick thinking and changes of plan. In the grand scheme of things, this was a tiny bit of work, but it was a big undertaking because it takes so many people and so much coordination to meet dates and goals. Many different organizations came together to make this successful and to complete the objective for the project on time.
Can you share an example of when communication helped ensure the success of a project or a task?
Another of my projects inside a high-security area encountered technical, cybersecurity challenges. Regular communication between myself, the cybersecurity organization, and the project team was critical to identifying and resolving issues in a timely manner to ensure mission success.
We can often become overwhelmed at a work situation. Why is it important to remove yourself from a stressful situation? What advice do you offer to relax and decompress?
It is important to regulate emotions and stress from life and work so I can make better decisions. For me, the best way to relax and decompress is with exercise. LiveWise race signup links helped me find trail running, which is my favorite way to decompress. Through the week, I run probably 3–4 days. Running gives me a chance to “sleep on it” as the saying goes, but instead I’m “running on it.” For an hour, I can’t think about anything that bothers me; I’m in the here and now.
Who in your life has inspired you and influenced your work, and why?
My dad for sure. I lost him 11 years ago, but the way he lived his life was an inspiration. He was diagnosed with a slow progression debilitating condition 20 years before he passed away. He made the most of life every day, and although he had many health challenges that came along, he seldom complained and always had a positive attitude while coming up with innovative ways to make the most of any situation. He showed me what perseverance and gratitude mean, which are qualities I hold dear and that I try to emulate in all my experiences, whether at home or work.