Y-12er Spotlight: Megan S., Construction Trainer
Construction Trainer Megan S. shares her thoughts on teamwork as part of a series of Y‑12 stories highlighting our Construction team. Photo by Matthew Hawkins.
The Y‑12er spotlight shines on one of our own, Megan S., Y‑12 Construction Trainer. 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.
Megan S. enjoyed school so much that she wanted to find a way to bring teaching to her day job. While her path landed her as a laborer at Y‑12, Megan imagined how she would share her knowledge and inspire others the way her instructors inspired her.
“The teachers that I had encouraged me to be my best, and I always wanted to give the same,” she said.
That dream became a reality for her when she became a Construction trainer at Y‑12, providing training that the Construction team needs for field work.
“Now I train people with the knowledge that I have and have the opportunity to teach and encourage people to be their best the same way I was taught,” she said.
Megan teaches qualification requirements on Mondays and manages dress‑outs (a practice run of what employees would encounter in a radiological area) on Tuesdays through Thursdays. She also schedules classes, inputs key data, completes documentation checklists, and more to ensure employees receive the training and credits needed to perform daily tasks. Additionally, she manages the computer lab and runs reports for craft and subcontractors. Her favorite part of the job, though, is interacting with the on‑site team.
“I love talking to people, meeting new people, and just getting to know someone’s background and how they got here,” she said.
What stands out to you about Y‑12?
This place is like a little town; there’s so much opportunity at this place — a lot of opportunities to grow and better yourself.
What has surprised you during your time at Y‑12?
One thing that has surprised me at Y‑12 is there is never a day that goes by that you don’t learn something new. You truly learn new things every single day!
What is one thing your coworkers would be surprised to know about you?
The one thing my coworkers would be surprised to know is my family owns Wartburg Speedway. We have owned it for 7 – 8 years now, but racing has always been in my family, about 26 years. My father has raced for as long as I’ve lived, street stock and late model. My dad and I would tear motors apart, wash the race cars, and then he would have me WD‑40 the whole car to make it “shiny.”
Who in your life has inspired you the most and why?
The person who has inspired me the most is my mother. She taught me to be a hard worker and to never depend on anyone. She has always told me if I put my mind to something, to go full force. She had lung cancer when I was a freshman in high school and has been in remission ever since. She’s taught me how to be strong and always told me to never give up on a dream. I always put my all into whatever I am doing because my mom told me if I wanted anything, I’d have to work for it. I hope when it’s my time to be a mother, I’ll be just as great!”
Give an example of how teamwork has helped your role.
Teamwork is an important aspect of Y‑12. If the team doesn’t work together, nothing is going to get done. In my role, teamwork is understanding and listening to what other people have to say, and everyone comes together into a group and figures out the problem.