Beth Armstrong    Beth is a member of the Surface, Processing and Mechanics Group and is also technically affiliated with the Structural Ceramics Group of the Metals and Ceramics Division. Beth joined ORNL to work on the development of functional materials and coatings. This work includes the development of alternative forming techniques for oxygen and NOxsensors, solid oxide fuel cells, gas separation devices, and corrosion resistant coatings. Beth has a M.S. degree in Material Science from the University of California, Los Angeles and a B.S. degree in Ceramic Engineering from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. Beth has 13 years of experience in the area of ceramic processing. She worked at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for 8 years and Garrett Ceramic Components for 4 years before coming to the Metals and Ceramics Division. Beth, her spouse Tim, and their son Ryan live in Clinton. Beth and Tim are expecting the birth of their second child in mid-May.

Karen C. Bills   Karen has worked in the Robotics and Process Systems Division for eight years in the Telerobotic Systems Section Group. Prior to coming to ORNL, Karen worked at Y-12 for twelve years. Karen's current job responsibilities involve but are not limited to solid, surface, three-dimensional, discrete event, and continuous process computer simulation modeling. If you can think it, she can model it! Karen has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 1980, a M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1993, a P.E. in Mechanical Engineering in 1986.

Clubs and Organizations include support of the Girl Scouts, 4-H, and Tennessee Hand Spinners. Special interests/hobbies are farm animals, handcrafts, reading, gardening and money management.

Karen is married to Edwin and they have two children, Rachel who is 12 years old and John who is 10 years old. The family pets includes 4 cats, 3 sheep, 1 dog, 2 snakes, 2 geckos, gold fish, newts, crawdads, frogs, and 15 chickens.

Vanessa Black   Vanessa is Team Leader for the Guest Services Team, Security Department, Laboratory Protection Division. Vanessa is in her second career in Oak Ridge. She started working shortly after high school at DOE's Oak Ridge Operations in the Procurement and Contracts Division. She then left DOE to work at Martin Marietta Y-12. While working at Y-12, she began a new career part-time in Reservations Sales at Delta Air Lines. Eventually, Vanessa moved full-time to Delta Air Lines where she enjoyed over 10 years. Since travel has always been a hobby for Vanessa, this was a perfect fit. Vanessa has visited 17 countries and most of the United States. Vanessa returned to ORNL in 1994 and has worked since then in the Foreign National Office (changed to Guest Services Team).

Vanessa has become interested in genealogy and in that vein was instrumental in securing the designation for her family's church on both the Tennessee and National Registers of Historic Places.

Vanessa recently completed her B.S. degree at Tusculum College.

Mary Brooks"" Mary has been an employee of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for 10 ½ years, beginning her career in the Finance and Business Management Organization. In 1992, Mary transferred into the Property Management Department where she is currently the Property Loan Administrator for ORNL. In 1996, she received the President's Award and the Hammer Award for her contributions and support in implementing PRISM. In 1997, Mary joined the National Property Management Association (NPMA) which is a national organization comprised of property professionals throughout the United States with 2,600 members. In 1998, she obtained her certification through NPMA as a Certified Professional Property Specialist and in 1999 she completed her certification for Certified Professional Property Administrator. She is currently in her 2nd term as treasurer for the Great Smoky Mountain Chapter of NPMA.

In 1998, Mary was part of the Property Management Team that was awarded the Team Achievement Award from the Department of Energy. In 1999, she was also part of the Team that was awarded the Property Management Contractor of the Year by the Department of Energy. In November 2000, Mary attended the Nashville Auction School and obtained her Auctioneering Certificate and is currently one of three female auctioneers here at ORNL.

Mary grew up in Oak Ridge and later attended Roane State Community College. She currently resides in Knoxville with her husband Jeff. Mary has 2 children; Kathy & David and is "Nana" to three wonderful grandchildren; Austin, Pateyn, and Brooke.

Amy Bush   Amy is a reports and data specialist in the Operational Performance Technology Section (OPT) of the Engineering Technology Division (ETD). She provides support for several DOE-sponsored programs including the DOE Technical Standards Program and the Fissile Materials Disposition Program.

Amy is a co-developer of a grammar review game (Grammar School Days) that is used by ETD. A school-age version of the game has also been used by ETD's adopt-a-school, Oliver Springs Elementary.

Amy began working in OPT as a summer student during 1992. She worked part-time while going to school full-time; she graduated from the University of Tennessee (UT) in 1996 with a B.A. in English and became a full-time employee that June. Currently, she is pursuing a master's degree in Information Sciences at UT.

Betty J. Cale   Betty has been in the Plant & Equipment Division for 23 years. She started out as a night janitor, then transferred to the Reservations Services Department to in the Grounds Maintenance Crew. For the last year, she has been a part of the Furniture Moves and Salvage Pick-up Crew, in the same department. Since becoming a part of this crew, the crew has won the World Class Team Award, from ORNL Values Awards Program. She has earned several Big T Awards for Facilities and Operations Directorate as a direct result of the many satisfied ORNL customer letters received about the performance of this crew's team efforts. She has also been awarded several Reservations Services Department's "Hats Off Awards" earning her crew donuts, specifically "cake" donuts.

Betty is well respected in the P&E Division from management down to co-workers. She is described as a "terrific co-worker, when a job needs done, put it in Betty's hands."

Betty interests include cooking, fishing, travel and all sports, (favorite football and basketball).

Betty's favorite candy in the whole world is a "Snickers."

Lonna Cotter   Lonna joined ORNL's Chemical Technology Division (CTD) in 1991. She began her CTD career in the Radiochemical Technology Section and is presently in the Engineering Coordination and Analysis Section. She provides administrative support and is the Document Control Records Management Administrator for the Isotope Distribution Office and the Isotope Enrichment Facility, which are located at Y-12. Lonna works closely with the Department of Energy's Headquarters staff coordinating participation in worldwide isotope events. In October 1998, she assisted with the 19th World Conference of the International Nuclear Target Development Society. She is a member of the CTD Values Committee and the division's newsletter committee (to which she frequently contributes material). Lonna also serves as a Team Captain for the annual Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's "Walk to Cure Diabetes."

Lonna attended The University of Tennessee and is currently working on an English development course offered through the English Language Institute of America. She coordinates events at the St. Mary's Villa at Halls, a residence for senior citizens, and plans to do volunteer work with Outreach, a program for cancer patients.

Lonna's proudest achievement is her daughter, Traci.

Cheri Cross    Cheri has 21 years of experience working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). She received her A. S. in Business Administration from Roane State Community College in 1991. She obtained her B. S. degree in Accounting from the University of Tennessee in 1996, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and was the top graduate from the College of Business. Cheri's first 10 years at ORNL were spent in various positions in the Information Services Division. In 1991, she transferred to Property Management and was promoted to ORNL Property Manager in 1993. Cheri has been instrumental in the implementation of PRISM and several effective web applications as well as having several articles published in The Property Professional, a magazine devoted to the Property Management Profession.

Cheri is actively involved in the National Property Management Association (NPMA), where she currently holds the title of Eastern Region Vice President. The Eastern Region is comprised of 27 chapters located in 15 states. Through the NPMA, she is a Certified Personal Property Manager and a Consulting Fellow. Cheri received the DOE Literary Award in 1997, the Lockheed Martin President's Award in 1996, and an Operation's and Support Award during Awards Night in 1997. She was also named the Eastern Region Property Person of the Year in 1999 for NPMA and the Great Smoky Mountain Chapter Property Person of the Year in 2000.

In 1998, Cheri was head of the Property Management Team that was awarded the Team Achievement Award from the Department of Energy. In 1999, she was also part of the team that was awarded the Property Management Contractor of the Year by the Department of Energy. In her 21 years of experience, ten have been devoted to the improvement of Property Management.

Cheri and her husband currently reside in Farragut with their two dogs; Maggie and Duffy. Cheri enjoys shopping and traveling in her spare time.

Sharon D. Curd   Sharon is a Project Associate for the Telerobotic Systems Section of the Robotics & Process Systems Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Sharon provides programmatic and administrative support to the section, the division, and the DOE Robotics Crosscutting Program (Rbx). She coordinates Rbx activities across multiple DOE sites including overseeing site responses to a large number if headquarters information systems. She works directly with DOE headquarters personnel and is a member of headquarters-level committees for technical information systems. Within the section, Sharon provides project management support for all of the multi-million dollar Rbx activities, which includes ORNL's lead for two major Rbx product lines and ORNL participation in a large number of technical development activities. Sharon provides similar project related information, presentation, and administrative support, as required, for the division. In addition, Sharon servers as the division representative on the ORNL Values Committee and as the division Work Force Diversity representative. Sharon has been employed at ORNL for twenty-three years; having worked in the Laboratory Protection and the Instrumentation and Controls Divisions.

Sharon is a graduate of Johnson County High School, Johnson County, Tennessee, and received a Secretarial Certificate from the Knoxville State Area Vocational Technical School, Knoxville, Tennessee, as well as her Certified Professional Secretaries Certificate in 1991. Sharon has attended classes at Roane State Community College and Pellissippi State Community College. She continues her education at Pellissippi State Community College in pursuit of an Associates Degree in Business Administration.

Sharon lives in Powell, Tennessee, and has two children, Tanya and Travis. She is a member of Grace Baptist Church and teaches English as a Secondary Language in their International Ministry. Sharon's hobbies includes reading, gardening, and crafts.

Connie L. Dagley of ORNL's Energy Division, has been employed by ORNL for eight years. Prior to coming to ORNL, Connie spent over 20 years in the transportation industry working in a variety of transportation-related positions, including sales, safety, recruiting and management. Since coming to work for ORNL, Connie has been involved in various support positions. For the last three and one-half years, Connie worked with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems/Commercial Vehicle Operations (ITS/CVO) "Technology Truck," which was funded by USDOT for promoting safety for commercial carriers. This truck consists of a tractor with a 272-inch wheelbase and a 48' expandable trailer, which has 7' expandable sides. In this capacity, Connie traveled with the truck to 48 states within the U.S., including Alaska, and four Canadian Province. The truck was used to provide demonstrations at truck shows, state transportation workshops and other transportation-related activities. Connie coordinated the arrival of the truck with the hosts and was responsible for handling the logistics and technical information required for setup and expansion of the truck. She worked as a facilitator for the USDOT, demonstrating the 83 safety-related technologies aboard the truck to various trucking companies, state transportation officials, governors, universities, etc.

There were instances when Connie had to assist with "trouble-shooting" and emergency repairs. One time she had to crawl under the truck with a flashlight at 9:00 p.m. to work on the hydraulic pump in order to close the trailer and get to the next show on time another time she found a tiny kitten that had climbed up on the axle of her rental car. When she tried to get it out it started crawling up into the engine area and she had to take the breather and hoses off the car in order to get it out. She also discovered that it takes approximately four rolls of quarters to run the truck through a car "hand wash" in order to get it ready to show.

The Technology Truck team has won two ITS awards. In 1998 they won the ITS America Achievement Award for "Most Effective ITS Publicity Campaign by a Public Agency." In 1999 they won the "Best of ITS" award in the category of Education and Training. In addition Connie was presented with a team award at the UT Battelle Awards Night 2000 Ceremony. This award was for important and significant technical support to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Technology Truck Demonstration Project. Other team members were from the Engineering Technology Division.

Connie has been a certified Amateur Softball Association (ASA) and Tennessee Schools Secondary Athletic Association (TSSAA) softball umpire as well as basketball referee for 20 years. She is an active member of Beaver Ridge United Methodist Church where she teaches Senior High Sunday School.

Nancy L. Davis is ORNL's optician in charge of occupational vision services for the laboratory. She has served is this capacity since 1989. Nancy holds a B.S. degree in Marketing from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Prior to coming to the laboratory, she was the president of the East Tennessee Chapter of the Tennessee Dispensing Opticians Association and has managed optical dispensaries for a number of national optical corporations. In her term at the laboratory, she feels blessed to have been able to offer a new generation of products and technical innovations within the industrial safety market for eyewear.

While at the laboratory, Nancy has served on the Values Committee and garnered an immense sense of satisfaction and appreciation of having been involved in the collection of over 11,000 pairs of eyeglasses donated to the local Lions Club by the generous laboratory employees.

Outside of the office, Nancy's interest include an array of outdoor activities, including trout fishing and off-road biking.

Debra Dickerson " Debra is a member of the administrative staff of the Life Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Her interests focus on promotion and support of individuals with disabilities. She attained her CPS certification in 1992 and her B.S. from the University of Tennessee in Education and Business Administration in 1995. Debra is on the Board of Trustees of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Jane M. Extine is a team member of ORNL Quality Engineering Services. Jane has been an employee at ORNL for thirteen [13] years starting her career at ORNL with the Martin Marietta Construction Engineering organization under the leadership of Dell Morgan in Construction Engineering Administration. Currently, Jane serves as a Level III Inspector , working primarily with the ORNL Crane Team, which consists of a Rigger, Operator, Millwright and two Electricians, all members of the ORNL P&E Division, providing services in the inspection, maintenance, and repair of hoisting and lifting equipment, e.g., mobile and stationary cranes, fork trucks, bridge cranes, etc., operating in an array of environments. Jane's previous experience prior to becoming a team member at ORNL includes positions in the engineering and construction of commercial nuclear power generation plants, e.g., Waterford III [LA], Millstone [CT], Vogtle [GA] for Fishbach and Moore, Stone and Webster, Bechtel, and Westinghouse; and Project 88 at the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Facility in Columbus, Ohio for National Installation Services Company.

Vision: To make all personnel conscious of Integrated Safety Management "Core Functions" and "Guiding Principles" in all work performance: Define the Work Scope > Identify and Analyze the Hazards > Define and Implement the Hazard Controls > Perform the Work within the Controls > Provide Feedback on the Work Performed and by accomplishment the environment is protected, risk to the safety, health and welfare of personnel is mitigated, and the level of quality is achieved. Courage: Jane is well known to be a stand-up and be counted person on issue resolution involving environmental protection, the safety, health and welfare of personnel, and achieving the desired level of quality that her Customer's expect. Jane's courage for presenting management with her findings on issues is well known and accepted, as she carefully researches her facts through the applicable codes and standards, regulatory documents, DOE Orders and guidance documents prior to presenting her findings to management.

Recognition: Jane's efforts have been recognized at ORNL, Jane having been the recipient of several awards and recognitions for her contribution to project achievements through her thirteen-year tenure at ORNL.

Off-The-Job: Jane is a resident of the Greenback community where she was born and raised. She is the proud parent of three children, one boy and two young ladies; and Grandparent of four grandchildren, three boys and a girl. In her spare time Jane puts her creativeness and tenacity to work hand-crafting candles for which she has acquired a reputation for "excellence" under her home based business: The Greenback CandleWorks.

Angie Fincher    Angie is a native Oak Ridger and recently passed the milestone of 15 years of company service. She has worked in the ORNL Conference Office, Contracts and Procurement Division, for the last five years. As secretary for the group, Angie assists two conference managers with the logistical details of the many meetings and conferences sponsored and/or co-sponsored by ORNL. In 1999 Angie received a World Class Teamwork Award for Conference Office work involving the Office of Science Education at ORNL. The following year she received a Significant Event Award (SEA) as part of a team who organized the First Annual DOE Small Business Conference held in April 2000 at Denver, CO. Angie enjoys her work and strives to provide excellent customer service to those who need the assistance of the Conference Office.

Angie and her husband of 28 years, Joe, were both born and raised in Oak Ridge and currently reside there with their two teenage daughters. She graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1971 and attended Cleveland State Community College for one year. Angie began her company service at the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25) in 1973 when Lockheed Martin managed it. She worked in the Human Resources Division as the Wage and Salary & Personnel Records Department secretary. Over the years Angie has had some diverse job experiences. Angie moved to Memphis in 1976 and worked to put her husband through Pharmacy School while putting her own college plans on hold. While in Memphis she worked for Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Cooperage Division, as the plant manager's secretary. Upon returning to Oak Ridge in 1979, she began working again at K-25 in the same department she had left earlier. After the birth of her two daughters, she transferred to ORNL and worked part-time as a secretary in the Solid State Division. She enjoyed the flexibility of part-time work while raising a family.

In 1984 Angie and her husband, Joe, decided to open a pharmacy in Oak Ridge. Fincher's West Side Pharmacy became a successful business and in 1986 Angie decided to stay at home with her young children. Angie was a frequent volunteer for her daughter's activities in school and church as well as their many extracurricular activities. She served as a Girl Scout Leader and treasurer for the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet Association. As Angie's children grew older she was able to take a more active role in assisting her husband with operating the pharmacy. In 1989 they opened another pharmacy, Fincher's East Side Pharmacy, in Oak Ridge. In addition, they were partners with other local business owners in a car wash and shopping center. Angie took an active role in helping to manage their business responsibilities. She learned to blend her roles as mother, wife, volunteer, and business partner during these years.

Beginning in 1996 Angie and Joe began divesting themselves of their businesses. It was at this time that Angie began thinking seriously about fulfilling a personal goal of completing her college degree. In 1996 she returned to ORNL to work in the Conference Office and began attending college part-time at Roane State Community College. In May 2001 Angie will graduate Cum Laude with a BS Degree in Organizational Management from Tusculum College. Angie believes very much in the importance of education and truly enjoys learning. She hopes that her daughters will also recognize the importance of education through her example. She has one daughter in college and one that will enter college in 2002. Angie says, "It's nice for me to be able to relate to them not only as a mom but as a fellow student - they know that I truly understand what it takes to be a good student. I just want them to know that the effort is worth it and that, no matter what age you are, it is never too late to realize your dreams."

Charmaine Foltz, DVM, Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. Graduated from Colorado State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986. Dr. Foltz was a post-doctoral fellow in laboratory animal medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine from 1988-1991 and was boarded in laboratory animal medicine in 1993. She has worked as a clinical laboratory animal veterinarian at both Louisiana State University Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Foltz is the Laboratory Animal Resources Section Head in the Division of Life Sciences where she oversees the care and health of the large mouse colony used in genetics research within the Life Sciences Division. Dr. Foltz also serves as the ORNL Institutional Veterinarian and is responsible for ensuring that the ORNL animal care program maintains accreditation as recognized by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.

Personal material - Dr. Foltz has been a single parent for 18 years and has a college age son. She lives in Oak Ridge with her mother and is an avid gardener and reader and is an aspiring artist.

Patricia M. Garnet began her career at ORNL in 1980. She is presently a Transportation Specialist in the Transportation and Packaging Management Organization within Logistical Services Division. Patricia holds BSBA and MBA degrees with honors in Management and has completed additional course work at the University of Tennessee in Accounting. Some of her accomplishments include a Recognition Award for Excellence in Education while working within the Procurement Organization and a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her outstanding support with the Lithium Sale and Removal Project at East Tennessee Technology Park. She is married, lives in Knoxville, and enjoys Do-It-Yourself projects, gardening, and spending time with her niece and nephew.

Karen Gibson is a Technical Information Assistant in the Environmental Sciences Division (ESD). Karen joined ESD in 1981 and has worked at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for twenty years. She won ESD's Distinguished Achievement Award for Technical Support in 1999. She is a member of the East Tennessee Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (ETC/STC). She has entered the ETC/STC Publication Competition and won several publication awards.

Karen currently lives in Maryville and enjoys doing various activities with her family.

Linda Gilpin is a nuclear criticality safety engineer in the Operational Safety Services Division. She has been at ORNL since 1995. Her work assignments include the Radiochemical Development Facility and the ORNL Spent Fuel Program. Before transferring to ORNL, Linda was a nuclear criticality safety engineer at the Y-12 Plant. Prior to moving to Oak Ridge, she worked as engineer at the Hanford Engineering Development Laboratory in fast reactor fuel design and testing. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering. Linda lives in Oak Ridge with her husband Jeff and their three dogs.

Community Activities H.A.B.I.T. – Human-Animal Bond in Tennessee, animal assisted therapy program. Linda and her dog Maggie Mae have been volunteering with HABIT for six years. They volunteer weekly at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge. They also do public outreach for HABIT. (Maggie has even been to ORNL for a presentation.) Volunteer at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter – Linda volunteers one Saturday a month at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. Rescue Coordinator for Labrador Retriever Rescue of East TN - Linda is a founding member of the local Labrador Retriever Rescue group. She coordinates adoptions and she and her husband volunteer as a foster family. Shelter Animals Rescue Group (SARG) – Linda is a board member of SARG, a group dedicated to finding homes for animals from the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. She coordinates the dog wash fundraisers that take place monthly in the spring and summer.

Other Activities: Linda is a member of the Pilot Club of Anderson County and a member of the Oak Ridge Humane Society. She was a board member from 1994 – 1996.

1996 YWCA Tribute to Women Corporate Honoree for Volunteer Community Service.

Pamela A. Gurd, SNS Accelerator Systems Division   Pam received her B.Sc. in Mathematics (Honours) from the University of British Columbia and began her career as a programmer on the control system for the Tri-University Meson Facility (TRIUMF) in Vancouver. During nearly 20 years there, she programmed mostly in assembly language. She rose to be the leader of the controls software team. She went on to the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) in Dallas, where she continued as a programmer and became an expert in accelerator device naming. After the SSC closed, she spent a brief period in telecommunications before moving to Los Alamos. In Los Alamos, she worked as a controls programmer on the Low Energy Demonstration Accelerator (LEDA) project for several years. She continues in the same area here at Oak Ridge, where she has joined the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Project. She works on the cryogenic system as well as the low level RF system as an EPICS (Experimental Physics Industrial Control System) programmer working in C.

Pam is a member of the American Adoption Congress, a former member of Mensa, and a former member of the Los Alamos Concert Association board. Her hobbies include genealogy and playing the piano. After losing their house in the Los Alamos fire last summer, Pam and her husband Dave are happy to be settled in Orchard Knob, where they enjoy a view of the Clinch River from their deck. Counting his, hers and theirs, they have seven children and four grandchildren, most of whom live in the Vancouver area.

Mary Jean Harrison is currently a secretary in Utilities/- Reservation Services Department of the Plant & Equipment Division. Graduate of Knoxville Business College. She completed requirements for CPS rating in June 2000. In 2000 she received a Most Value-Able Player Award. She has been employed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory seven years and will be recognized with seven years perfect attendance in March 2001.

Lives in Northwest Knoxville with husband, Ron, of twenty-two years and has one daughter, Julie, 20,who is presently attending Roane State Community College. Ms. Harrison enjoys aerobics and jogging.

Debra Hogan   Debra is a health physics technician in the Radiological Surveillance Section of the Operational Safety Services Division (OSSD). From Oliver Springs, Debra began her career as a teller, then became a secretary with Union Carbide at K-25 for three years. Debra left to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and to raise her children. Debra competed in and won several World Clog Dance Championship titles, wrote and published two clogging instruction books, and appeared semi-regularly on the Hee Haw televison show 1980-1990. During those years, she co-directed the Eastern U.S. Clogging Championships in Knoxville, and later collaborated with Hee Haw and Opryland U.S.A. to co-direct the Hee Haw International Clogging Championships in Nashville. Debra's children traveled with her to these events, and also danced with her as an opening act for country music artists throughout the U.S., on cruise ships, and in Europe. In addition to her travels and television appearances, Debra was a dance instructor in the middle and east Tennessee area

Debra returned to the workforce at ORNL in 1990 as a secretary. Debra became a health physics technician in 1995 and was appointed Division Safety Officer/Environmental Protection Officer (DSO/EPO) to the Office of Radiation Protection (ORP) where she also served on the ORP Values Committee was co-editor of the ORP newsletter. During her years as DSO, Debra coordinated many successful and popular safety meeting programs, including the ES&HC Family Feud. She helped organize the highly successful 1999 ORP Clean-up Campaign, and developed and continues to maintain her section's Health and Safety Web. Debra has also assisted with the ORP and ORNL Christmas Food Drives for needy families in the east Tennessee area. Debra is currently a member of Toastmasters International, a communication and leadership skills organization, and is President of the local Energy Capital Toastmasters Club in Oak Ridge. She recently received her Competent Leadership certification, and is working to achieve the Advanced Toastmaster certification. However, Debra says her greatest achievements are her son and daughter, Derek and Kandi. Derek is an Electrical Engineering graduate student in the Instrumentation and Controls Division at ORNL. Kandi is a senior at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga majoring in Communications to pursue a writing and publishing career.

Kimberly Begley Jeskie is the Environmental Protection Officer, Safety Officer and Generator Interface Equivalent for Chemical and Analytical Sciences Division (CASD). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Mathematics and is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Health in Occupational Safety and Health Management. She is also a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager and a Registered Environmental Manager.

Kim began her career at ORNL within the Physical Organic Chemistry Group in CASD. There she conducted research in the area of coal chemistry. She then moved to her current position within the Research Support Section. She has been actively involved in several ORNL initiatives including Waste Management Re-engineering, the development of the current ORNL Waste Certification Program and the formation of the Generator Interface system. She currently leads the Chemical Safety Management Program Project Team.

Kim and her husband Tom live in Roane County with their four children. Her interests include needlework, gardening and photography. She has also held board of directors positions for the Anderson County Habitat for Humanity and the Oak Ridge YWCA.

Dr. Dabney K. Johnson"  Dr. Johnson is Head of the Mammalian Genetics and Genomics Section in the Life Sciences Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Johnson's research interests are focused on the generation and analysis of mouse models for human genetic diseases, and the discovery of gene function. She is author of some 50 published articles and technical presentations. She has B.S. in Biology from Salem College, Winston-Salem, NC; M.S., Emory University in Atlanta; and Ph.D., University of Tennessee in 1989 in Molecular Genetics.

Gwen Justice is a Senior Materiel Assistant for the 7018 Receiving Office in the Logistical Services Division. She became an ORNL employee in 1977. Before her present position, she has worked in Visitor Control for Laboratory Protection Division, as a Library Assistant for Information Division and as Shipping Clerk in Finance & Business Management Division.

She is very active with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Pellissippi District since 1993. She has been a Tiger Cub Leader, Den Leader, Webelos Leader, Cubmaster, Merit Badge Counselor, Troop Committee Chairman, Troop and Pack Charter Organization Representative and is an Order of the Arrow Ordeal Member. She also currently serves as Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner and a District Committee Member. She has received the BSA District Award of Merit and Jefferson Robert Ross, Jr. Excellence in Commissioner Service Award. Gwen is also active with Anderson County 4-H Club as a Camp Counselor and Adult Advisor with their Sigma Lamda Chi Honor Society. She is an Anderson County Fair Association Member, helping with the 4-H Exhibits and Poultry Exhibits. She is a Parent-To-Parent Facilitator with the Children's Advocacy and a member of the Coal Creek Watershed Association, which is working toward reducing flooding in the Briceville and Lake City areas and bringing back the Peoples Health Clinic in Briceville. Gwen received a 2000 Top Citizen Award for community work. She works 4/10's (four - ten hour days M-Th) and is a Substitute Teacher at Lake City Middle School on most of her Fridays off. She lives in the house where she was born in Lake City. She enjoys spending all her "spare time" with her husband Bobby and their son Drew going camping, hiking and to the movies.

Becky Kendall   Becky is a Quality Assurance Specialist in the Quality Services Division with 22 years of company service. She began her professional career at the Y-12 Plant in weapons production programs and transferred to the ORNL HFIR Quality organization in 1988. For the past seven years, Becky has supported the Plant and Equipment (P&E) Division's quality assurance program. She has been actively involved with the analysis and implementation of P&E's ISMS program, the divisional work control process, and has provided quality training programs for the division's nuclear facility maintenance workers. In addition to her quality duties, she is the P&E Occurrence Reporting Manager.

While maintaining a full-time work schedule, Becky completed her B.S. Degree in Organizational Management at Tusculum College in 1994. Her educational background coupled with previous business experience has proven invaluable both on and off the job.

Outside the workplace, Becky is a member of the Anderson County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors where she serves on several committees. She is actively involved with First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge Becky provided marketing and developmental support for the team designing First Place, the church's contemporary worship service. In addition, she has assisted with her nine-year-old granddaughter's Scout troop activities. Becky lives in Oak Ridge and has two adult sons.

Sandra Kennedy is the Environment, Safety, and Health Officer for the Physics Division. She is a Certified Hazardous Material Manager and a Registered Environmental Manager. Sandra began working at ORNL in 1984, as an accelerator operator for the Physics Division. She came to Tennessee after serving four years in the United States Army. Her MOS was 21L, Pershing Electronic Repair, and she attained the rank of Specialist Five. Sandra was stationed in Germany for three years and especially enjoyed traveling in Europe.

After twenty years of working and taking classes, Sandra (finally!) graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee in 1999, with a B.A. in Sociology, concentration in Environment and Society. Sandra is currently working on her M.A. degree.

Tanya Kuritz graduated from Moscow State University in Russia in 1979, with a major in biology/biochemistry. She also received certification as a translator in life sciences and has worked as a simultaneous interpreter since 1978. In 1985, she was awarded a Ph.D. degree in molecular biology by the same university. Her dissertation research involved structure–function analysis of bacteriophage T4 short-tail fibers.

After graduation, Tanya held positions at two research institutions in Moscow, including the Institute of Applied Microbiology and Genetics of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Ivanovsky Institute of Virology at the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 1988, she gave birth to a son, George. In addition to caring for her son, she used her maternity leave to establish and run a business specializing in scientific and business interpretation. Among other achievements, she was selected to interpret the first public announcement of the existence of HIV/AIDS, which was delivered to a national TV audience of 120 million people by the late Dr. J. Mann, who headed AIDS programs for the World Health Organization.

In 1990, Tanya moved with her family to the United States to take a Research Associate position at the DOE Plant Research Laboratory (PRL) at Michigan State University. At PRL, she was involved in a number of projects related to the molecular biology of cyanobacteria; mapped, with a high degree of precision, a genome of a cyanobacterium; discovered a naturally occurring plasmid; and was the first to establish genetic material transfer between cyanobacterial strains. Her close collaboration with the Center of Environmental Microbiology at Michigan State University led to the development of a new research area: bioremediation of organic xenobiotics by microalgae. Tanya was the first to describe the degradation of the recalcitrant pesticide lindane by a number of cyanobacterial strains and engineered cyanobacteria to degrade several environmental pollutants. This research enhanced her recognition in the scientific community.

Tanya joined ORNL's Center for Risk Management, Health Sciences Research Division, in 1994 and has been a member of the Chemical Technology Division since 1998. She has established a research laboratory and initiated collaborative efforts with many other researchers throughout the world. Her goal is to establish a research program in microalgal biotechnology that emphasizes international cooperation. She has been impressed by the opportunities to expand professional knowledge and skills through a variety of collaborative efforts at ORNL. In 1997, she joined the Center for Environmental Biotechnology at The University of Tennessee as an Adjunct Professor. Since that time, she has led or participated in more than a dozen projects in biotechnology, including areas such as development of new microalgal strains for hydrogen production and metal chelation, development of microbial strains for remediation of environmental pollutants, and production of commodity chemicals. Two of her many inventions were selected for patenting.

Tanya is active in international initiatives for proliferation prevention: she was one of the organizers of the first seminars for Russian nuclear security experts in the United States She has been awarded competitive funding by every U.S. agency specializing in conversion programs in Russia and other countries among the Newly Independent States and led nine projects, including a sampling expedition in Siberia, technology transfer in biotechnology areas, etc. She is also a collaborator on three projects related to microalgal biotechnology at the International Center of Science and Technology and was appointed as an auditor for the area of biotechnology in Georgia. She collaborates with Egypt on the development of microalgal biotechnologies and is the recipient of a collaborative research grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development. She served on the National Science Foundation panel "Professional Opportunities for Women in Research and Education" (POWRE) and is a reviewer of competitive grants and programs for the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Academy of Sciences, and other agencies—in addition to serving as a reviewer of journal submissions. In 1998–1999, she was elected President of the Kentucky–Tennessee Branch of the American Society for Microbiology.

Tanya is dedicated to applied science and believes that the phrase "bringing science to life" accurately describes her research objectives. She finds that working at ORNL is exciting since it is a daily adventure in science and technology.

Lynn Kszos came to ORNL from western New York in 1986 and has been a Research Associate with the Environmental Sciences Division since 1988. She earned her B.S. in biology from the University of Delaware and M..S. in biology from the State University of New York at Fredonia. She currently provides technical and project management support to the Bioenergy Feedstock Development Program which is a mission-oriented program of research and analysis whose goal is to develop and demonstrate environmentally acceptable crops and cropping systems for producing large quantities of low-cost, high-quality biomass feedstocks. These feedstocks will be used for producing power, fuel or other bioproducts. Lynn enjoys writing and has authored or edited numerous ORNL technical reports and several peer reviewed journal articles. She is on the editorial board of the journal, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and chairs the Ecology Committee of the Water Environment Federation. Lynn is active in her division as the Work Force Diversity Representative and chair of the Awards Committee.

Lynn lives in west Knoxville and has two children, Jessica (10) and Chris (7). Her husband, Joe, is a Parole Officer with the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole. In her free time, Lynn enjoys coaching her children's soccer teams, playing soccer herself, spending time with her husband Joe, and playing the flute at her church.

Vickie Martin"" Vickie Martin's tenure within the Plant and Equipment (P&E) Division will encompass twenty-seven years of service in April 2001. Throughout that legacy, she has worked in every department within the P&E Division. She hired in as a Work Center Secretary in the Research Services Department, later becoming a Senior Secretary in the Fabrication Department reporting to the Department Superintendent. A short time later she began working for the Associate Director of the division in the Utilities and Reservation Services. After reorganization took place in the division she served as the Business Management Department's Senior Secretary and is now serving as the Administrative Secretary to the P&E Division Director. In each position, Vickie has enjoyed and demonstrated remarkable skills resulting in significant accomplishments, established and visible work ethics, and is a renowned team player. In support of these endeavors, Vickie has received numerous "Most Valuable Player Awards," "Significant Event Awards," and sustained performance and attendance records. When you meet her, you can instantly recognize a professional appearance.

When she is not working, Vickie still has her sights set on personal accomplishments through her love of sports. Her avid participation has proven to be another rewarding environment of success and dedication. Her earlier years were spent playing softball where she played in a very competitive league winning several local and state tournaments. Here again, the "Most Valuable Player" emerged. She also fished in a Women's Bass Club where her efforts were rewarded with a trophy 7lbs., 8 oz. largemouth bass capturing the "Biggest Fish" award during one of her frequent tournaments. After deciding to try golf, more accomplishments and rewards including winning two "Long Drive Contests." Another personal reward was the opportunity to enjoy a round of play with Kathy Whitworth, LPGA Hall of Fame Professional, during a benefit tournament for the Habitat for Humanity. Other tournaments included benefit events for "Breast Cancer Awareness," "Canine Friends," "Boys Club," "Clinton Fire Department," and the "Clinton Cheerleaders." Her most recent recognition was an award from the Tennessee Golf Association for the "Year 2000 Most Improved Golfer."

The best is yet to come for Vickie, as her greatest accomplishment is very near. She is currently attending Tusculum College in Knoxville, Tennessee where she will graduate in December 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management. Vickie feels this latest goal will bring closure to some unfinished business in her life and career. We all wonder what is next on her list of goals, attainments, and without doubt, accomplishments.

Nellie R. McFalls is the Head Baker in the ORNL Cafeteria (the Food Services group of Logistical Services Division). Nellie became an employee of ORNL, April 1977, after managing the Karns High, Middle and Elementary School Food Services for Knox County. She has held the President's position of Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) union and currently holds the Secretary/Treasurer position. She is a delegate to the Atomic Trades and Labor Council (ATLC) and Chief Steward for the ORNL Food Services. She attended the State Area Vocational School and Pellissippi State receiving her Management Certificate. She is active in church as a member of the Leadership Committee, Women's Ministry, Food and Social activities and speaks on special occasions. She loves traveling, gardening, quilting, and sports. She has three children, Earnest, Janet, and Sonya; and has two grandchildren, Rachel and Rebekah. Her marriage to Fred became one of many couples in their family of eleven, who have no divorces nor in their father's generation of eleven siblings. In 1995, the accumulated years of marriage, including Nellie's, were 450 years, more than twice as many as our nation is old. She has her own secret for the success of her family's togetherness.

Martha Meigs grew up in rural middle Tennessee as the youngest of ten children born to farming parents. Although her parents were unable to pursue their education beyond eighth grade, they instilled in their children a love of learning. Martha was salutatorian of her high school class and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in zoology in 1975, a Master of Science in education in 1980, and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering in 1985 all from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Martha taught chemistry and physics at Powell High School from 1979 to 1983 where she had good success in enrolling many more girls in physics than is the norm. Even though she enjoyed some aspects of teaching, she really wanted to "do" rather than teach. She returned to school, completed her engineering degree and in January 1986 was hired by the Instrumentation and Controls Division for permanent assignment with the Holifield facility in the Physics Division. She is now a development staff member with the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility in the Physics Division, where she primarily works with the 25 URC Tandem Accelerator.

When not working, Martha enjoys time on Norris lake where she fishes and boats with her husband. She also enjoys reading, which led her to become a volunteer with Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Regular aerobics and weight training help keep her in shape and she is an avid Lady Vol fan.

Jama R. Norris, CPS   I was raised in East Tennessee for the first 12 years of my life. At the time my father was working with Union Carbide and we had the opportunity of a lifetime – we moved to paradise, the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. As the only "southern" girl in my class, it was my job to address the Spanish class each morning with "¿Como esta ya'll?" After returning to the States, my family settled in the Chicago area but not me. I had to go home, back to the hills of East Tennessee – God's country. I attended East Tennessee State University majoring in Secretarial Science and have been a secretary since. I left East Tennessee for Music City and began my career at Ernst & Ernst, an accounting firm in Nashville as a statistical typist. I left the accounting firm to help one of the partners begin a tax accounting/law firm which became very successful. Our clients included Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Mel Tillis and Barbara Mandrell, to name few. Once again the hills of East Tennessee beckoned and I returned home to raise my family. After several years of being a mom, I returned to the work force in 1989 as a work center clerk in the P&E Division. I am now a secretary in the Human Resources & Workforce Diversity Directorate working in Labor Relations. I earned my CPS in 1993, and will be returning to school this summer to complete my degree in Business Management. In addition to being the Campaign Treasurer for the United Way, I have been a member of the Secretarial Advisory Board and Values Committee. For the past 4 years I have served on the Information Management Staff of the ORNL Emergency Response Organization.

I love to cook, enjoy catering, reading and sitting by the pool. My husband, Kevin is an electrical engineer in the Plant & Equipment Division. Our family consists of three children: Sarah, 18, who will be graduating from Roane County High School in May and attending King College in Bristol, Tennessee, this fall majoring in Biology with hopes of becoming a pharmacist; Amanda, 14, who is in eighth grade at Morrison Hill Christian School, and Nicolas, 4, who is full of energy and an avid dinosaur enthusiast.

Rekha S.Pillai, Ph.D "  Rekha S. Pillai is a Program Leader in the area of Supply Chain Management and Logistics in the Center for Transportation Analysis, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She has extensive experience with transportation modeling and analysis endeavors. Dr. Pillai is one of the technical team members performing Defense Distribution Center (DDC) supply-chain analysis to develop recommendations for improving the operations of the DDC inventory, warehouse, and distribution functions. Dr. Pillai is also leading a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) project on dynamic traffic assignment modeling.

Until February 1999, she was with Resource Optimization, Inc. (ROI), where she was the Vice President of Operations Research. While at ROI, she was responsible for determining the research and development needs for ROI to remain competitive in the optimization market. Supply chain management software tools were deemed critical for sustaining ROI's competitive edge in the food industry. She therefore, conceptualized all aspects of the development of a client-server-based supply-chain management system, the ROI Stock Management System (ROI SMS) and derivative systems called ROI Product Development and ROI Formulation Systems. She was also responsible for the management, development of requirements and performing the analysis and design of this system. These systems are now being marketed and sold and are realizing millions of dollars in savings to the users of ROI software products.

She received her Ph.D. in Management Science in 1992 from The University of Tennessee. The focus of her research was the vehicle routing and scheduling problem. For her Ph.D. dissertation, she received Transportation Science Dissertation Award at ORSA/TIMS Meeting in Phoenix in 1993.

Dr. Pillai is experienced in program development, project management, product design, product development, and research. Over the years, she has been involved in innovative product design, design and development of efficient algorithms, and mathematical modeling. She has expertise in several areas, such as simulation- and optimization modeling in supply-chain, e-commerce, and transportation. She has published several research articles in a number of professional journals including Transportation Science, Transportation Research, and European Journal of Operational Research. She is a member of The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), Council of Logistics Management (CLM), American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS), and Phi Kappa Phi. Dr. Pillai also has served as referee for Transportation Research, Transportation Research Board, and ASCE publications.

Missy Pointer came to the Laboratory Protection Division in 1998, after a three-year stint as a security guard. She is currently a Senior Control Center Assistant (SCCA) in the Laboratory Shift Superintendent's (LSS) Office. Missy is a graduate of Oliver Springs High School and attended Roane State Community College. Before coming to work at ORNL, she served in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer. This helped her to prepare for her job in security, as well as her current position. Missy says that the most exciting aspect of her job is "You never know what the next phone call will bring."

In addition to her duties as a SCCA, Missy maintains the LSS web page, serves as the Medic blood drive co-coordinator, and has worked on the ORNL Veteran's Day Committee. Missy is also an active member of her community, she serves as a member of the PTO Board at Oliver Springs Elementary School, is secretary for the Oliver Springs Youth Club, and is a Girls in Action (GA) leader at Kellytown Baptist Church. She enjoys crafts, reading, and spending time with her family.

Missy resides in Oliver Springs with her husband, Richard, and their two children, CJ (age 10) and Alyson (age 6).

Jan Preston, Director, Office of Independent Oversight
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION: Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, 1979, Rice University, Houston, Texas. Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, 1977, Rice University, Houston, Texas. Registered Professional Mechanical Engineer, State of California

EXPERIENCE:
Director of Independent Oversight, Oak Ridge National Laboratory: 2000 – Present
Oversee P-AAA program, conduct special studies/investigations, verify effectiveness of line management self-assessments, manage operational awareness program function, and coordinate external audits.
Member of the Senior Staff, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board: 1993 – 1999
Areas of technical evaluation included the safety of nuclear weapons operations; safety management strategies for nuclear design laboratory research, development, and testing; development and implementation of standards-based integrated safety management; and assurance of operational technical competence for nuclear operations.
Special Scientific Advisor for Nuclear Weapon Surety, Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Atomic Energy): 1991 – 1993
Developed DoD's internal operational risk assessment capability and oversaw its initial applications in support of the nuclear stockpile. Office of the Secretary of Defense policy response leader for a nuclear weapons accident exercise, Action Officer for Air Force intercontinental ballistic missile high-fidelity flight testing, safety/security assessment support to the Army during 1991-1992 retrograde of tactical nuclear weapons from Europe.
Program Manager/Analyst, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: 1984 – 1991
Program manager for probabilistic risk assessments of DOE and DoD nuclear weapons operations. Developed and applied a methodology for operational risk assessments that was based on analysis of hazard exposure during the different stages of each weapon activity.
Conducted counter-intelligence reviews intended to reveal indications of potential espionage penetrations, briefed results to senior management and FBI special agents, and supporting on-site FBI investigative activities. Authored internal/external counterintelligence policy documents, and implemented a defensive briefing/debriefing program for personnel who interacted with foreign nationals.
Advised the Associate Director for Plant and Technical Services on operational management issues, including facilities, vehicles, transportation, communication systems, and administrative policy. Also loaned as NRC quality assurance inspector for a commercial nuclear power plant audit.
Led a Policy Research Group to assess the impact on lab operations of Congressional, DOE, and internal policies. Developed and assisted in the implementation of strategies to address avoidable negative impacts.
Fellow, Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards: 1982 – 1984
Analyzed/reported on the safety and licensing of nuclear fuel storage, design/use of facilities for nuclear reactor accident response, prioritization of corrective actions for generic safety issues, human factors engineering (domestic and foreign programs), non-destructive testing methods for reactor systems, advanced control room design, foreign reactor research programs, and regulatory management policy.
Mechanical Engineer/Project Manager, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: 1979 –1982
Provided technical support for the NRC's response to the Three Mile Island accident. Responsibility included design criteria/data requirements for control rooms and emergency response facilities, as well as human factors engineering review criteria for control rooms. Fielded and evaluated results of diagnostic cable-loading experiments on two nuclear tests, supervised the specification and certification of field hardware by technicians, and designed and supervised the construction of a calibration facility at the Nevada Test Site.

Joanne Ramey is a 1976 graduate from Pembroke State University with a B.S. in Chemistry. Later that same year Joanne began working as a technician at ORNL in the Solid State Division. After receiving additional education and working on several research projects, mainly in the area of crystal growth, she was promoted to Research Associate. Joanne is currently working on two "Nuclear Non-Proliferation" projects involving the crystal growth of advanced materials for the next generation of radiation detectors. She is also part of an LDRD project designed to develop better materials for neutron detectors. Joanne is married to Dan Ramey, a chemical engineer at ORNL. In 1989, Joanne gave birth to triplets (Jason, Lucas, and Kelley). At the time, she was involved in some very exciting work and did not want to quit working, so she made a request to become a part-time employee. The Solid State Division has supported Joanne and has given her the opportunity to have the best of both worlds—motherhood and a career in science. The triplets are in the sixth grade and attend Karns Middle School.

Peggy Richardson  Peggy has been a member of the ORNL Fire Department since 1984. Prior to coming here, Peggy spent four years as a firefighter in the United States Air Force. Since being hired as a fire protection inspector, fifteen years ago, Peggy has advanced to the rank of Fire Captain. She is currently responsible for the Portable Fire Extinguisher Program and serves as the Fire Department Safety Officer. Peggy has a son serving in the United Stated Navy at Norfolk Virginia.

Sharon Richardson    Hi there. My name is Sharon Richardson, but I am better known as "Sissy". In Sept. of 2001 I will have been in the Plant and Equipment division at ORNL for 17 years. My career began in 1984 as a temporary summer laborer with the mowing crew. Being temporary I was laid off after 82 days. In Dec. of the same year I was offered and accepted a position with the evening shift janitorial services. I worked a little over 4 years as a janitor before being promoted to supervisor with the evening shift janitors. I held this position until Dec. of 2000. After 16 years on evening shift I am now a day shifter! My new position includes supervisor of the laundry and of the day shift janitors. Serving in these 2 capacities I assure you I am never bored. My days are very busy. Fulfilling customers requests for janitor services is a top priority at ORNL and I am glad to be a part of this department. I am still learning things about the laundry as it is still new to me. I do know that without their services people who use the company issued clothes, etc. would be terribly cold!!!! The people who do the "real" work in these 2 departments are wonderful coworkers. I am greatly blessed for the small part I play here at ORNL. I am a Harriman, TN native. I have 3 grown children, Bruce, Missy, and Jalynn. who have blessed me with 8 grandchildren.....7 boys and 1 girl. We also have one on the way, so before long I will have my very own ball team. I love the outdoors and spending time with the grandkids. My happiness continues with the forthcoming of my marriage on March 24, 2001 to Eddie Jenkins who is better known as "Pap Paw." Does life get any better??? I don't know, but I am truly thankful and blessed for these years of working at ORNL

Irene Robbins is a computer systems analyst in the Innovative Computing Solutions section of the Computational Physics and Engineering Division. Irene began her computational career in 1975 at the K-25 Barrier Plant after receiving her AS degree with highest honors from Roane State Community College. She has worked in the application development side of computer science, predominantly in the areas of database management, requirements analysis, and process control. Irene received her BS degree with honors from the University of Tennessee in 1986. Irene currently leads a four person team developing analysis and control software for the Block II Chemical Biological Mass Spectrometer (CBMS), a Work-For-Others (WFO) project for the U.S.Army. This challenging project to identify chemical and biological warfare agents is a collaboration of four ORNL divisions, spearheaded by the Chemical and Analytical Sciences division, and is currently the largest WFO project at the Laboratory ($38M over 5FYs). In 2000, the Block II CBMS received a R&D 100 award and the project was selected in UT-Battelle Awards Night Technical Achievement category. Immediately prior to the CBMS project, Irene managed a 30+ person effort for development of the Air Mobility Command (AMC) Deployment and Analysis System (ADANS). Irene was part of the effort to accelerate the development of this system to help the US Air Force meet the challenge of the largest airlift in history, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During Irene's tenure, ADANS was the largest WFO project at the Laboratory ($43M over 5FYs). It was a wonderful team to lead and a great opportunity for Irene, though she is extremely happy to be back doing more technical work.

Irene is an avid reader, bridge player, comic book collector, craftswoman, and enjoys hiking and walking, and visiting her mother and father who receive care for Alzheimer's disease in a nearby nursing home and assisted living facility respectively.

Melissa C. Smith grew up in Pensacola, Florida. She attended Florida State University as a Florida Undergraduate Scholar, completing her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Magna Cum Laude in 1993, and her Master of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1994. While at FSU, Melissa was very active in both service and honors societies. She was an active member of the Golden Key Honor Society and the student chapter of IEEE. She served as president of the Tau Beta Pi FLH chapter, where she became involved with Habitat for Humanity and the Tallahassee Adopt-a-Road program. She also served as intramurals co-director for the schools student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, and was actively involved in the high school mentor program. While obtaining her Master s degree, she was a Lead Research Assistant in the High-performance Computing and Simulation Research Laboratory at the College of Engineering, where she conducted research on client/server networks, parallel and distributed processing, and digital signal processing.

Melissa joined the Instrumentation and Controls Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1994 as part of their research and development staff. Since coming to the Laboratory she has participated in several programs geared toward the advancement and development of young students, including the WIST Conference, Shadow a Mentor Program, Upward Bound Program, and Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. She is presently involved in the design and test of detector electronics for the Spallation Neutron Source. Some of her past projects include the detector electronics for the PHENIX particle physics experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Nuclear Weapons Inspection System program. She received a Technical Achievement award at the Lockheed Martin 1998 Awards Night for her involvement in the PHENIX electronics development. Her research interests include re-configurable computing, parallel/distributed computing, digital and analog electronics, modeling, and ASICs. Currently Melissa is working on her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Tennessee. Her research involves the use of High Performance Re-configurable Computing (HPRC) platforms in a distributed environment. After her first year at UT she was inducted as a graduate student into Eta Kappa Nu.

Melissa and her husband Harrison live in West Knoxville with their two Miniature Daschunds, Scud and Binky. Melissa and Harrison are both private pilots and musicians. Away from work they enjoy flying together and performing live music for parties and weddings. Melissa is also interested in various sports including bodybuilding and fitness.

Cindy Spence is a Benefits Specialist in the Employee Benefits section of the Human Resources and Diversity Programs Directorate. This section is responsible for managing the administration of the benefits program for ORNL, including the various insurance plans, pension and savings plans, workers compensation, employee assistance program, and educational assistance. Prior to taking this position in September 2000, Cindy worked in the Office of Audit and Management Advisory Services and conducted various types of audits and reviews throughout ORNL. Before joining Lockheed Martin in 1987, Cindy worked with a subcontractor to the DOE Office of Inspector General and conducted audits at various DOE sites around the country. Cindy graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. degree in Finance. She subsequently attained the designations of Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Fraud Examiner. She has recently begun pursuing the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist certification. Her service to the community is focused on helping children and their families. She has volunteered at the Knoxville Ronald McDonald House for the past five years and previously volunteered at the Shangri-La Therapeutic Academy of Riding assisting disabled children with riding horses.

Jan Thomas   Jan is a Control Center Supervisor in the Shift Superintendent Department who joined ORNL in 1972 as a secretary in the Chemical Technology Division. She held several administrative support positions in Chem Tech and Central Management Offices before joining the Laboratory Protection Division in 1995 as a Control Center Leader in the Shift Superintendent Department. Jan headed an effort to identify areas around the Laboratory where Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf (TDD) would be beneficial to the hearing-impaired employees and guests. Under her direction, TDDs were procured and located at the East and West Portals, the Cafeteria, and the Shift Superintendent's office. She is the System Administrator for the Emergency 911 system at ORNL and is the interface within the Site to operate and maintain this system. During ORNL's last Full Participation Exercise (FPE), Jan served on the committee to develop and conduct the exercise which demonstrated the Laboratory's ability to work with various State and local officials. In addition, she served in a Controller role to assist with Y-12's FPE, and assists in ORNL Emergency Preparedness drills and exercises. She recently assumed the position of Control Center Supervisor and supervises the work direction and shift schedules for the Senior Control Center Assistants in the Laboratory Emergency Response Center. Jan also provides assistance to the Laboratory Shift Superintendents in managing the shift operations. She is a cadre member of the Emergency Control Center, which is activated during emergency situations at ORNL. She is the liaison with the SNS Construction Contractors and the LSS office and interfaces with the contractors to stay abreast of construction activities which could impact the Laboratory. Jan is a native of East Tennessee and attended Lenoir City High School and the University of Tennessee. She currently lives in Lenoir City with her husband Bill and two teenage children, Mindi and Mitchell. She attends Calvary Baptist Church and enjoys being a soccer mom and spending time with her family.

Sharon Thompson is a reports and data associate for the Office of Environmental Protection and Waste Services. She was born and raised in Blount County, TN and currently resides in Alcoa. After several years of employment at the FBI in Washington, D.C.,she relocated back to East Tennessee and began her employment at ORNL in 1986 in the Plant and Equipment Division.

Sharon is pursuing a degree at Pellissippi State Technical Community College in computer science.

She is a single mother and the proud parent of two daughters, April and Crystal, whom she has kept actively involved in activities such as piano, dance, sports, Girl Scouts, Gospel Choir, Young Life, and other academic and civic activities. April has excelled academically and will graduate in spring 2001 with a degree in microbiology from MTSU. Crystal is in her senior year of high school with plans to attend nursing school at Walters State Community College in the fall of 2001.

Sharon and her daughters are members of Mother Love Baptist Church in Louisville, TN where Sharon is involved with the Adult Usher Board, Youth Usher Board, Women's Fellowship Organization, Planning Committee, Scholarship Committee, and Annual African Arts Festival.

Volunteer interests include elderly assistance and adult illiteracy. She participates annually in the Multiple Sclerosis Walk-A-Thon and has participated in several other fund raising efforts dedicated to disease awareness, cure and prevention.

"I give honor and continual praise to God for his blessings in my life. Most of my interests and involvements have centered around my children, and I've been blessed to see them develop and mature into responsible young adults. That has given my life the most meaning of anything that I have been accomplished."

Peg Tinnel is Administrative Secretary to Barbara Ashdown, Section Head of Information Management in the Computing, Information, and Networking Division. She has been with ORNL for 14 years, 10 of which have been spent in the Information Management area. If you walk into Peg's office, you'll probably find her clicking away at the keyboard or talking on the phone to set up meetings, track down information, and make sure all 90+ folks in the Information Management Section have what they need to do their jobs. You'll also notice that her office walls and tops of file cabinets are covered with an eclectic mix of awards, German Shepherd pictures, and mementos, souvenirs, and gifts from friends.

Peg has received awards for Outstanding Customer Service, Outstanding Support and, most recently, the CIND Cornerstone Award. The criteria for the Cornerstone award fits Peg to a "T" as it goes to "one who works hard behind the scenes to provide fundamental support for daily operations and consistently maintains a positive attitude, demonstrates attention to detail, functions as a dependable team member, and completes high-quality work in a timely manner." Peg graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with a B. S. in Elementary Education. She earned the ranking of Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) in 1990.

Peg is a native of East Tennessee, having been born and raised in Lenoir City where she still resides with her husband Ed and their two German Shepherds. Peg and her husband, Ed, enjoy travel and frequently combine wanderlust with their passion for adding to their art deco collection. Last November, she and Ed had the opportunity to go to Italy, where they spent 15 days driving through Tuscany. Quite a first trip for a girl who had never flown before!

She is an active member of Central United Methodist Church where she sings in two choirs, is chairman of the Worship Committee, and leads a unit of the United Methodist Women. Often a soloist for the Praise Team, Peg is frequently invited to sing for other occasions. Besides her love of music, Peg enjoys cooking (and eating!) Italian food.

Sara Trammel   I am a native East Tennessean and enjoy the beauty and distinctiveness of the seasons in this area. I have one brother and one sister and I am the third of three children born to Walter and Charlotte Thompson. My husband, Joseph Trammell, and I have two children. Our daughter, Adrienne, is a senior in college and our son, Joseph Jr., is a junior in high school. Although I did not get to complete my college education, I constantly encourage and try to assist my children to do so. Raising my children in these times of rampant peer pressure has been the biggest and most important task placed before me and I am grateful that I have been able to support them in as many positive activities as possible. It's important to me, and I have tried to instill in my children, "whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward and He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him".

I began working part time at Sears when I was a senior in high school with the intentions of working my way through college. However, I accepted a full time position in the Sears Auditing Department approximately the same time I received acceptance into St Mary's nursing school. I had progressed to the level of Ledger Analyst in the Accounting Department when a nationwide restructure in 1991 caused the Accounting Center to close. I was fortunate to work with a group where we collectively received the "Regional Group Award for Teamwork" (1990). Shortly after the RIF I was subcontracted by ORNL, mainly with the Engineering Division, in support of the Finance Officer. Later I began working with Engineering Records Management (CIND). While working with the Engineering Division, I received a Cultural Values Award for "Pride in Workmanship" (1995) and an "Incentive Compensation Award" (1999) for quality of work. I am currently employed as an Information Management Associate with the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Document Control Center.

Education: HS diploma, Fulton HS, Knoxville, TN, 1973, Attended University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1973-74.

Interests & Activities: Walking for exercise/stress management, Listening to Music, Church and Family Activities , Singing.

Dr. Nermin A. Uckan   Dr. Uckan has worked in ORNL's Fusion Energy Division for over 25 years, currently serving as the Program Leader for Next Step Options conducting research in plasma engineering, burning plasmas, fusion reactor studies, and fusion energy development. She serves on various national and international advisory committees, professional societies, and is currently the Editor of Fusion Technology.

In addition to her full-time responsibilities at ORNL, she also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville (UTK). She joined the engineering college faculty at UTK during 1982–90 as a professor of nuclear engineering (part-time) where she developed and taught a number of undergraduate and graduate fusion physics, engineering, and technology courses. She has prepared numerous volumes of course notes/reports.

Dr. Uckan received her B.S. (1968) and M.S. (1969) in Electrical Engineering from the Technical University of Istanbul, Turkey. At the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, as a NATO scholar, she received a M.S. (1973) in Nuclear Engineering, M.S. in Computer Information and Control Engineering, A.M. (1973) in Mathematics, and Ph.D. (1975) in Nuclear Engineering - Plasma Physics. Dr. Uckan is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society and a member of the American Physical Society and Association for Women in Science. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her academic work and research. She lives in Oak Ridge with her husband Dr. Taner Uckan (ORNL I&C Division).

Becky J. Verastegui    Becky Verastegui is Chief Information Officer and Division Director of Computing, Information, and Networking Division for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). In this role, she leads the Laboratory in providing world-class capabilities in the areas of information technology and information management. From 1998-2000, she served on a special assignment as ORNL's Leader for the SAP Delta project, which reengineered many of the business and human resource systems and processes at the Lab. Becky joined the Laboratory in 1993 as Sr. Manager of Information Resources Management. She was hired to provide leadership in information management and administrative computing. From 1993-1998, she led ORNL's Administrative Computing Steering Committee and was instrumental in initiating ORNL's World Wide Web in the early days of Web technology. She participates in numerous Battelle, DOE-Headquarters, and external information technology and management collaboration activities. She came to the Oak Ridge Reservation as a computer programmer in 1977 after graduating from the University of Tennessee. Prior to her ORNL assignments, she served as the deputy manager for computer planning and management support services with liaison responsibilities to DOE-Oak Ridge Operations and DOE Headquarters for computing resource information, long-range planning, and DOE Order Compliance. In November 2000, Becky and the ORNL Y2K team won a UT-Battelle Awards Night award for their diligent work in preparing ORNL for January 1, 2000. In 1999 she won two ORNL Awards Night awards and Lockheed Martin Corporation's NOVA award honoring her leadership and outstanding contributions toward realization of business re-engineering through the implementation of SAP. In 1994, Becky received an award from Government Computing News for her leadership in DOE's long-range strategic planning and acquisition management processes. She has earned four President's Productivity Improvement Awards from Lockheed Martin and Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., a DOE Headquarters Citation for Special Achievement in Information Resources Management Planning, and DOE-Oak Ridge Operations recognition for Significant Contribution.

Becky is a resident of Farragut. In her community, Becky served for many years as a member of the Town of Farragut's Telecommunications Board and was a WWW/Internet adviser for Farragut Intermediate School and Farragut High School. She has a wonderful16 year-old daughter, Monica and a cute little dachshund, Dixie.

Bonita Vought has been an employee of Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 1978, beginning her career in the Finance and Materials Division. In 1987, she transferred to the Instrumentation and Controls Division where she serves as Procurement Coordinator providing support for the Research and Development and Technical Sections of the Division. She is responsible for ordering and receiving equipment and materials needed to support every program, project, and individual activity that is the division's responsibility.

She has served as ORNL AVID Orientation Instructor, as a program advisor for ORNL's Small Purchase Card Program, as support in the development and implementation of the Requisition Approval System and on the AMFIP II Project Team. Her work has been recognized by her management and peers with several Significant Event Awards and the Procurement Directors Award for Excellence.

A long time resident of Tennessee, Bonita grew up in Loudon. She received an AS in education from Hiwassee College and attended Roane State Community College and UT with a major in business management. She currently resides in Rockwood with her husband Joe, who works in the Metals and Ceramics Division. They are the parents of three children. She has worked as a church secretary and served as a Sunday School teacher and department director for 8 and 9 years. She enjoys water sports, hiking, reading and working in her wildflower garden.

Betty J. Waddell     Betty has been a part of the ORNL family for 28 years. Betty has been a part of the Solid State Division since January of 1995, having transferred from Y-12's Biology Division. Betty's role as Section Secretary for the Solid State Theory Section keeps her ever so busy. She is married to Frank Waddell, a member of the Quality Services Division. They have a daughter, Mary Jewel, a Junior at Anderson County High School. They also have a dog named "Sugar" and a cat named "Precious". Betty is a member of Island Home Baptist Church in Norris, Tennessee where she serves as a Sunday School teacher. Originally from Plano, Texas, she now resides in Norris, Tennessee. She enjoys being a "Band Mom" and working outside with her plants.

Regina T. Webber, is a Clinton native. Graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S. in Economics with a Business emphasis. While at UT, Regina was State President of Phi Beta Lambda (business organization) for 2 years. Was Tennessee's Who's Who in Phi Beta Lambda (recognized at national level 2 years).

Regina began her career at ORNL in 1980 in the summer clerical program. She continued working part-time while attending UT. She began her full-time career at the lab in 1983 in the Physics Division, and in 1987 transferred to the Central Waste Management Office in the Environmental and Safety Activities Organization.

In 1990, Regina left the laboratory to help start the Battelle-Oak Ridge Operations office where she was the Office Administration Specialist. While at Battelle Regina was a member of the Altrusa Club of Oak Ridge. She represented Battelle at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce where she was a Chamber Diplomat and served as Committee Chairman for the Existing Industries Committee. Regina returned to ORNL in 1994 joining the Consulting and Staff Support Organization in the Human Resources Division.

In December 2000, Regina became the Coordinator for Offsite Assignments and Non-Personal Services and Consultants. In this capacity, Regina coordinates and processes offsite assignment requests for ORNL employees and provides guidance, assistance and education in the review and approval of purchase requisitions for non-personal services and consultant activity in the SAP system. Regina also assists with the administration of the five labor/hour contracts managed by HR&DP and coordinates the ORNL Clerical Assignment Pool. Regina has worked at all three Oak Ridge sites and has been on weekly and monthly payroll.

Regina enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with family members.

Mary Wrinkle is a Materials Clerk in the Logistical Services Division. Mary began her career in 1978 at the Y-12 Plant where she worked as a Machine Cleaner, Material Handler, Tool Crib Attendant, and a Storekeeper. Searching for more opportunities, she came to work at ORNL in 1994. Mary was instrumental in establishing Benchstock Stores at ORNL, and as a result of her efforts, DOE recognized Mary in an environmental publication. She presently serves as a representative of the Women's Committee for the 480 Union. Along with helping others, she enjoys crocheting, yard work, and bicycling. She and her husband, Bill, reside in Knoxville with their 15-year-old son, Billy.

Deborah York has worked at ORNL since 1989. During her career here, at ORNL, she has held various positions including, Director of the Central Research Library, Award Fee Manager, and Group Leader for WebWorks. She is currently serving as Technical Assistant to the Chief Information Officer, responsible for strategic planning and information policies. Deborah has presented papers in the areas of knowledge management, user interface development, and techniques for managing teams. She is a trained group facilitator, and has done consulting in both group dynamics and information management.

Deborah has a BS degree from Eastern Kentucky University in Political Science and Public Administration and a MS degree from the University of Iowa in Library and Information Science. She is the first person in her family to graduate from college.

Deborah grew up in Kentucky but has lived in seven states, from Washington to Florida. She is most proud of being married to the same (wonderful) man for 26+ years. She believes that her experience in that relationship has helped her cope with workplace conflicts and managing staff. She is an avid dog lover and co-habits with two terrific terriers. She is active in the Heartland Westie Rescue and you can't visit her office without noticing the westie pictures.

Edye co-chairs a nine-county, citizen-driven, strategic planning effort called Nine Counties, One Vision, and is a member of the board of directors of Beck Cultural Exchange Center, the Knoxville Zoo, and the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra. She is also a craft artist and writes poetry. She occassionally tries her feet at clogging, but it always comes out a South Side of Chicago version!.