I just wrote to our ES&H Manager and mentioned how we got off our feet at Battelle during the year 1992. It was extremely painfull at times yet many on the team sucked it up and took on the challenge. Many worked at home after hours on their own dime.
After 8 months or so we were the first DOE entity to maintain compliance with 5480.6 that was authorized by President Reagan. Not bad for a bunch of RATS who possessed some killer passion to beat the odds.
Many on the team were expected to write procedures and head-up a different facets of the program and everyone had some sort of collateral responsibility. Thereafter, they were expected to provide their expertise during the procedure implementation phase.
I remember asking a boss if we could get paid extra for taking on the procedure writing responsibility yet the answer was no. He did'nt say we could not take compensation time; it came out in the wash.
What the collateral duties did was provide each team member a chance to learn new skills and sharpen the old; walla, professional growth. Many now can write and better express themselves using the Kings language. Personally, it was one facet that I too learned at Battelle.
Key component was friend, mentor and boss; Russ Hall. Russ is the smartest HP I have EVER been associated with and the kicker is he did not need the prestigious degree to lead the way. A former Navy Nuke yet special. He was a clear thinker and one with a photogenic memory that you can't teach. Go Bama! "Good ole Country Boy!"
When I see people bragging about their education and their learning institutions, I just chuckle because many arent worth a damm; just a big gust of warm air and especially when matched against the Benchmark that Russ held his actions against.
Don't let the degree fool you as some mentioned about on this site. If you don't have passion and leadership abililty none of the other stuff matters.
Another item of importance is the fact that Russ was not afraid to lose his job but was more interested in doing what was right and what was good for his staff. He maintained high standards yet much of the way we aligned the HP program was practical and all procedure intertwined with great transition and complementary to one another. Russ served as the "Clearinghouse" the during program development phase yet he passed it on to his subordinates for professional growth. He knew that we were only as good as our weakest link.
There is a method to be safe yet productive and he had many of the answers. After 10 years, there are many still trying to figure it out?
I wonder why? No passion? Just a bunch of wheels burning rubber.
We had about eight or so procedures when I arrived and ended up with over 40. Much thanks goes to John Fee of SCE and others for helping us build the program we called SONGS East! SONGS had the best program so why not follow suit?
I'd like to say that much of Battelle's success was because of Russ and his leardership abilities yet I tip my hat to Dr. Brog and others atop the food chain for letting us run with the ball.
I hope that Todd is wrong about having another Battelle Crew because under the right leadership that possesses BALLS (True Gonadal Capacity) it could be even better!
Todd mentioned socializing that remains as one of the most inexpensive methods to solidify a team much like that of our cultures that socialized around the kitchen during family gatherings; it provided the glue to achieve a cohesiveness!
Personally, I try never to look back since the future is much more important yet it was a commemorable experience.
Have an Awesome Week!
Ed
