罗宾·萨顿·安德斯
金通U.S. 总部-老森林路位置
Kellea霍根, vice president of Human Resources for the Lynchburg-based Framatome, feels energized every day by her organization’s mission to shape the world’s clean energy future. “I can’t think of anything more important than our work toward the sustainability achieved through clean energy,她说。. “It’s a great feeling that the work we do is not just about Framatome’s profit and loss, 而是为了人类更大的福祉.”
When the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law in 2022, nuclear energy’s designation as a clean energy source was exciting news for Framatome. The designation paved the way for one of Lynchburg’s international industry leaders to expand its facilities — and to add over 500 new jobs. “Our customers are excited about the next wave of nuclear energy, 我们很高兴能在这里支持他们,霍根说。.
核电厂的改进
在最初的建造之后, nuclear reactor plants are licensed to operate for a certain number of years. 大多数植物最初的寿命是40年, but operators can apply for 20-year incremental extensions by meeting requirements set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
通过它延长植物寿命的工作, Framatome is helping plants shore up their existing fleet so they can not only be in operation longer, but so they can increase the amount of energy they’re able to produce.
“The types of programs we’re working on are both interesting and innovative,霍根说。. 举个例子, she points to the buried pipes that run underground within existing nuclear power plants.
“这些管道会随着时间的推移而退化. Our development and engineering team came up with an unprecedented way to safely elongate the life of the existing pipe robotically without having to dig it up and replace it. The result is a streamlined solution to maintenance issues in nuclear plants’ water systems.”
To that end, Framatome recently committed a $50 million investment in its Virginia facilities. 除了它的工作与植物寿命延长, the company is developing advanced fuel designs for nuclear power plants. Framatome’s Advanced Fuel Management (AFM) program is focused on sustaining the existing light water reactor fleet and enhancing the safety and economics for plant operators.
This project builds on Framatome’s work with the Department of Energy. “当我们谈到小型模块化和先进反应堆时, we are talking about a shift in how our nation and the world will get clean energy,她说。. “We’re developing fuel features that offer operators enhanced safety, 效率, and reliability to keep clean nuclear power plants running 24 hours a day, 一年365天.”
推动事业
法拉通计划实现前所未有的增长, the company has reimagined its Central Virginia Community College technician preparatory program. “We have a proud, 20-year relationship with CVCC,霍根说。. “To ensure that program is delivering the next generation of nuclear technicians we need for the future, we spent the past year working with the leadership team there to revamp the program.”
The new Framatome Nuclear 技术 Academy is a four-year, work-study program. New students rotate between a full slate of academic classes one semester, 然后在法拉通公司工作了一个学期, 主要是在客户现场. “Students spend half their time in school and half their time getting real-life, 实践经验,霍根说。. After repeating the school-work cycle for four years, they graduate with an associate’s degree.
The first class of Nuclear 技术 Academy students started in the fall of 2023. Framatome plans to hire 100 students over the next five years. 霍根说:“竞争变得非常激烈. “We had just under 100 applicants for our first 15 hired academy students.”
学生享受全日制工资和福利, 该项目涵盖了全部学费, 费用, 书, and expenses — “everything down to calculators and note书,霍根补充道。. “如果你努力学习，做得好, our commitment is that you will transition seamlessly into a post-graduate position.”
2003年，霍根开始了她在法玛通的第一份工作, she couldn’t have imagined staying with one employer for 20 years. “But Framatome does a phenomenal job of creating challenging work experiences and rotating people through different parts of the business.”
Far from feeling like a cog in a wheel, Hogan has always felt her contributions were valued. “法马通的平均任期是25年，”她说. “我们在整体奖励方案上投入了大量资金, constantly benchmark compensation and benefits to be sure we’re above market, 我们为员工提供稳定的工作与生活平衡. It’s always a partnership between the business and the employee.”
招聘员工到林奇堡
From time to time, people ask Hogan if she struggles to recruit people to move to Lynchburg. “在我把他们弄到这里之后就不会了!她笑着说. “我们有很多东西可以提供. 我喜欢市中心举行的所有活动. The Academy is a gem that contributes so much in terms of culture and opportunity to the area. 我们也有很多提供给户外爱好者.”
林奇堡地区的生活成本也是一个加分项. “当我们雇用新员工时，我会告诉他们, your dollar will go a lot farther here than it will in other areas,她说。. “We’ve hit the sweet spot between not being too big or too small. There are lots of ways to get involved in the community and feel like you’re legitimately contributing. I think it’s an exceptional place to call home, from both a personal and a business perspective.”
罗宾·萨顿·安德斯来自北卡罗来纳州格林斯博罗.C.英国作家，《十大正规赌博平台大全》杂志的总编辑 绿字通讯.