What's your background?
I grew up in the Lynchburg, Va., area and came to work for The Babcock & Wilcox Company (now AREVA NP Inc.) shortly after high school. I grew up in a large family and college was not an option at that point in my life. However, when I came to work for B&W, higher education and growth were highly encouraged by both co-workers and management. Thus, I set two goals for myself and my career. First, I wanted to gain as much education and experience as I could from working at B&W; and second, I wanted a formal college education.

I achieved my education goal and graduated from Lynchburg College with both an undergraduate degree and a master's degree in Business Administration/Management/Finance. As far as my work experience, I started out in the Disbursement Services Group in the Controller Department and moved on to various jobs within the company. One of my favorite work experiences was working as a Contract Administrator in the SPIS (Special Products & Integrated Services Organization, now Nuclear Services). In this assignment, I had the opportunity to work at several customer sites. This is where I learned the most about the products and services that our company provides to our customers in order to keep their nuclear plants running at maximum efficiency.

I eventually returned to the Controller Department in a management position. I managed the Disbursement Services Group for many years. This included payroll, accounts payable and expense accounts. I worked with a super team of employees. We were able to bring many enhancements into the company that improved services for our employees. We brought the payroll service in-house (previously in Barberton, Ohio), we implemented the electronic expense account system, and we established the employee corporate card program and procurement card program.

A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to learn more about the business and financial management side of the company. Thus, I accepted a position of Financial/Business Analyst for the Corporate Sector.

What's your job like on a daily basis?
Today, my job consists mainly of reporting financials to our parent company in France and to our U.S. management teams. I also provide financial support, analysis, and consultation to the corporate functional units. The corporate functional units include Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, Quality, Legal, Executive, Finance, Facilities, and Corporate R&D. On any given day I could be working on reporting financials to our French colleagues along with a special analysis on trend spending for the Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

What do you like about your work?
The thing that I like most about my job is assisting the corporate functional unit’s managers and their business managers in running their respective businesses. When I can provide business support or a financial analysis and information that will be beneficial to them in making the right decisions that will add value to our company, then that's what creates a feeling of accomplishment for me. To be able to contribute to the success of our company is what I really like about my job. In other words, while French reporting is demanding and challenging, the best part of the job is to feel like part of the team that makes a meaningful contribution to the success of a business unit and subsequently to AREVA.

And outside of work?
My husband, Jim, and I enjoy spending time with friends and family. Some of our favorite hobbies are travel, golf and skiing. I personally have a passion for physical fitness and spend a good deal of my free time working out at the gym, doing aerobic exercises, cycling, etc. Also, I am an avid reader and love good books. One of the most pleasurable things I have done in the last few years is to work with the Big Brothers & Sisters Program. I have spent many fun hours with my "Little Buddies" and I think I have gained as much from this learning and sharing experience as they did.

For the future?
I am very excited about our company's business today and what some are calling the "Nuclear Renaissance." I look forward to seeing the next Nuclear Power Plant built in the United States. It seems like we have almost come full circle and the exciting times of growth in the nuclear business are upon us once again.