What is your company's greatest asset? If you answered your employees, then you are correct! Join the Augusta Metro Chamber and SRNS on Tuesday, August 16 to learn from P.K. Hightower, Manager of Continuous Improvement at SRNS and of one of the members of the “2021 Best Places to Work in South Carolina” team, as she shares tips on how to motivate, recognize and reward your team.

The SRNS IDEAS employee suggestion program was created in 1952 and is reportedly the longest continuous- running suggestion program in the United States! IDEAS, Individuals Developing Effective Alternative Solutions, is an employee suggestion program that was implemented to stimulate employee participation in generating as many new improvement suggestions as possible. All types of suggestions are eligible to ensure that the Savannah River Site maximizes savings for the Department of Energy and shows good stewardship of taxpayers’ money. This program has generated $250 million in cost-saving ideas at SRS for taxpayers and earned international recognition. P.K. Hightower will discuss how maximizing your employees’ knowledge and great ideas leads to cutting costs and improving productivity no matter the size of your company.

P. K. Hightower earned a B. S. degree in Physics from Jackson State University, a M. S. degree in Nuclear Engineering from The Ohio State University and a M. S. in Project Management from George Washington University. PK started her career at the Savannah River Site thirty-four years ago as a reactor physicist/charge designer in the Reactor Technology Department. Other positions held include K-Reactor Restart Shift Engineer, Lead Engineer for the Spent Fuel Storage Basin Operations, the High-Level Waste Environmental Compliance Manager and the Closure Business Unit Environmental Compliance Manager. Currently, PK serves as the SRNS Director of Interface Management and Manager of Continuous Improvement. She enjoys volunteering in the community; she served two terms as President of the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association of Aiken County (now known as Mental Health of America). She is former Guardian Ad-Litem and is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Aiken County.

The Women In Business Program begins at 11:30 am at the Enterprise Mill Events Center. Tickets are $30 for Chamber members and $40 for prospective members. Advanced registration required at augustametrochamber.com. Registration deadline is Friday, August 12.