Supply Chain Management Brings New Talent to the Savannah River Site
Friday, October 27th, 2023
Since 2021, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) Supply Chain Management (SCM) has advanced and improved strategic recruitment tools to transition 16 student interns and apprentices into full-service roles. Within the last year, SCM has established recruiting connections with area universities and colleges and increased internal program incentives to attract 12 new graduates to the Savannah River Site (SRS).
“The internship and apprenticeship programs have helped us recruit, build and retain highly skilled individuals that are eager to join our team,” said Brittany Alston, SRNS Supply Chain Apprenticeship Coordinator. “Through skill-based education, our apprentices are learning from the best of the best and transitioning to full-service roles quickly.”
In 2021, SRNS added the SCM occupation to the Registered Apprenticeship Program which now includes 23 technical and professional occupations. Nationally recognized and approved by the Department of Labor, registered apprenticeships combine classroom learning with on-the-job supervised training from experienced mentors and leaders.
“As we continue to grow our recruitment efforts and incentives, we are looking for young professionals that demonstrate solid academic performance, strong analytical skills and have the ability to work
The 2023 Supply Chain Management apprentices and interns pictured with SRNS President and CEO, Dennis Carr. Front row, from left: Nicholas Diacetis, Ekaterina Lyamtseva, Rachel Boyd, Brandy Edwards, Morgan Wise and Taylor Davis. Back row, from left: Jonathan Forde, Roy Niblett, Blake Elam, Kale Arrington, Derek Amick, William Lawson and Dennis Carr. Not pictured: Kaylann Mentrup, Stephanie Shaw, Benjamin Bruno, Jamal Aekins, Anna Newton, Alexander Wang and Joel Kuriakose.independently,” said David Dietz, SRNS Supply Chain Procurement Senior Director. “Our latest group of apprentices proved vital to SCM performance which resulted in numerous full-service positions being offered.
Apprentices are introduced to SCM functions at the entry level which includes 500 hours in each work process category. A successful candidate progresses in the role and cross trains to support other SCM functional areas including Warehouse Operations, Property Management, Procurement and Inventory Information Services.
“One unique aspect of our program is the opportunity for apprentices to lead a cross-functional project to completion. The experience concludes with apprentices delivering the final project to senior leaders at the Site,” Dietz continued. “We are so impressed with how our apprentices approached their projects, solved problems and interacted with senior leadership.”
Kale Arrington, SCM Apprentice, presents his final cross-functional project during the summer SRNS Internship Program. Arrington signed and accepted a full-time offer after completing his internship and earning his degree from Augusta University.
Benjamin Bruno, a senior at Clemson University and Small Business Program and Supply Chain Strategy Apprentice, believes his internship put him ahead of the curve.
“Working in pursuit of supplier excellence, I had the opportunity to grow my skills from theoretical knowledge to real, impactful solutions,” said Bruno. “The internship and apprenticeship programs grew my skills beyond the traditional knowledge base we learn in the classroom. I was given a head start and a chance to connect with professionals that have decades of experience which I am extremely grateful for.”
SCM Policy and Compliance Apprentice Brandy Edwards accepted a full-time assignment in Feb. 2023 after completing her bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Georgia.
“My women-led group is extremely empowering and motivating, allowing me to get my name out there and push my career forward,” said Edwards. “You don’t have to be a business major to accept this opportunity. You rotate through the entire supply chain while receiving strong mentorship, networking opportunities, strategic relationships and lessons on how to carry yourself professionally.”
Augusta University alumni Rachel Boyd, who has a bachelor’s in business administration, and Roy Niblett, who earned a degree in cybersecurity, accepted full-time assignments with SCM this year. Boyd joined the SCM Small Business Programs & Suppliers Partnering group while Niblett transitioned into SCM Information Services.
“It was rewarding to see the impact of my work during the apprenticeship rotation,” said Niblett. “From day one my mentors treated me like a full-service employee, giving me challenging projects and pushing me beyond my limits professionally. I’d recommend this program to anyone and plan to continue my journey at the Savannah River Site.”
“My journey from intern to apprentice to full-time employee has been such a valuable experience,” said Boyd. “It gave me the perfect foundation and starting point for my career. My plans are to continue growing and developing my skills and to gain additional certifications to be a stronger asset to the organization.”
SCM has increased its recruitment activity at University of South Carolina Aiken, Augusta University, Clemson University, University of Georgia, University of South Carolina, The Citadel and Benedict College.
“We are experiencing a huge transition of workforce while supply chain professionals are difficult to locate and in high demand, said Jay Johnson, SRNS Deputy Vice President, Contracts and SCM. “In the last year and a half, our team has spent 30% of our time hiring and closing gaps in our department. We will continue to ramp up opportunities in training and professional development to speed up time to talent and bring additional hires into our more needed roles.”
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, a Fluor and HII partnership company, is responsible for the management and operations of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, located near Aiken, South Carolina.
