Greg Wilkett, Fluor-BWXT President and CEO
PIKE COUNTY, Ohio -- January 25, 2023 -- On the third Thursday of each month, Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) retirees strengthen connections and exchange stories during lunch at a Waverly restaurant. Though their gathering place sometimes changes, the group is continuing a tradition that started more than 30 years ago.
PORTS retirees at Lloyd’s Pizzeria in Waverly.
Organizer and former site employee Bob Winegar stays in touch by email and Facebook.
“We talk about how we were a family at the plant; it’s really kind of like a family reunion,” Winegar said. “I enjoy doing it. Folks are still interested in what is happening at the plant and are happy to see something good happening in the state. It’s a chance to get together, share stories, tell tales, and see who did what back in the day.”
At each meeting, a guest speaker discusses ongoing projects at the Portsmouth site. In January, Environmental Remediation Deputy Director Stephanie McLaughlin talked about demolition and cleanup work. A number of retirees recognized McLaughlin from her early days at PORTS as a summer intern.
“It is a great honor to provide site updates to the retirees and I look forward to seeing them and answering questions about the current projects,” McLaughlin said. “If you ever worked at the plant and have a chance to attend, please do, because it is a wonderful time to reminisce with ‘family’ about the site.”
Currently, the group meets at Lloyd’s Pizzeria on the third Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Bob Winegar at rwinegar1951@gmail.com.
Environmental Remediation Deputy Director Stephanie McLaughlin talks about ongoing demolition and cleanup work.
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About Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth LLC
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) and BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) (NYSE: BWXT), two world-class companies with significant Ohio experience, formed Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth LLC (FBP) to address the decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) needs at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Portsmouth Site in Pike County, Ohio. Jacobs Engineering, another global leader in industrial and environmental projects, provides support. Fluor-BWXT employs 1,800 workers who bring unparalleled experience, insights, and lessons learned from across the DOE complex. The Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth mandate is to clean up the Portsmouth Site safely and compliantly, provide strong uranium stewardship and partner with local communities to achieve a sustainable economic future. For more information, visit www.fbportsmouth.com.
