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Meet the pros: Glenn Hoilman
11/05/2024
As a workshop instructor, outage scheduler, barbecue afficionado and gem cutter, Glenn Hoilman is a man of many talents.
It’s true, Hoilman’s “day job” is fleet scheduling specialist at Entergy Nuclear’s headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi, where he is responsible for the standardization of scheduling practices and processes across the nuclear fleet. Most recently, however, leaders recognized Hoilman for a collateral role, for his dedication to teaching scheduling fundamentals at the four nuclear sites. His efforts have not only spread knowledge but also saved significant dollars for the nuclear fleet, which ultimately helps keep customers’ bills lower.
Tell us about your journey to Entergy.
I was a special projects flight crewman in the Navy, first with reconnaissance aircraft. And then I did a tour of duty in Millington, Tennessee as an avionic systems instructor. After that, I went on board an aircraft carrier for four years and went to Desert Storm. When I got out, I worked at a number of nuclear fleets and worked for Entergy twice, originally at Indian Point Energy Center and later at FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant. For my wife’s health reasons I left Entergy briefly and moved south, and then I returned in January of 2019. I’ve been at the nuclear headquarters ever since.
Once I got back here to Entergy, I was really encouraged to go back and complete my bachelor’s degree. So I graduated in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on computational sciences as well as adult education. Those were my two focus areas. They tie in really well with what I do with outage scheduling and in the workshops, using the software applications as well as teaching adults. Not many people use their degree anymore, but I really do.
Take us through the development of the workshops.
Back in 2019, when I was in the outage management group, I went to the different sites for assessments conducted three months ahead of each refueling outage. We saw a need for better, more standardized practices with the coordinators who were working on the schedule.
So, I took my military instructor experience, and I worked with Oracle and with their training materials and developed at the time a four-day workshop where we covered the scheduling tool Primavera P6. I took the materials that a peer was presenting to managers and superintendents and rolled it up as part of the scheduling workshop.
With every workshop I do, I get feedback from the participants and the station leaders, and I incorporate that feedback into the next workshop. It’s a continuous improvement thing.
Why do you feel proud to work for Entergy?
I really enjoy it because I have the ability to work independently. With the scheduling workshop, I was able to develop it from the ground up. My leadership at the time said if you can show me the value added of putting together this workshop, I will support you 100 percent. I did a cost/benefit analysis for him, and he bought right into it. I've always had that type of support. That's something I've always appreciated with Entergy.
What’s life like outside of work?
Well, of course, I enjoy spending time with my wife and my daughter, and I have three granddaughters. We have a pontoon boat, and we spend a lot of time out on the reservoir. They like to go alligator watching, so we do that. And as far as hobbies, I have an unusual one: it’s lapidary or gemstone cutting. I started when I was about 13 years old when I made my girlfriend a ring instead of buying one. My father and my brother-in-law and my uncle, all three did stonework, so it was just natural to me.
We’ve heard you have another natural talent, that you’re quite a pitmaster.
What got me hooked initially was when I went to Memphis in May in 1989, and I got to sample some of the different barbecues. I was like, ‘I can do better than this!’ These were competitors on a national level, and one of my buddies said, ‘Man, your barbecue is a lot better than this!’ I said, ‘Well, you know, I'll give it a try.’ So, after I got out of the Navy, I bought myself a big trailer smoker and my hobby barbecue was very well received. I had quite a little following there for awhile, and I still like to cook for close family and friends.
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