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Insights > Meet the pros: Michael Jesson
Meet the pros: Michael Jesson
12/10/2024
Meet Michael Jessen, the lead for fleet maintenance training at Entergy Nuclear headquarters in Jackson, Miss. That’s the group that performs governance and oversight for maintenance and technical training programs at Entergy’s four nuclear sites in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and one that’s getting noticed for its impact across the fleet. What’s the secret sauce for Jessen’s success? He’ll tell you, “I genuinely like what I do.”
Tell us about your journey to Entergy.
I was hired in commercial nuclear as an electrical maintenance instructor, and then became the maintenance and technical training superintendent. For a few years I was a loanee to the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations as a training evaluator. I was given the opportunity to come south to Entergy, and I've been at headquarters for 12 or 13 years now, in the same position. That's kind of unique.
How does your group perform governance and oversight for the nuclear fleet?
At the basic level, we do document reviews of site materials and perform onsite observations to ensure we're implementing training programs in accordance with the approved procedures and industry standards.
That means we coach, provide feedback and teach newer instructors alternative or better ways to do what they're doing in the classroom, which is presenting materials so that trainees can attain the knowledge and skills that are needed.
In what ways is your team engaged with Entergy’s goals?
First of all, I like training because it's a living process. It doesn't happen overnight. But some of these things take a long time to do, because you're doing a lot of work up front. So, we're implementing some programs to streamline the process for analyzing, designing and developing training.
What else are you doing to standardize business across the fleet or to better align with the industry?
We revised our systematic approach to training procedure to streamline the process and compare apples to apples when communicating with the rest of the industry.
We’re also working to standardize the training programs for maintenance, radiation protection and engineering to make them common across the fleet. So, for example, training a journeyman electrician at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Vicksburg, Miss. will be the same at Riverbend Station in St. Francisville, La., the same at Waterford 3 Steam Electric Station in Killona, La. and the same at Arkansas Nuclear One in Russellville, Ark. That’s based on industry standards.
We’re also working on standardizing chemistry programs, which will be an industry first when we accomplish it.
Why are you proud to work for Entergy?
With the changes we’re making, we've been empowered to figure out things like: What are the timelines and the best ways to approach the implementation? What actions need to be taken in the interim? What's the gap training going to look like? What does the change management look like to go from where we currently are to where we want to be? There are a whole lot of smaller pieces under the big picture that we work on individually or as a team to figure out the right way to do it.
What’s life like outside of work?
I like to pretend that I can golf. And then last year, we bought 10 acres that hadn't been well maintained and a house that needed some tender loving care. So, we're in the process now of working on the house and cleaning up the property and making it ready to be my retirement home. We’re staying south because I don't like the cold anymore.
How about a fun fact about you that people might not know?
I have seen all 50 states. My mom and dad loved to travel, and his goal was to see all 50 states. The last one I saw was Hawaii when I was in the Navy.
What's your next bucket list trip?
My wife’s bucket list trip is to go to Hawaii, and I've never been to any of the European countries, so seeing the true touristy things there would be on my list. That’ll all come once I’m living on my land in retirement. That's exactly how it's all supposed to work out.
