Haynes picked to lead Bechtel Parsons team
By Ronica Brandenburg/Register News Writer

The Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass team is welcoming Chris Haynes as its new project manager who will oversee the design, construction and implementation of the chemical weapons destruction pilot plant to be built at the Blue Grass Army Depot.

Prior to his Blue Grass assignment, Haynes was the Bechtel National construction manager for the defense and space market sectors.

He is a 27-year veteran with Bechtel National Inc. and has traveled the world working on projects in Chile and southern California. However, his welcoming in Richmond was unlike any other, he said.

“I felt like I was coming home,” he said. “There are great people here who want us all to succeed and that's what everyone wants.”

Haynes has guided the project throughout the design phase since its inception, and is a registered professional engineer in Kentucky. He has worked on the design and construction of petroleum and chemical plants, power plants and mining facilities.

His move to Richmond marks the 19th move he has made with Bechtel, but describes his new role as project manager as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

One of his main goals is to maintain the level of safety established when Chris Midgett served as project manager.

“Chris Midgett set a safety culture that includes over two years with no first-aids and no accidents anywhere,” he said. “ I have these huge shoes to fill to keep Midgett's success moving. We have the foundation for a world-class project execution that meets all of our safety goals.”

Haynes is impressed with the amount of support for chemical weapons demilitarization shown in Kentucky.

“The local community supports the project, state regulators and the federal government,” he said.

Midgett has more than 30 years of experience managing large projects, including chemical and nuclear facilities for government clients. He served on the Blue Grass project since contract award in June 2003.

His promotion assignment takes him to Frederick, Md., where he will be the manager of Functions and BSII Six Sigma deployment champion for Bechtel Systems and Infrastructure Inc.

Outreach office open

The Bechtel Parsons team, located at 301 Highland Park Drive, is sharing office space with employees of the Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile outreach office.

The new office, to be located at 1000 Gibson Bay Dr. Suite 2, will be open early 2006; however, the team that will operate the center already is forming.

Yvonne Riding will serve as manager of the chemical stockpile outreach team that will focus on informing the public of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA) mission.

“We may not have all the answers, but we have contact with those who do,” Riding said. “We hope to incorporate the project into the community.”

Riding was formerly located in Las Vegas working for the United States Department of Energy.

She and her husband will be permanently relocating to Richmond, but in the meantime, Riding has been a guest at the Bennett House Bed and Breakfast.

“My husband and I had the opportunity to come to Kentucky a couple of years ago and I asked him what in the world were we doing in Las Vegas,” she said. “Little did I know that I would be here in a couple of years.”

Stephanie Parrett, community outreach specialist, also is a new addition to the chemical stockpile outreach team. Parrett will be visiting local classrooms and community organizations.

“We want to get the outreach office out there so that people know that we can take any questions they have about the program itself,” she said. “We will be able to coordinate any needs that they have.

Parrett also will be in charge of the Blue Grass Exchange newsletter, which is a publication keeping the public up to date on the progress of the chemical weapon demilitarization process.

For more information about the Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile outreach office, call Riding at 624-6252 or Parrett at 624-6277.

Ronica Brandenburg can be reached at rbrandenburg@ richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.