Employee Testimonials

ORAU Employees Speak Highly of Organization's Mission and Strong Leadership

Over the past few years Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) has been recognized as a top employer in Knoxville and the state of Tennessee.

In 2006, we were honored by the Knoxville Business Journal as one of the area’s “Best Companies to Work For”. We were also recognized in 2007 and 2008 as one of Tennessee’s best employers by Business Tennessee magazine.

So why is ORAU such a great place to work? See what employees are saying about the organization and our corporate culture in their own words:

"I’ve been with ORAU for 10 and a half years, and before that I served as a post doctoral participant for two years. I enjoy working at ORAU, because I like the long-term steady vision of upper management. I also like the professionalism of the employees and the retirement benefits. When my two children were small, we liked attending the Employees' Club's 'Lunch with Santa' and the Easter egg hunts, too."
- Steve Brooks, Environmental Assessments and Health Physics

"I believe effective leadership is one of the many reasons ORAU is a great and successful place to work. Hard work by employees also contributes to making it one of the best companies to work for in Tennessee."
- Gloria Paul, Scientific Peer Review

"I am proud to be an employee of a company that is providing encouragement to the next generation of science and technology leaders. This is my second time working for ORAU. After seven years of wandering, I came home. I believe in ORAU and I feel ORAU believes in me."
- Michael Hubbard, Science Education and Workforce Development

"I have been with ORAU for 28 years and have stayed all that time for mainly two reasons:

The people who work here are competent, caring and want to do a good job—great co-workers! Also, the work we do at ORAU helps the public and the nation be a better place to live and work."  
- Ann Rigell, Human Resources

"First and most importantly, ORAU allows for flexible work schedules.

ORAU has excellent leadership, too; corporate management sets the stage. We’re treated as professionals and given the tools to do our jobs well. Management is also sympathetic to personal needs where health and family are concerned.

You know a company has a good track record when there are so many employees that have 30+ years of service."
- Amy Starkey, Scientific Peer Review

"You could say that I've worked here through a lot of the 'stages of life' and through a number of positions.

I first came to work at ORAU when I was just 18 years old. After more than 25 years, I moved to another company, from which I am now retired. However, I came back to work at ORAU when I was about 63 years old. Now I've been here, the second-time-around, for six plus years.

During these years, I was given and am being given, the opportunity to grow and learn and advance personally, educationally and professionally. What I most value and appreciate about being an ORAU employee is that the company has always ‘adapted’ to my needs. Through company policies, the needs of myself and my family have been fairly addressed and, whenever possible, met. I have no doubt that my whole life has been better because I worked and work for a company that cares about their employees."  
- Sylvia Arow, Health Communication