Federwitz keeps employees on task and laughing
Jody Federwitz, of PPD's Mechanical Engineering Department, is a 22-year Fermilab veteran.
What people in the Particle Physics Division Mechanical Engineering Department love the most about Jody Federwitz is her sense of humor.
"Jody is always professional, with an eye for details and ways to make improvements, someone you can count on to start and finish a project," said Elaine Phillips, of PPD's Support Services Department. Yet she still brings joy to the work day at Fermilab, Phillips added.
When Federwitz, an administrative assistant, arrived at the laboratory in 1987 people had just started using computers on a daily basis. Her job has included training PPD employees using the laboratory's Procard database and warning co-workers about rogue geese.
Federwitz always had a goal to work at Fermilab. She and her husband, Glenn, who works for ES&H in AD, moved to Batavia from Wisconsin when he was hired by the laboratory in 1977. She waited until their two daughters were in school before applying to Fermilab.
Over the years Federwitz has worked in the areas of safety, cryogenics, electrical and mechanical engineering as well as with the U.S. Particle Accelerator School based at Fermilab. Federwitz said her 22 years feels like only about five. Federwitz sees how physics can affect people's everyday lives.
"The research done here has given us medical imaging, cancer therapy, supercomputing and there's a lot more yet to be discovered," she said.
She has been a member of the Auditorium Committee since 2000. Her fondest memory is working the open house in 1997 because she was able to show the laboratory's neighbors around. She said it was hard work but rewarding.
"When I retire I hope people will say that I made them laugh," Federwitz said. "But I'll also have made sure they got their paperwork in on time."
-- Tia Jones
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