Earl Berry: ‘Whatever you do, keep moving forward’

February is Black History Month. We’re spotlighting some of our African American leaders who model high standards and are paving the way for others at SNC. Here, we’re focusing on Earl Berry, Work Management director, Vogtle 1&2.

When and why did you become interested in nuclear energy?

I came to SNC in 2009 after the coal project I was working on stopped. Energy has been a focal point since my junior year in college. I’ve had the opportunity in my career to work with everything from coal gasification to hydrogen fuel cells. Nuclear energy was a natural extension of my interests in energy.

What does it take to succeed in the nuclear industry?

Be both a student and a teacher of the business. 

Have you encountered any obstacles? How did you handle them?

Of course, obstacles are a part of life. I look for opportunities to use my skills, knowledge, experiences and teammates to help get past the obstacles. Odds are that you are not the first or will be the last to have encountered that issue.

What advice do you have for others who want to follow in your footsteps?

Remember there are many ways to achieve a goal. One of my favorite quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says, “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” I have had the chance to do many different things in my career. All of those experiences have led to being where I am now.