Elaine began her career with Bechtel in San Francisco in 1979. Her background and education in information sciences, as well as her gained expertise in strategic business development and market research analysis prepared her for her current position as Senior Planner at the Bechtel Nevada site.

It is at this former nuclear testing site, located in the Nevada desert, that a creative metamorphosis is taking place. The ban on nuclear testing created a major change of mission that necessitates innovative thinking on how to identify new market niches and clients for the kinds of research and testing capabilities that are still available at Bechtel Nevada. Part of that new mission is the development and packaging of technologies to attract industry partnering. Other aspects of a major change in mission is a re-engineering and reduction of forces, as well as the budgetary fact of life of doing more with less. Elaine Mew’s experiences with the development of strategic plans, the development, coordination and monitoring of business development budgets, and the creation and publication of marketing tools makes her a valuable resource for other labs and research stations in the Far West region who face similar future changes of mission.