Casie Zayas

What do you like about your job?

With the work/life ratio at LLNL, I’ve been able to be very involved in my children’s lives and take time off to chaperone their field trips and school activities and take them to appointments and sporting events. Plus, due to the Lab’s flexible work schedules, I get to pick them up from school every other Friday and spend the early afternoon with them.

I feel blessed to be a part of the diverse environment at LLNL, and I feel fortunate for all the opportunities this career has afforded me.

What inspired you to go into your field of work?

Watching my mom work at the Lab while growing up inspired me to pursue a career here once I became a mother. I knew I wanted a job that was stable, flexible, and had good benefits, and working here has provided that and so much more! I’ve met so many people along my career path at LLNL, and have become really good friends with a handful of them.

What is your educational and career background?

I have an Associate of Arts degree from Las Positas College. I am one class shy of obtaining my Basic Teaching Certificate, which I plan to complete in the near future.

I had a number of jobs before finding my home at LLNL twenty years ago. My medical background as a chiropractic assistant and physical therapy aide helped me get my foot in the door as an administrative assistant in the Health Services Department. Since then, I’ve worked as an administrative specialist for the Engineering and PLS directorates, and as a contractor supporting the Livermore Field Office. I just celebrated 5 years with PLS, and I am still learning new things all the time in this role.

What do your day-to-day work activities include?

I currently support the section leader, 4 group leaders, and staff of the Physics Division, Applied Physics Section. My support includes addressing day-to-day matters, managing complex calendars, scheduling meetings (often at the management level), tracking action items, and organizing in-person, video, audio, and web conferences, workshops, and tours. I process paperwork for activities related to onsite visitors, travel (including foreign), expenses, office moves, foreign national employees, and terminations and new hires.

My section has a high volume of job listings, and I’m responsible for contacting the applicants, setting up their interviews, arranging travel authorizations, setting interview agendas, and being the point of contact for the applicant on the day of the interview.

What do you do in your free time?

When I’m not working, I stay busy by attending local sporting events, camping, traveling to new places, getting together with friends and family, attending my children’s numerous activities, and volunteering for LLNL-sponsored events like the Tri-Valley Expanding Your Horizon’s Girls workshops events as well as events in downtown Livermore such as the Livermore Craft Beer Festival, Livermore Wine Country Downtown Street Fest, and Livermore Valley Half Marathon.