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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2025
Latest News
From operator to entrepreneur: David Garcia applies outage management lessons
David Garcia
If ComEd’s Zion plant in northern Illinois hadn’t closed in 1998, David Garcia might still be there, where he got his start in nuclear power as an operator at age 24.
But in his ninth year working there, Zion closed, and Garcia moved on to a series of new roles—including at Wisconsin’s Point Beach plant, the corporate offices of Minnesota’s Xcel Energy, and on the supplier side at PaR Nuclear—into an on-the-job education that he augmented with degrees in business and divinity that he sought later in life.
Garcia started his own company—Waymaker Resource Group—in 2014. Recently, Waymaker has been supporting Holtec’s restart project at the Palisades plant with staffing and analysis. Palisades sits almost exactly due east of the fully decommissioned Zion site on the other side of Lake Michigan and is poised to operate again after what amounts to an extended outage of more than three years. Holtec also plans to build more reactors at the same site.
For Garcia, the takeaway is clear: “This industry is not going away. Nuclear power and the adjacent industries that support nuclear power—and clean energy, period—are going to be needed for decades upon decades.”
In July, Garcia talked with Nuclear News staff writer Susan Gallier about his career and what he has learned about running successful outages and other projects.
TopFuel 2025: Nuclear Reactor Fuel Performance Conference
Director, North America New Business Fuel Division,
Framatome Inc
Elisa Calvo Tone serves as the Director of Fuel New Business for Framatome Inc, overseeing strategic initiatives and business development across North America and the United Kingdom. She leads the expansion of the Fuel Division into emerging markets and technical domains, with a focus on advanced reactor technologies, space applications and medical isotopes.
In her current role, Elisa leads the strategic development of the HALEU (High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium) supply chain for Framatome in both the U.S. and Europe. Her work is central to the global advancement of the advanced nuclear supply chain and long-term fuel security including forging strategic partnerships with Small Modular Reactor developers to ensure fuel supply security.
Elisa holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nuclear and Renewable Energy Engineering from the Polytechnic School of Engineering in Torino, Italy. Her career began at Framatome SAS in Paris, where she led safety analyses for new builds projects. In 2011, she transitioned to Framatome Inc in the United States, taking on the role of Supervisor of Safety Analyses for the Pressurized Water Reactor fleet where she spearheaded methodology development and fleet-wide applications, playing a key role in securing NRC licensing approvals.
Elisa is an active member of the American Nuclear Society and currently serves as Past-Chair of the Virginia ANS Chapter. She is also a passionate advocate for children, volunteering with the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to support vulnerable youth in the legal system.
Last modified September 3, 2025, 9:54am CDT
