Leadership Team
Kathy Miller
Kathy Miller is the President, Chief Executive Officer, and co-owner of Polestar Technical Services, Inc. Kathy brings more than 25 years of experience working in various federal and commercial nuclear operating environments from facility operations to deactivation and decommissioning as well as all aspects of business management and operations.
Kathy started her career in the nuclear industry in 1993 at the PUREX Facility at Hanford supporting engineering, work control and operations. PUREX was the first plutonium processing facility to transition from operations through deactivation to long-term surveillance and maintenance. The PUREX Deactivation Project essentially wrote the first chapter of transition and deactivation within the Department of Energy.
In 2000, Kathy led the deactivation planning of the low hazard facilities in the Hanford 300 Area as part of the 300 Area Accelerated Deactivation Project (300 ACP). The 300 ACP was the predecessor of Hanford’s River Corridor Project.
In 2002, Kathy joined Polestar Applied Technology as a consultant providing technical services conducting requirements-based assessments, conduct of operations implementation, readiness assessments and leading major change management projects at sites across the DOE complex including Savannah River, Idaho National Lab, Y-12 Nuclear Security Site and the Nevada National Security Site.
In 2008 Kathy transitioned to contracts management, developing knowledge and experience in the business management side of operations and later taking on the role of Business Operations Manager under WorleyParsons Polestar following the acquisition of Polestar Applied Technology in 2008.
In 2013, after nearly a year of negotiation, Kathy, Bill Bailey and Patty Bailey founded Polestar Technical Services, Inc., and transitioned the active personnel and contracts from WorleyParsons Polestar through a divestiture agreement. Polestar Technical Services began operations on April 28, 2014 as a woman-owned small business.
Today, Kathy is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of the company. Kathy provides leadership to execute the corporate strategy through the development and implementation of the company’s business plan which reflects the longer-term objectives and priorities to achieve profitable growth and successful operation of the company.
Kathy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from Washington State University.
Kim Swentik, CP APMP
Kim Swentik, CP APMP, is the Director of Business Development for Polestar Technical Services, Inc., bringing more than 28 years of experience leading federal capture, proposal development, and growth strategies within highly regulated environments.
Throughout her career, Kim has supported complex Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DoD), and international nuclear programs, guiding opportunities from early capture strategy through compliant proposal development, submission, and post-award debriefs.
Known for her disciplined, mission-focused approach, Kim excels at bringing together technical and operational capabilities to develop clear, compelling value propositions. She is also a strong advocate for small-business participation and partnerships in support of mission-critical federal programs.
As Director of Business Development, Kim leads Polestar’s growth initiatives, building strategic relationships and identifying opportunities that align the company’s capabilities with the evolving needs of its federal customers.
Jessica Fuller
Jessica Fuller is the Manager of Business Operations for Polestar Technical Services, Inc., bringing 25 years of experience in finance and accounting, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, and overall financial management. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Oklahoma Baptist University.
Jessica began her career in Alaska’s Oil & Gas industry, gaining project controls experience in Northern Alaska and Eastern Russia. She also spent time in the medical device industry, supporting clinical research teams. For the past 15 years, Jessica has been with Polestar, serving in progressively senior roles and now overseeing the company’s financial and accounting functions.
As a member of Polestar’s all-female leadership team, Jessica plays an integral role in supporting the company’s business operations and continued growth.
Outside of work, Jessica is a sports enthusiast who enjoys watching just about anything sports-related. She also loves spending time with family and friends, especially boating, camping, and enjoying time together outdoors.
Samee Nihill
Samee is a Senior Administrative Specialist and has over 20 years of business experience including administrative office support with 6 years of human resource activities. She currently provides senior administrative support to the executive management for Polestar office locations and functions as the main touchstone for all Polestar employees and subcontractors assigned to Polestar offices and remote locations. Her skills and activities include maintaining company information system, document preparation support, records management, action tracking, timekeeping administrator, office logistics, and coordinator of community and employee events and recognition programs. She leads and trains new hires with onboarding processes and maintains the resume log and training records.
Samee has been with Polestar since March 2008.