In our industry, the greatest asset that we have is people. Investing in people can be harder to quantify than investments made in technology, automation and process improvement; but it is crucial that industry skills and knowledge are passed along to new professionals. This may bring several questions to mind: How can new professionals be provided with the necessary tools to move forward in their career while being effectively trained, appreciated and inspired? How can relationships be forged between employees of all experience levels, backgrounds, and areas of interest? How can future leaders be provided with an opportunity to interface with current company leadership as well as future and existing clients? These issues are particularly challenging in water, which is a crucial yet frequently underrated and overlooked field.
This presentation will discuss the importance of implementing a program geared toward empowering new professionals. Our presentation will utilize real-world examples that have been implemented both nationally and regionally within Burns & McDonnell. Through organization of resources, networking building and engaging events, the Burns & McDonnell New Professional Programs seek to find the balance between preparing for the future and having fun. Our presentation will provide listeners with an outline of a successful new professional program and share some of the strategies and efforts that have been most effective in achieving them.