The Future of the Workforce has long been an important concern for the Construction Institute. Its Board of Advisors has determined it to be crucial to the continued success of the Institute and the A/E/C Industry. CI’s Young Professionals Council is poised to meet the challenge.
In 2006, the CI Program Committee set out to address the generation gap between Established Professionals (EPs) who are at the helm of the Design and Construction Industry, and the young professionals (YPs) who are the industry's future leaders.
Program Chair, Rick Warhall of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., gathered a small number motivated YPs to get their point of view and to provide insight and direction to the program. In February of 2007, the first Young Professional's Forum was held. It was entitled "Old School Vs. New Rules”: Understanding and Dealing with New Attitudes, Demands, and Needs of an Emerging Workforce within an Established Corporate Culture",
The program sparked such interest within the CI, and the industry, that the Institute formed an ad hoc Young Professionals Council (YPC) to address ever-changing generational issues and their effect on the Design and Construction Industry. Stephanie Lemmo of Whiting-Turner and Mark Porto of Day Pitney, who had collaborated on the YP Forum, were named the council’s first co-chairs. With the help of Bob Gonyeau and Bill Cianci they were able to recruit young and talented people from Member firms who banded together to plan and provide social events and educational programs for the Institute and A/E/C industry at large.
What exactly is an YP?
A Young Professional (YP) is a person in the construction industry (architect, engineer, designer, surveyor, marketer, lawyer, owner, subcontractor, construction manager, facilities or operations personnel, etc.) who is interested in expanding and improving their expertise, knowledge and professional network within the industry.
A Young Professional is not defined by age or years of experience, but rather by their dedication given to self-improvement. The maturation and advancement of the YP is critical to maintaining a strong, educated, and experienced work force and to constantly replenish the life of the construction industry.
YPC Mission:
The purpose of the YPC is to promote continual development and growth of young professionals within the construction industry through networking and educational opportunities.
The Council will facilitate these opportunities by:
• Providing opportunities to improve the skills necessary to keep current in an ever-changing industry
• Recognizing challenges facing Young Professionals in the work place.
• Providing feedback and ideas to eliminate and/or minimize those challenges.
• Providing mentoring and educational programs in conjunction with the CI and the University of Hartford.
• Providing potential client contact through networking and relationship building.
The Young Professionals Council continues to grow by recruiting active participants and expanding its calendar of yearly programs and events.
YPC events include:
"Nuts & Bolts" Construction Primers - Educational programs aimed at college students and industry novices to give them a basic understanding of different aspects of construction.
- Fall 2007 program was “Core Information for Young Professionals and Students” which looked at the interaction between the Owners. Design and Construction team, as well as legal and risk issues.
- Fall 2008 program was "Green 101", which reviewed green aspects of construction currently in use within the industry.
"Bowling for Business" – A wildly successful Social outing at the T- Bowl Duckpin Lanes.
"Drive Away" Golf: – Social outing at the Goodwin Golf Course Driving Range that included professional instruction and bucket of balls
"Young Professional's Forum": A yearly major program that discusses topics of importance to the industry as a whole, but focuses on the interaction between YPs and EPs. The program largely feeds off panelists' opinions and facts and audience participation.
- The April 15, 2009 program, "Another Brick In the Wall", focused on how Colleges and Universities must work with Industry Professionals to build the framework to prepare graduates for the A/E/C Industry.
Common Misconceptions:
- Young Professionals Council programs and events are only for the young… When an Experienced Industry Professional receives a YPC Email announcement they often dismiss the information simply because they feel they are "not young enough" or that there’s nothing in it for them.
o The truth is that anyone in the A/E/C industry, regardless of age or area of expertise, experiences many of the same challenges. The YPC tries to tackle many of these issues and then educate CI members on ways young and old can work together to provide solutions. Your attendance at these programs and your feedback help the Council to grow to meet your needs and that of the industry.
o YPC social outings and educational events are “Rated E for Everyone”
o Industry Professionals of all ages and stages of their careers can take advantage of the networking and educational opportunities.
The Future:
At CI’s recent Annual Meeting, a provision was added to the Institute’s By-Laws making the Young Professionals Council a permanent standing committee with full Board of Directors participation. Timothy Onderko of Langan Engineering is the newest Co-chair of the Council, replacing Mark Porto, who will be joining the Board as a Director at Large. Tim and Stephanie Lemmo will lead the YPC in efforts to reach out to other young professional groups, such as the Emerging Green Builders, Hartford Green Drinks, Hype, and AGC’s Young Constructors Forum.
