March 2017 Vol. 72 No. 3
Features
Baltimore, Industry Groups Create Water Industry Career Mentoring Program
by Sheila Joy
When government and industry come together, amazing things happen. When their collaborative efforts to support under-served youth through career preparation, professional one-on-one mentorship and introductions to potential employers are deployed, lives are changed.
In 2015, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOEP), in partnership with Chesapeake Water Environment Association (CWEA) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS), launched the Baltimore City Water Industry Career Mentoring Program. The program, open to 18-24 year olds who are un- or under-employed and hold either a high school diploma or GED, is designed to encourage, motivate, train, develop and place qualified young professionals in jobs within the water and wastewater industry.
“As the major water supplier in the Baltimore region,” said Rudy S. Chow, P.E., DPW director for Baltimore, “it is important that DPW take a lead in training the next generation of workers in the water profession. Having a pipeline of water industry workers is vital to the health and well-being of our citizens, and to our water customers. This innovative program is an antidote to a succession planning crisis in the water industry, as utilities nationwide grapple with how to replace veteran water and wastewater system employees who are eligible for retirement within the next decade.”
Now entering its third year, the program begins in February and runs through the end August. “Most of these participants have never had any exposure to the water and wastewater industry, and are not aware of the career opportunities that are available,” said Kraig Moodie, CWEA president. “During the seven months the students commit to the program, they are exposed to an incredible amount of information. They spend the first couple of months in a classroom setting learning the basics, such as resume writing, proper use of communication technologies, introduction to business practices, and even proper dress codes. Once a basic foundation has been built, the students go into the field and shadow DPW and private industry mentors who expose them to every aspect of career potential, including wastewater maintenance, laboratory services, CCSD and pumping station and treatment plant operations.”
When the students have identified their personal areas of interest, they are placed in summer work study programs within the DPW. These are fully paid, six- to eight-week positions that allow the students to provide practical application of the skills they learned earlier in the program. At the conclusion of the summer, the students prepare for a Career Fair. “We do everything to ensure their success,” continued Moodie.
Jobs and PACP
For the past two years, NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) has solicited its members, from contracting companies, municipalities, engineering firms and companies that manufacture equipment, materials and supplies for water and wastewater systems, to participate in the program’s Career Fair.
“We have more than 500 member companies throughout North America committed to keeping our infrastructure healthy, and they can benefit a great deal from this recruitment source,” said NASSCO’s Executive Director Ted DeBoda, P.E. “My hope is to support the city of Baltimore Mentorship graduates as they venture out on their career paths by encouraging NASSCO members to participate in the Job Fair, but also to work with Baltimore and CWEA to present this highly successful model to other cities and companies across the country.”
NASSCO has also generously provided the opportunity for Mentorship Program graduates to receive a Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) scholarship. PACP was developed in partnership with the Water Research Center (WRc), and provides standardization and consistency to the methods in which pipeline conditions are identified, evaluated and managed in North America. The goal of PACP is to have pipeline system owners create a comprehensive database to properly identify, plan, prioritize, manage and renovate their pipelines based on condition evaluation.
“NASSCO’s mission is to set standards for the assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure,” continued DeBoda. “Building up the next generation is critical to the success of our industry, and ensuring these young people start off right by being trained in industry standards not only benefits their individual careers, it ensures that standards are being met, work is done properly and our communities will continue to benefit from well-maintained water and wastewater systems.”
To date, 30 young professionals have successfully completed the Baltimore City Water Industry Career Mentoring Program, with a 100 percent job placement rate within the city of Baltimore and other industries.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
NASSCO, (410) 442-7473, nassco.org
CWEA, (717) 630-0303, chesapeakewea.org
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