For more information about the Young Professional events, please visit our YP page.
Are you new to Southern California Public Works, under 35, energetic, and looking for opportunities to get involved with the profession? Well, check out the Young Professionals (YPs) committee. The committee was established in 2016 and blossomed in 2017 through motivated Young Professionals and support from the Chapter Board of Directors. The YPs are restructuring the committee into a forum for Young Professionals in the Public Works industry to gain training, participate in networking opportunities, and learn more about the industry through technical tours and professional development.
The Committee plans and hosts four quarterly general session meetings a year, at which they provide refreshments and feedback from previous quarter happenings, as well as information about upcoming Chapter events and YP events. The general sessions also serve as a platform for providing a professional development component for the YPs. In 2017, the professional development topics ranged from an NPDES permit presentation to an RFP and Project Proposal writing discussion. The committee strives to bring in seasoned APWA members and professionals to assist with the discussions, and to provide much needed guidance for the next generation of Public Works professionals. Additionally, the Committee plans and hosts two networking events, two community service events, and two technical tours.
The YP committee is also devoted to developing young professionals at the college level by participating in local college fairs, giving presentations, and forming APWA student chapters in Southern California. The Committee also supports the Chapter’s Insight publication by writing four quarterly articles.
The YP committee has a Board and several chair positions. The Chair positions include a Networking Chair, Technical Tours Chair, Outreach Chair, Joint Society Chair, and Media Chair. The Networking Chair oversees fun and exciting networking events such as sporting events and bowling nights, where YPs can fellowship with peers and experienced professionals in a casual environment. The Technical Tours Chair organizes group events to visit Public Works infrastructure projects and/ or Public Works material laboratories/ facilities providing a better understanding of the civic process and magnitude of such engineering projects. The Joint Society Chair is responsible for coordinating with other organizations such as ASCE LA and OC Younger Member Forum, ensuring our events do not overlap and sharing information. The Outreach Chair schedules and coordinates our student engagement and community service events. The Outreach Chair focuses on recruiting, developing, and informing the college/ high school level students about APWA and the Public Works profession. Lastly, the committee has a Media Chair who manages the website and social media platforms, creates meeting handouts, and prepares a brief presentation for the general session meetings.
This Committee has great energy and is all about teamwork, having fun, and empowering young professionals in Public Works! If you are looking for an opportunity to be exposed to professional development opportunities, experience technical tours, give back to your community, influence youth, and attend sporting events with like-minded individuals in your industry – then this is the committee for you! For more information on this vibrant and educational committee contact the 2024 YP President Eugene Nicko Canlas via email at ECanlas@dpw.lacounty.gov
