Empowering Public Works Professionals: The Value of Mentorship

Mentorship is a powerful tool that helps both parties grow and facilitates opportunities for the transfer of kwledge essential to sustaining a thriving public works workforce. Seeking advice and learning from our peers allows us to build our kwledge base and gain fresh perspectives on how to approach the challenges of an evolving public works industry. Mentorship provides a pathway to career growth, inspiring us to invate and explore new techniques. It refines communication skills, uncovers personal strengths, and boosts confidence. Recognizing the immense value of a mentorship program, the APWA Washington State Chapter established a Mentorship Committee to develop a robust program framework to connect public works professionals and chapter members. This program will serve as a valuable resource for the APWA community by facilitating meaningful relationships and conversations, promoting chapter membership, encouraging member engagement, and enhancing the transfer of public works kwledge. In this presentation, the speakers will discuss the benefit of mentorship for public works professionals and how it can bring value to an organization. They will share examples and experiences from establishing a mentorship program. The focus will be on identifying the program mission, guidance documents, the application process, pairing strategies, resources for facilitating successful relationships, lessons learned, and testimonials from implementing a mentorship program.
At the conclusion of this session participants will be better able to:
• Recognize the value of mentorship: Learn how mentorship can promote career development and community within an organization. Gain kwledge on how mentorship relationships can elevate member engagement. Obtain guidance in creating mentorship opportunities that enhance APWA’s membership.
• Acquire tools and resources to develop a formal mentorship program: Obtain program framework and guidance documents for creating mentorship relationships.
• Promote and facilitate successful mentorship relationships: Learn strategies for implementing mentorship programs that strengthen their local chapters