Monday, August 3 | 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Room 331ABC

Advancing Utility Engineering Careers: Certifications from CEC and UESI 

Join leaders from the Utility Engineering and Surveying Institute (UESI), the Utility Engineering and Surveying Certification Board (UESCB), and Civil Engineering Certification (CEC) for an in-depth look at the evolving landscape of professional certification in utility engineering.

This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the certification program supporting utility engineers and highlighting the growing portfolio of credentials designed to elevate professional practice, strengthen industry standards, and recognize specialized expertise beyond the professional engineer licensure.       

Presenters will: 

• Provide an overview of CEC and UESCB and their roles in advancing post-licensure certification (John)
• Share updates on the Board-Certified Pipeline Engineer–Water (BC.PLW) credential, including adoption and impact (Warren)
• Introduce the Board-Certified Project Utility Engineer (BC.PUE) credential and its role in defining project leadership competencies (Lawrence)
• Highlight the early-mid career Civil Engineer–Certified certification and future certification pathways under development (John)
• Discuss how these programs collectively support career progression, workforce development, and industry consistency  

Attendees will gain practical insight into how certification can differentiate their expertise, support career advancement, and contribute to the continued advancement of the civil engineering profession.

Why Attend

• Learn how BC.PLW and BC.PUE credentials are shaping expectations for technical and project leadership excellence
• Understand how CEC and UESCB certifications align with career growth beyond licensure
• Gain insight into emerging certification programs and future directions
• Connect with certification leaders and peers invested in advancing the profession
• Earn PDHs while engaging in forward-looking professional development

Presenters

• Lawrence Arcand, P.Eng., M.ASCE - Technical Liaison, PUE
• John P. Campbell, P.E., SR/WA, M.ASCE – Chair, UESI Certification Board (UESCB)
• Warren Green, P.E., BC.PLW, M.ASCE – Vice Chair, UESI Certification Board (UESCB)

Tuesday, August 4 | 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Room 320

290 - Workforce Challenges and Solutions Networking Breakfast and Workshop

Note: Breakfast and Networking will take place from 8:00am-9:00am in Room 320 followed by the interactive Workshop.

Our industry is facing an unprecedented challenge in attracting and retaining water/water professional employees to align to continued growth. Some publications even refer to it as a crisis, and report attrition rates of up to 20% during recent years. There are no industry contributors unaffected by the challenge - agency owners, engineers and contractors are all experiencing the projected shortfall. In addition to creating solutions that will bring young people entering the workforce into the industry, retaining current industry talent, especially in the 25-39 age bracket, is a priority. Retention is as complex, if not more, than initial recruitment when the changing landscape of the industry is factored into the equation. Advancing technologies, evolving project management approaches (such as the increasing adoptions of design-build delivery), and the need to address industry challenges such as PFOS drive a need to continue educating and training to both mitigate skill gaps and more importantly - continue to provide growth opportunities.

This interactive workshop will focus on gaining perspectives on the workforce development challenge and discussion of practical solutions aimed at developing effective strategies for recruitment, retention, and delivering growth potential. Our industry is vital to the health and safety of our communities, and the workshop's guided group discussion will cover a wide array of topics designed to generate and/or validate ideas that will contribute to overcoming the workforce development challenges we face. A breakfast will precede the workshop and will provide an excellent opportunity for networking with colleagues from across the industry. Feedback from the group discussions will be captured anonymously using the Mentimeter survey platform, and participants will be provided with a summary of the strategies and tactics developed during the workshop. The objective of the workshop is to generate ideas and empower those who participate to contribute to a more inclusive and effective path forward to successful workforce development.

Presenters

• Anna Pridmore, PhD, PE, DBIA- Structural Technologies, Sr. Vice President
• Susan Donnally, PE, Assoc. DBIA- HDR, Technical Director
• Cecilia Dean, Assoc. DBIA- Structural Technologies, Technical Project Manager 

Tuesday, August 4 | 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Room 141

291 - Ethics in Engineering Interactive Workshop

Note: Breakfast and Networking will take place from 8:00am-9:00am in Room 320 followed by the interactive Workshop.

Within our practice of the profession of engineering, there are many intersections between ethics and culture. Whether personal, within the organizations we work and volunteer for, or as part of the project teams we are assigned to or lead, culture plays a pivotal role in the application of our code of ethics.

This interactive workshop will focus on gaining perspectives on the ethical challenges facing our industry and a discussion of practical solutions aimed at developing effective strategies for navigating ethical dilemmas and establishing positive culture within organizations. Case histories highlighting ethical challenges will be discussed.

The objective of the workshop is to generate ideas and empower those who participate to improve the ethical and cultural landscape of organizations in which they engage. 

Presenter

• Anna Pridmore, PhD, PE, DBIA- Structural Technologies, Sr. Vice President