I love attending the ACC/AAAE Airport Planning, Design & Construction Symposium because it gives the industry a chance to peer into the next-generation of infrastructure to move our nation. It also takes the next generation of airport industry leaders and puts them to the test so they will be prepared to make changes and improve the overall experience for travelers.
The Young Professionals Competition is coming back to the Symposium in 2017, and seasoned volunteer mentors will work with young pros to hone their skills by helping them respond to a mini-RFQ, created specifically for the competition, which will give them the opportunity to work with actual airport representatives to craft a tailored response.
Coordinated by Faith Group, the competition will kick off at a networking reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Feb. 20, at the Gordon Biersch Brewing Restaurant. Young Pros will get a chance to sign up for a team and meet their mentor, who will run them through the mini-RFQ during Symposium week to help them create a winning response.
Mentors will evaluate each response based on pre-selected evaluation criteria and will judge them similar to the RFQ process used for procuring professional services in the industry. The YP Team receiving the highest ranking will have their names entered into a drawing for prizes including a complimentary 2018 conference registration and other prizes.
This year’s mentors include:
• Dave Fleet, Faith Group, LLC
• Enrique Melendez, Leidos
• Steve Pelham, Jacobs
• Ron Peckham, C&S Companies
• Andrew Kirchhoff, Landrum & Brown
• Grice Whiteley, Grice Group LLC
Airport Business is sponsoring the event again this year along with Faith Group, C&S Companies, Jacobs, Connico Inc., Montgomery Consulting Group, Q&D Construction Inc., The Allen Group LLC, Vesta Rae & Associates LLC and Woolpert.
Developing the next generation of industry leadership is one of the most important tasks all of us need to keep pushing and something we as a magazine feel very passionately about. The Young Pros Competition creates the skills and mindset today’s young workforce will need to develop as strong leaders and independent thinkers in order to build the infrastructure the nation needs to keep the economy moving.
It’s these young pros who are already reshaping the industry and making changes needed across North America. Many of the Airport Business Top 40 Under 40 winners have come through the Young Pros network where they garnered the skills they needed to excel in the industry.
So this year, find out how you can help valuable programs like the Young Pros keep its mission going and do what you can to be involved.
And for all our past, present and future Top 40 Under 40 winners, please come by the networking reception so you can keep growing while helping others achieve what you have.
