June Update

SE3 Committee Mentorship

​One of SE3’s 2017 initiatives is to establish a mentorship task group to take some of the lessons learned from the 2016 SE3 study and put them into action! In the 2016 SE3 survey, we found that people without mentors were 22% more likely to consider leaving the structural engineering profession. People with mentors were more satisfied with their career advancement and overall career choice. Another recent study by the Society of Women Engineers found that mentorship facilitates a sense of connectedness to the organization, increases satisfaction, and reduces turnover. Because part of SE3’s mission is to promote engagement in the structural engineering profession, bringing a mentorship program to SEAONC is a great way to pursue our mission.
 
Headed up by Faith Silva from Thornton Tomasetti and Neelima Tapata from Simpson Strong-Tie, this task group has done extensive research regarding the methods, successes, and failures of other mentorship programs in order to inform the best approach to starting an SE3 program. With input from other task group members, the committee at large, and SE3 leadership, the mentorship task group is gearing up to host their first mentorship event in early August 2017. 

Faith Silva and Neelima Tapata, mentorship task group co-chairs

​After we have one event under our belt, the group intends to re-assess the needs expressed by session attendees and possibly offer more formal mentorship or other programs in the future. Stay tuned for more information about an upcoming SEAONC SE3 mentorship event!
 
May was also a fruitful month for SE3 outreach; Angie Sommer participated in a panel discussion at the Groundbreaking Women in Construction (GWIC) conference on May 2 entitled Earn What You’re Worth—Closing the Gender Pay Gap. Nearly 400 contractors, architects, and engineers attended the sold out two-day conference, and Angie was invited to discuss the findings of the 2016 SE3 study regarding the gender pay gap in a broader discussion of how to improve it within the construction industry.

​Angie Sommer (third from left) at the GWIC conference on May 2

​Additionally, Ayse Hortacsu presented findings from the 2016 SE3 study to Buro Happold’s New York office on May 12, where she delved into issues such as mentorship and participation in professional organizations (like SEAONC!) with the younger attendees. AISC hosted Rose McClure and Angie Sommer to present a webinar for the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois on May 16, where they provided information about the 2016 SE3 study and corresponding best practices. The webinar was recorded and can be viewed online in the News section of the SE3 website.
 
This month, Rose McClure will be continuing to spread the word about SE3 to the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAONY) on June 21.
 
Join us at our next meeting on June 13 at SGH in San Francisco! We welcome new members and contributors.