WEFTEC 2017

Clarkson University’s NYWEA student chapter were welcomed with endless networking opportunities at WEFTEC 2017. General events, workshops and information sessions allowed for personal connections to be made with a variety of companies, resulting in warm invitations to private and public events. Clarkson NYWEA spoke with several professionals and got a feel for some of the company dynamics. Professionals were encouraging students to ensure that a huge part of the job-hunting including finding the type of work environment that one was comfortable enough to work in to make mistakes and reach there fullest potential. Black and Veatch, Brown and Caldwell, and NYWEA/NEWEA hosted several events that gave an insightful perspective into the workforce.

A night with Brown and Caldwell made for an unforgettable experience. The event took place at River Roast, a wonderful British eatery and bar which looked out on the Chicago river. NYWEA student members met with several professionals both in and out of Brown and Caldwell. One of the most encouraging parts of this experience was being able to meet the employees who talked highly of the company and the workforce that came with it. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, which ended up in conversations surrounding professional experience at a younger age. Co-op and internships experiences are highly recommended before signing with a company, for the benefit of both the student and the employer. This offers a neat perspective into company dynamics while one is still learning the basics of engineering. We hope to be able to see faces and hope to have a similar experience next year!

NYWEA/NEWEA was a fan favorite! It was neat to meet water professionals and treatment plant operators in the Northeast region. Some people we had the opportunity to meet in the spring at the 89th Annual Coherence, and others were new faces. We learned about the projects going on in our own backyard, and how being part of the student organization now is a great preparation for becoming more involved in NYWEA as a whole. This was encouraging for those looking to stay active upon graduation, and sparked the interest in the newer members. We look forward to seeing even more familiar faces at the 90th Annual conference this coming spring!