2010 Issue

10 Calling All Mentors Utah Engineers Council member societies leading the way transferring knowledge and experience to young engineering professionals and aspiring engineers. MENTORING-WHAT IS IT? The word mentor reaches back to Greek mythology. When Odysseus went to war, he entrusted Mentor with his son’s education and development. Today, we define a mentor as an experienced, wise, and trusted counselor or teacher and mentoring as a sustained relation- ship between the mentor and a younger, less experienced person. Two types of mentoring are natural mentoring and planned mentoring. Natural mentoring occurs through friendship, collegiality, teaching, coaching, and counsel- ing. In contrast, planned mentoring occurs through structured programs in which mentors and participants are selected and matched through formal processes. The mentoring programs and activities embraced by Utah Engineers Council (UEC) member societies focus on natural mentoring. Efforts are geared toward developing programs where opportu- nities for mentoring relationships can happen. QUALITIES OF A GOOD ENGINEERING MENTOR The finest engineering mentors share similar attributes. What they have are the abilities to listen, question, challenge, and offer feedback and support. A good engineering mentor is someone who: • Is approachable and welcoming • Shares information and experience openly • Has good communication and listening skills • Understands the field of engineering • Has a network of contacts within the industry • Is motivating, encouraging, positive and empowering • Is willing to set aside/commit time to mentor someone • Is committed to making a difference, one individual at a time • Does not wait to be asked The benefits of mentoring have been stated in many different ways but the one I like best is that mentoring can make an incredibly positive impact on the life of a young aspiring profes- sional. In addition, mentoring helps solidify the role of engineering in a fast paced, diverse American landscape. PLANNED MENTORING AT HILL AIR FORCE BASE The Engineering Directorate at Hill Air Force Base recently kicked off a planned mentoring program to serve the several thousand engi- neers and scientists that work at the base. Even though the Air Force has formal mentoring requirements defined in Air Force instructions and policy directives, there is general recogni- tion that successful mentoring must rely on a one-on-one relationship between a motivated mentor and mentee or protégé. There must be a unique chemistry and desire on the part of both individuals for the process to work. The formal or planned mentoring programs set the framework for the individual relation- ships to form and, hopefully, flourish. Interest- ingly, Air Force mentoring instructions endorse membership in professional associations and societies to provide additional opportunities for mentoring as well as for broadening techni- cal expertise. The bottom line is that effective mentoring happens when you approach it in a manner most suited to your needs. PLANNED MENTORING AT ATK ATK Space Systems, our UEC2010 E-Week event sponsor, recently completed a six-month pilot of a formal mentoring program designed to meet business objectives to transfer knowledge, engage employees, and help bridge genera- tion gaps in the workforce. According to ATK’s mentoring program manager, Toni Mund, “In building these mentoring relationships, we are looking to help employees build their network within the company and provide them with stretch assignments to help them develop and hone job skills and competencies that will help them in their career progression.” In addition, ATK is a strong supporter of student outreach programs throughout Utah that focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. EXAMPLES OF NATURAL MENTORING ACTIVITIES AMONG UEC MEMBER SOCIETIES Nearly all UEC member societies conduct mentoring activities. Here are some highlights: Society of American Military Engineers- Con- ducts engineering and construction summer camps designed for high school students who excel in math, science, and technical courses and are interested in pursuing engineering in college. Great Basin Post sponsors a student to attend camp each year. Visit http://www. same.org/camps for more information. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronau- tics- Establishing 145 student chapters at col- leges and universities nationwide. On local level, conducts reviews of student science projects at BYU, University of Utah, Utah State University, and Weber State University and makes cash awards for needed equipment in response to proposals. American Society of Mechanical Engineers- Na- tionally, provides an eMentoring opportunity for members. Locally, conducts an annual a Student in Industry Day programwhere local companies invite students to come for a job shadowing activity and dinner program. Institute of Transportation Engineers- Invites and sponsors civil engineering students from BYU, University of Utah, and Utah State University to monthly luncheon meetings with speakers affording students an opportunity to meet and learn from working professionals. Society of Women Engineers- Encourages women topursueengineeringcareers. Motivated Message From The Council’s Vice Chair JOSEPH MARTONE, Ph.D., CIH, QEP, S.SAME Vice-Chair Utah Engineers Council 2009-2010, Chair Engineers Week 2010