The APWA-MN Young Professionals (YP) Committee and Student Chapters have shaped the careers of countless public works professionals in Minnesota. Let's revisit their early history and explore how a focus on young professionals and student chapters has connected the APWA-MN Chapter.
In 2012 Nick Egger, Mitch Hoeft, and Justin Messner established the UMN Student Chapter of APWA with support from chapter leaders Jeannine Clancy and Lee Gustafson. The inaugural student chapter leadership team, comprising Jake Guzik, Sarah (Schweiger) Hazlewood, Tom Borowicz, Kaylyn (Haley) Ronke, and Jeremy Melquist, laid the groundwork for the student chapter's success. The student chapter hosted brown bag sessions, welcome lunches, technical tours, and networking events, connecting students with seasoned professionals. The chapter’s early efforts fostered a strong sense of community among members and inspired many to pursue active involvement in APWA at both the student and professional levels.
Shortly after the creation of the UMN Student Chapter, the Young Professionals (YP) Committee formed. The initial leaders of the YP Committee Chris LaBounty, Emily Brown, Eric Seaburg and Alex Jordan organized events from technical tours of the Metro Transit Green Line to engaging panel discussions featuring industry leaders. The early years of the APWA-MN YP Committee were marked by impactful events that left a lasting impression on its members. Alex Jordan noted “Those early events lead to great connections, we really created a network.”
Events like mini-golf outings, lawn bowling, and Whirly Ball fostered camaraderie and networking opportunities. These events helped bridge the gap between student involvement and professional careers. “At the first networking event I made a connection that led to my first Job offer.” said Jake Guzik. The YP Committee has continued to thrive, with 15 active committee members today.
The Young Professional and student chapter members are involved in APWA leadership today. Early members, including Lydia Ener, Ben Perkey, Cody Mathisen, Chloe Weber, Tom Borowicz, and others, have taken on leadership roles within APWA as committee members and chairs. Guzik and Schweiger continued their active involvement in the chapter. After graduating both served as advisors to the UMN student chapter and joined the YP committee.
In 2019 Guzik was the champion for starting the University of Saint Thomas APWA Student chapter and is currently on the Membership and Special Events Committee. Schweiger currently serves on the APWA-MN Executive Committee as the Director – Young Professionals. Chris LaBounty, who now serves on the Conference Planning Committee, and Alex Jordan, a former Director of the YP Committee, have each made significant contributions to advancing the goals of these groups. Their leadership reflects the opportunities these chapters provide for developing skills, building networks, and driving professional growth. Early in his own career, Guzik felt the benefit of an early network “Being able to make those professional connections, I was able find someone who knew the answer and learn from them.”
The APWA-MN Student Chapters and YP Committee play a crucial role in fostering the next generation of public works leaders and connecting its members. Jordan advises current YPs “get involved on committees, you never know who you are going to meet that will affect your career.” By drawing inspiration from its rich history and intentionally welcoming and involving students and young professionals, the chapter and its membership ensure its continued success for years to come.
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