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My Experience at PWX Chicago

By Nick Pawlak, Bolton & Menk - Young Professionals Stipend Recipient

Thanks to the generous support of the APWA-MN Chapter, I had the incredible opportunity to attend PWX 2025 in Chicago as a Young Professionals stipend recipient. The experience was energizing, eye-opening, and shed even more light on how important the role public works plays in shaping our communities.

The week kicked off with the Young Professionals Summit, which quickly became one of the most impactful parts of my PWX experience. The breakout sessions were engaging, but what stuck with me most were the candid conversations about leadership, career growth, and navigating challenges as emerging professionals. One speaker said, “Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions,” and that really resonated with me.

Later that evening, I attended the Young Professionals Happy Hour on the rooftop of the Willis Tower. I was able to chat with peers from the Carolinas, Wisconsin, and colleagues in Minnesota. We swapped stories about our cities, shared ideas, and laughed over how similar some of our challenges were—despite being so far apart. That night reminded me that public works is a shared mission, and that community can be built anywhere.

Throughout the week, I kept running into familiar faces from Minnesota—whether it was in the exhibit hall, at sessions, or grabbing coffee between events. These spontaneous meetups turned into mini reunions, and it was encouraging to see how well-represented our state was. Minnesota being well-represented was definitely prevalent during the awards ceremony, where multiple public works professionals from Minnesota were recognized. 

The exhibit hall was a sensory overload in the best way possible. I spent hours exploring everything from smart manhole covers to AI-powered asset management software. One booth had a live demo of a robotic sewer inspection tool, and I was genuinely fascinated by how far the technology has come.

I returned to Minnesota with renewed energy, a broader network, and a deeper appreciation for the public works profession. I’m incredibly grateful to the APWA-MN Chapter for making this experience possible and highly encourage other young professionals to apply for the stipend in future years. If you’re looking for inspiration, connection, and a glimpse into the future of public works, PWX is the place for you!