PGH2O in the Community: Inspiring the Next Generation

The ACE Mentor Program of Western PA is a local affiliate of a national program that focuses on introducing careers in architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) to high school students.
The Smallman Street Water and Sewer Reconstruction Project in Pittsburgh’s historic Strip District, replaced over 7,000 feet of water line, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer over the course of a year. This was a $13 million investment in the health of our system, completed in April 2019. The Smallman Street Water and Sewer Reconstruction Project in Pittsburgh’s historic Strip District, replaced over 7,000 ft of water line, storm sewer, and sanitary sewer over the course of a year. This was a $13 million investment in our system's health.

Increasing workforce development efforts is one of the less-discussed but equally-important goals of the current PWSA administration. PWSA is pursuing a multipronged approach to achieve this goal. One such avenue is through the ACE Mentor of Western PA. Professionals in ACE disciplines present to the students at biweekly sessions from October to May. Each session focuses on a different career path and skill set. The sessions range from designing hypothetical projects to visiting active construction sites. PWSA has held a position on the ACE Board Western PA Chapter since 2019.  

This year, we co-hosted our first virtual student session on the topic of civil engineering on January 6th. Manda Metzger, PWSA Project Manager in the Engineering Department, shared her experience on the Smallman Street Construction project. Her presentation emphasized the importance of a good design in the planning stages and the problem-solving skills required in the field after construction commences. 

Ana Flores, PWSA Project Manager in the Engineering Department, taught the students about sewersheds with an interactive Find Your Sewershed activity (you can find it on our website here). 

Human Resources Specialist, Stacey Hamilton, provided the students with typical, entry-level job descriptions to provide more information on how to get into the field and the qualifications required. Our colleagues at Lagan Engineering co-hosted the session, providing insight into civil engineering in the public sector.  

PWSA is a proud sponsor of the ACE Mentor Program of Western PA. We look forward to building our relationship for a long-term impact on Pittsburgh students. 

To learn more, sponsor, or volunteer with the ACE Mentor Program of Western PA, visit their website at acementorwesternpa.org. 

“I am proud to represent PWSA on the board of ACE. We look forward to sharing our expertise and building our relationship with the next generation of professionals.” - PWSA Industry Relations Manager, Julie Asciolla

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