Younger Member Group Spotlight

James B. Gayle, Structural Engineer, L.A. Fuess Partners and Younger Member Group Chair

The mission of the BSCES Younger Member Group (YMG) is to foster the professional growth, ethical awareness, and technical competence of the Section’s younger members. The group organizes and encourages community outreach, supports engineering students at local colleges and universities, and encourages membership and participation in ASCE and BSCES committees, institute chapters, technical groups, and other activities.

YMG hosts monthly opportunities varying from community outreach and networking/social events to technical learning presentations geared towards students and professionals in industry. These events serve as an opportunity for young engineers and students to meet peers, expand their professional networks, and learn about other companies and services within Civil Engineering. 

YMG Holiday Party (left) and Annual Fall Leadership Student Caucus (right)

Events are organized through monthly meetings, which are attended by the YMG committee of approximately 20 volunteers, as well as other members seeking further involvement. Monthly meetings allow the committee to recap past events, coordinate future events, and discuss new opportunities that support the technical and soft skills of YMG members. Furthermore, YMG has collaborated with other professional organizations such as the Structural Engineers Association of Massachusetts (SEAMASS) YMG and the Young Professionals in Transportation (YPT), to establish new relationships with a wide variety of professionals within Civil Engineering. Below is a list of technical and social events YMG has hosted in the past year:

• Trivia Night at Dorchester Brewing Company
• Annual Fall Leadership Student Caucus at GeoEngineers 
• Food Sorting Event at Greater Boston Food Bank
• Holiday Party with ‘Christmas in the City’ Toy Drive at Sacco’s Bowl Haven 
• Happy Hour in Fenway in partnership with Young Professionals in Transportation
• BSCES Student Night at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.
• Neponset River Cleanup Earth Day Event
• Senior Level Tech Talk

Our focus this year is on event development – improving existing events based on past experiences and bringing new opportunities through collaboration with other professional organizations. So far, we think our efforts have paid off. For instance, Trivia Night was moved to a local brewery, which boosted participation and advanced networking during and after the event. Meeting up for a casual happy hour with the Young Professionals in Transportation and giving back to the community through in-person support at the Greater Boston Food Bank provided refreshing moments to socialize with peers. And lastly, we brought back the Annual Fall Leadership Student Caucus in-person for the first time since 2019, giving students an opportunity to collaborate and share experiences with other student leaders and BSCES professionals in attendance. We’re looking forward to developing this commitment further and cannot wait for what’s in store in the coming months! 

Upcoming events include:

• Red Sox vs. San Francisco Giants Outing and Networking Event – May 1, 2024
• Poo and Brew Networking Event in partnership with the New England Water Environment Association – May 2, 2024
• Junior Level Tech Talk – May 2024, Location TBD
• End of Year Social – June 2024, Location TBD

YMG trivia night (left), volunteering at Friday Night Supper Program (right)

The Student Chapter Committee, a student-oriented branch of YMG, serves as a link between BSCES and 10 Massachusetts college and university ASCE student chapters. The committee is comprised of a chair and at least one liaison to support each of the 10 student chapters. The Student Chapter Committee provides support by relaying information regarding scholarships, valuable networking opportunities, and student-oriented resources to help promote the academic careers and professional development of student members. One of the primary goals of the Younger Member Group is to encourage greater student involvement within BSCES and promote industry exposure through student-centered events. For more information about the Student Chapter Committee, email ymg@bsces.org.

Sorting at Greater Boston Food Bank (left), Annual Billiards Tournament & Networking Event (right)

We are very excited for the events planned this spring and summer, and we hope to see you there! Follow YMG on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming events. For more information about getting involved, click here or join us at one of our monthly meetings by emailing ymg@bsces.org.