The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) today announced two programs aimed at increasing diversity and attracting, developing, and retaining personnel in the concrete pavement industry.
“Passion and diversity are the inspiration for two new programs, an association internship program and an emerging leaders program,” said Lori Tiefenthaler, 2017 Chairperson of the American Concrete Pavement Association. (Tiefenthaler also serves as Senior Director of Marketing for Lehigh Hanson, Inc., a large nationwide construction materials producer.)
“We recognize we are the torchbearers of the concrete pavement industry, and for our industry to remain viable, we must not only pass that torch to future generations, but light the way for young people who are facing career choices,” Tiefenthaler said.
Interns for the Future Program
Believed to be the first of its type in the industry, the ‘Interns for the Future’ program is aimed at attracting people who may have a passion for the concrete pavement industry, but may never have considered it as a career option. ACPA is seeking highly motivated students for 12-week internships, which will be both a learning and a work experience for the selected interns.
To be considered, candidates must have completed at least two years of study at an accredited University that has a strong reputation in the areas of concrete, materials, pavement engineering, or construction management. The candidate will need to have a minimum overall GPA and an expressed interest in the field of concrete paving. To increase the potential for geographic distribution of candidates, a selection panel will evaluate applications.
Interns will have the opportunity to experience different aspects of the industry, including first-hand experience in seeing where technology meets construction; working on technical and/or other important projects; and further developing important career skills, such as résumé preparation and presentation skills.
In support of the program, ACPA is partnering with the Innovative Pavement Research Foundation (IPRF), a 501(c)(3) corporation operated by the ACPA. The IPRF was founded for educational and scientific purposes. By making 100% tax-deductible contributions toward the program, the IPRF will match ACPA and ACPA Chapter/State affiliates dollar per dollar to offset the internship expenses for individuals working through the program.
Emerging Leaders Group
The Emerging Leaders Group (ELG) is designed to identify the next generation of leaders within contractor companies and other industry organizations.
The ELG consists of ACPA members and affiliated ACPA Chapter/State association personnel under 40 years of age who have been identified as future leaders by their employers or other industry professionals.
ACPA is encouraging ELG members to participate in the Association at the local and national levels. “Participation in the ELG will allow members to exchange ideas on national issues, discuss common experiences and best practices, develop leadership skills, and build a network on a national level,” Tiefenthaler said, adding, “The platform offered by the ELG will poise the next generation of professionals to assume leadership roles within their organizations and within their local and national industry associations.”
In addition to the mission of developing the next generation of ACPA leadership, the ELG will also provide an immediate opportunity for emerging leaders to share ideas and thoughts about the future of the association and industry.
The ELG held its first meeting during ACPA’s 52nd Annual Meeting last month. More than 20 emerging leaders participated and discussed a number of topics, including materials issues, resiliency, close-tolerance paving, and how vehicle innovations will impact the pavement industry.
![[VIDEO] Lori Tiefenthaler, Chair of the ACPA focuses on diversity and a new program](https://img.forconstructionpros.com/files/base/acbm/fcp/image/2017/01/default.587ec0a0edf57.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=75&q=70&w=75)
