Council Mission
The mission of the SAME Young Professionals (YP) Council is to advocate for and engage young professionals in support of the SAME Strategic Plan through outreach, training, credentialing support, networking, and recognition. The council provides educational programming, hosts networking activities, supports local and national events, promotes leadership and engagement, collaborates on mentoring opportunities, and emphasizes recognition of young professionals within the Society.
Annual Volunteer Opportunities: STEM/Engineering & Construction Camps. Each spring/summer, SAME’s Engineering &Construction Camps recruit volunteers to serve as mentors and camp counselors.
Learn More: Camps Mentoring.
Organization Structure
Communications Vice Chair: Cristen Sheppard, AICP, PP, mcfa
Conferences Vice Chair: Jaimie Wright, The Lewis Group
Credentialing Vice Chair: Wille Parks, RA, LEED AP BC+C, RRMM Architects
Programs Vice Chair: Sal Forgione, Associate AIA, PMP, HDR
SAME POC: Sarah Feighery, SAME National Office
Highlight your achievements or those of another YP in TME! Please use the following Spotlight Nomination Form to submit or contact the Communications Vice Chair with any questions.
Have a Post Event or YP Achievement to share in our next newsletter or across our social media platforms? Contact the Communications Vice Chair with any submissions.
The Conference Committee organizes networking events for Young Professionals as part of SAME’s two major national conferences, the Joint Engineer Training Conference (JETC) in May and the Federal Small Business Conference (SBC) in November. These include YP and Fellow networking events, Pre-Conference Connections, and support for reviewing and providing feedback to YPs submitting abstracts to speak at the conferences. YPs are also provided with an opportunity to apply to receive a stipend to attend the conference in the event they or their company are unable to afford to send them. Click the below ribbon for more information.
Rules/Information: Stipends to attend the 2026 Joint Engineer Training Conference and Expo (JETC) will be awarded to active SAME Young Professionals (YP) and Enlisted members who have demonstrated support of SAME at the Post, Regional, and/or National level and who might not otherwise be able to attend. Young Professional recipients must attend the YP Community of Interest (COI) meeting, and the Enlisted Members must attend the Enlisted Member COI meeting at JETC.
The stipends will provide complimentary registration, round-trip flights, and a hotel stay of up to four nights. Recipients will be accepted based on: SAME Participation; Professional Development; and Accomplishments. Questions on YP and Enlisted stipends can be directed to Sarah Feighery.
Applications will close March 6, 2026
Eligibility Criteria
- Young Professionals (Industry, Government, or Military) who are 39 or under at the time of 20254 JETC or Enlisted Members (Active, Guard, or Reserve)
- SAME member for at least 18 months prior to stipend application deadline date. Join Date before October 1, 2022.
- Active member of a SAME Post, Field Chapter, and/or National COI for the past years (as reflected in the application form)
- Completion of the online application form, which includes a short summary of SAME Participation, Professional Development, and Accomplishments
- A Letter of Endorsement from the Post or Field Chapter President or COI Chair supporting the nominee of a stipend.
*Note: Priority will be given to individuals who have never attended JETC or have not previously been awarded a stipend.
Stipend Application’s link coming soon.
SAME is invested in providing members with the tools and resources to develop and advance their careers within the A/E/C profession. The Credentialing Committee is working to help members understand the importance of credentials, what credentials apply to the A/E/C profession, and how to get and maintain them. Visit the Credentialing Opportunities webpage or contact the Credentialing Vice Chair with questions.
SAME believes the engineering community is strengthened when engineers and other practitioners obtain professional licensure and certifications. To assist this, the Credentialing Assistance Program is provided as a member benefit to reimburse anyone who obtains approved credentials. Reimbursement can apply to exam fees or study materials! For complete information, restrictions, and to find the application, visit the Credentialing Opportunities Webpage or contact the Credentialing Vice Chair with questions.
SAME believes the engineering community is strengthened when engineers and other practitioners obtain professional licensure and certifications. To assist this, the Credentialing Review Course (CRC) Program provides SAME members with free access to credentialing review courses of their choosing to help prepare for their professional certification exam testing. For complete information, restrictions, and to find the application, visit the Credentialing Opportunities Webpage or contact the Credentialing Vice Chair with questions.
The Programs Committee helps organize and review webinars focused on topics of interest to Young Professionals by finding presenters to participate in and support SAMEs robust national webinar opportunities.
Upcoming National Webinars
-
- Webinar
Surviving Your Company’s Acquisition
What influences employee organization commitment and how to improve organization commitment before, during, and after their company has been acquired? This webinar will dissect the main factors impacting organization commitment and how to change management framework for a better direction for the company and its employees. -
- Webinar
Navigating the FAR Overhaul’s Impacts on the Rules and Regulations Governing Small Business Procurement
Executive Order 14275 initiated the overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which seeks to simplify the federal procurement process. This webinar will discuss the overhaul’s impact on small business procurement and its impact on both large and small government contractors -
- Webinar
Leading in Times of Trouble
How do you deal with adversity and how can you provide vision in times of great stress and trouble? How can you motivate your team and provide vision when setbacks hit you hard but the mission is not over?
Related TME Articles – YP (YP) Council
-
Measuring Success of an Onsite Wastewater System
The Louisville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers played a critical role in designing an innovative septic mound system for the St. Charles Army Reserve Center, with recent evaluations indicating acceptable performance has been maintained years later. -
Identifying Contaminated Materials at Remediation Sites
Differentiating site-related wastes from naturally occurring or industrial background materials is critical for accurate remediation decisions and cost-effective cleanup. -
Complexities of PFAS Groundwater Interim Actions
With funding from the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program and oversight by the Defense Innovation Unit, a six-month groundwater treatment pilot study at Biddle ANGB revealed key insights into managing the challenges encountered in executing non-time critical removal actions concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. -
Leveraging 3D Scanning on Archaeological Sites
To better preserve an archaeological rockshelter in eastern Oklahoma on the Osage Nation, an environmental team turned to LiDAR and photogrammetry, conducting precise damage assessment and enabling long-term monitoring.
