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 2025 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 7, 2025
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 ApplicationSAME 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
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- Webinar
Energy Management Professional (EMP) Virtual Seminar
This two-day, six-hour course provides an overview and refresher on energy management and how it can be applied. Instructors explain EMA’s commissioning-based approach to energy management that maximizes energy savings and optimizes building performance. -
- Webinar
The Changing Workplace Culture Through Legacy Leadership
Companies and organizations often invest heavily in their employees and spend money and devote valuable resources to building their teams’ skills and knowledge base in support of the company’s goals and objectives.
Related TME Articles – YP (YP) Council
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Leveraging Small Business
Expanding opportunities for small businesses to serve in lead roles could help bolster the capabilities of the defense industrial base and provide capacity for federal agencies. -
Missile Defense Activities in Alaska
For more than 70 years, Alaska’s geographically strategic location has served the United States as an ideal base for housing missile defense and radar sensing installations to protect the nation from missile threats. -
Designing a Submarine Testing Facility at China Lake
When planning a first of its kind land-based submarine launch test facility at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, considerations needed to assure that it would not only be able to withstand the repeated force of heavy test launches but meet environmental sustainability standards as well. -
Navigating the Air Force Sundown Policy for Fire Suppression Systems
The Department of the Air Force recently released a new sundown policy for foam fire suppression systems, which meant that two ongoing fire protection system upgrades required expedited redesigns to remain compliant.
