58/Plumbing Engineer April 2019

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ven though I entered this profession almost five years ago, I still feel as if I have only hit the surface of the amount of information there is to know. At the begin- ning of my career, I felt like I knew nothing and I wanted to know how to get better. I knew that I needed to spend some time gathering information and learning but it was difficult to know where to begin when every concept was so new. Throughout my career, I have put together a list of resources that have helped me accelerate my knowledge and career as a plumbing/fire protection engineer. I would recommend seeking out resources for yourself - whether you are just starting out or have been an engineer for 50 years - as there is always something new to be learned. The industry is always changing. The following resources are what help me continue learning about plumbing design and I hope they can help you, too. 1. Get involved in your local society or organization's chapter Not only do the chapters host technical meetings to directly teach you about a certain topic but they also pro- vide a multitude of people who you can network with and reach out to with various questions. For example, in the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, if you have specific code questions, there are people within the chapter who are dedicated to finding an answer for you. And the chapter website has numerous technical articles separated by topic that are useful. Most career-oriented organizations have a technical con- ference or seminar they host every year with educational sessions and typically a trade show. 2. Seek mentors Whether this means a mentor at your current company or through a local organization, having a mentor can help put you on the learning fast track. If you don't know of any mentorship programs currently available to you, consider asking your company if it would consider implementing a mentorship program. And heading up a mentorship program at your place of employment can help you gain leadership skills, as well as get to know and network with more people at your com- pany.

By Jennifer Olson, P.E.

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