Forum - June/July 2009

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

Reappearing Act

BY JAMES G. TOSCAS

It’s the dreaded Post-Graduate Disappearance Syndrome — the dead zone after student members of your association have graduated, felt the instant overload of the working world and lost motivation to continue membership. As student members, they attended events and even tried their hand at committee service — but now, as employed professionals, they’ve disappeared. Yes, they might resurface in three to six years, after they have achieved sufficient seniority to warrant being sent to association events — or they might not.

One way to address this problem is to identify early-career professionals and jump-start their involvement. Ideally, the program should: ( 1) provide participants with valuable training, experience and networking to enhance their professional careers, ( 2) augment the stream of new high-potential professionals who are active in association activities and ( 3) foster continued growth and success of the industry by identifying and developing its next generation of leaders.

THE PCI ANSWER

On the occasion of its 50^th anniversary in 2004, the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute established “Leadership PCI,” a program that has proven highly successful in achieving these three objectives. We patterned it after a functional model familiar to students: college. Using a combination of structure, accountability, camaraderie and leadership, we were able

to create a program that has valuable benefits and staying power.

The program runs in an annual cycle, beginning and ending in October at the annual PCI convention. Any member organization can nominate an employee for Leadership PCI. As a condition of the application, the sponsoring organization agrees to support the candidate’s participation in all Leadership PCI activities for a minimum of one year.

A selection committee appointed by the PCI chairman reviews all application profiles, looking for evidence of motivation to advance the industry, motivation for personal growth and development, and overall character and integrity. Approximately 25 outstanding individuals are chosen; those not selected are eligible for candidacy the following year.

The selected individuals form a Leadership PCI Class. The class is introduced at the PCI convention, during which class members take part in a structured program that includes initiation into the program and an orientation to PCI. Class members then visit various committee meetings, where they are introduced to members and participate in social and networking activities.

During the next year, class members are committed to a program of development activities, including:

• Two “Leadership Boot Camp” retreats designed for this program

• A special leadership track at the spring PCI membership conference

• At least one educational seminar from a list of PCI and outside programs

• Orientation of the following year’s class at the next PCI annual convention.

Finally, class members take part in a convocation program and ceremony, and those who have accomplished all requirements receive certificates of completion.

There is no fee for application or participation. PCI covers costs for participants’ registration (and meals, if included) at PCI events, as well as tuition fees and course materials for all program activities. The sponsoring organization is responsible

only for travel and lodging expenses.

OUR RESULTS

Leadership PCI has performed well beyond our expectations.

At the individual level, well after completing their basic one-year requirement, most Leadership PCI alumni continue to identify with the program, with more than 80 percent of them continuing active involvement in association activities. Class members are engaged, committed and educated about PCI, and become evangelists for our association as well as leaders for others in their profession.

The range of professionals attracted to Leadership PCI has broadened over the years. While the program was originally designed for early-career professionals, there was no set maximum experience limit. Leadership PCI class members have ranged in experience from the minimum three years up to, in one case, 15 years. This diversity has enriched the program considerably, as the well-experienced class members share their knowledge and experience with their younger colleagues.

The reaction of sponsors has been outstanding. Leadership PCI offers them an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate the growth of high-potential employees, contributing to their education and professional maturation. In addition, the sponsoring organization gains an individual who has significant exposure to current industry issues, a network of peers and invaluable problem-solving ideas.

Each new class adds to an ever-growing corps of well-developed future industry leaders. What’s even more gratifying is that people who were previously inactive in, and in some cases unfamiliar with, PCI are now chairing committees and taking on other leadership roles. Most of all, many of the professionals who had “ disappeared” have come roaring back into the limelight.