Charles Juneau

Charles Juneau, PE, PLS, president of Juneau Associates, Inc., knows the field of civil engineering is facing a shortage of qualified workers, while the demand for services is growing. That’s why Juneau’s firm works with Partners in Progress and is taking every opportunity to talk to students in local school districts about what it takes to become an engineer.

“It’s one thing for a teacher to stand in front of the class and tell students about a career, but quite another to have professionals from that field talk to the students,” Juneau says. “Working with Partners in Progress is a great way to expose students to engineering and other rewarding careers.”

Juneau’s father, Edward, was a civil engineer and founder of Juneau Associates, Inc., so the younger Juneau grew up around engineering. His father wanted him to go into medicine, Juneau says, but “I couldn’t stand the sight of blood, so I chose engineering.”

Most area students don’t have that kind opportunity, Juneau notes.

“Unless they have family members who expose them to career paths like civil engineering, many students don’t know the types of career choices that are available,” Juneau said.

That’s why Juneau Associates, Inc. allows local high school students interested in engineering to job shadow their engineers for a day. Students witness everything from project design to actual construction. The experience has motivated some to pursue their own engineering careers.

“It helps them make career choices,” Juneau said of the job-shadowing program. “They learn what they need to do and what they have to know to become an engineer. They quickly understand that if they’re not good in math or science, they better make another career choice.”

One student thought he might want to be a civil engineer, but after job shadowing with Juneau’s firm, he decided aeronautical engineering might be a better fit. Thanks to Partners in Progress, the student now has the chance to job shadow an aeronautical engineer.

Other students who have expressed interest in a civil engineering career have performed summer internships with Juneau Associates, Inc. They assist survey crews, run prints, and perform other engineering-related tasks.

Unless businesses invest in training younger workers, Juneau says, there won’t be enough up-and-coming professionals to meet future demand for services. Juneau also is concerned that other countries are outpacing the United States in producing career-ready workers in many fields besides engineering.

“The long-term success of our economy, both locally and nationally, depends on our ability to develop young professionals,” Juneau said. “Partners in Progress helps us take the first step in that process by exposing young people to careers they otherwise might not know about.”