The Fundamentals of
Professional Development
Seminars (PDS)
Adeeb Hamzey-R3 Professional Activities Coordinator
Hamid Vakilzadian-R4 Professional Activities Coordinator
Ed Perkins-Oregon Section PACE Chair
April 26, 2008
Indianapolis, Indiana
IEEE-USA Annual Meeting
Outline
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What is PDS?
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PDS Topics
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What are the building blocks?
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What time table is needed?
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Some do’s and don’ts
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Some useful links
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Summary
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Questions
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Examples of past successful PDS projects
What is a PDS?
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PDS: Professional Development Seminars
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½ day or a full day Non-technical seminars
Benefits: These seminars address the professional
needs of IEEE's U.S. members and promote member
communication and networking.
Format: Conference, workshop, presentation, tutorial …
PDS Topics
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Economic situations – local & national
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Employment opportunities
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Section member survey results
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Requests from members about specific topics
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Section leaders attending conferences & meetings
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Participating in Region meetings
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Discussions in Forums and Virtual Communities
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Potential for financial support to sections
Building Blocks of a PDS
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Choose program topics – members in mind
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Obtain approval of Section Executive Committee
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Seek funding from Section and Region
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Establish a PDS committee and a chair
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Select PDS topic
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Have a budget plan
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Publicize the PDS
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Review check list before Seminar
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Plan activities for the day of the Seminar
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Post seminar wrap-up
Building Blocks – Choose Program Topic
and Speaker
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Evaluate section membership needs
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Questionnaires
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surveys
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Feedback from members
Research available resources
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Subject matter experts
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Potential facilities to be used
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Other local organizations
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Local government
State agencies
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Academia
Building Blocks – Obtain Approval of
Section Executive Board
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Present the plan to Section Officers (6 months ahead)
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Discuss plan details with Section Officers
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Consider joint activity with other functions
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S-PAC
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Engineers’ Week
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Conference
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Other Section functions
Obtain approval of Section Executive Committee
Consider holding with neighboring sections or other professional
organizations
Building Blocks – Seek Funding
from Regional PACE
Contact the Regional PACE Coordinator
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Submit a Project Funding Request Form
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Describe project objectives and how they are met
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State benefits to section members
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List milestones to be achieved
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List types of expenses
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Provide information about sources of revenue
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Signatures: Section Chair, PACE Chair
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Approval: Regional PACE coordinator, Regional Director
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Final report triggers regional funding disbursement
Building Blocks – Establish a PDS
Committee and Chair
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Appoint a Committee Chair as – project lead
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Committee members include:
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Section treasurer
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Solicited volunteers outside Executive board
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Local industry representatives as advisors
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Draw an action plan
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Develop roadmap to execute the plan
PDS Committee Tasks
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Plan Meals and Social Hour
Schedule Meeting Location
Identify and Invite Speakers
Organize Publicity
Plan CEUs and PDHs
Handle the Registration
Budget and Records (Treasurer)
Prepare Final Agenda and Prepare Handouts
Arrange Speaker Transportation
Planning Location
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Meeting Location
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Hotel ($$$)
Meeting Center ($$)
University ($)
Company ($)
Consider PARKING
Consider Ease of Access
Consider Cost of Food/Refreshments
CE Enticements
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Continuing Ed Credits – CEU/PDH
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Licensing Requirement for PE’s
PDH (Prof. Development Hour)
Certificates (Print on PC)
CEUs - IEEE EAB (1 CEU ~ 10 PDH)
University Certificates (if partner)
Building Blocks – Select Speakers
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To select speakers, consider:
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Speaker qualifications
Choice of local or national speakers based on your
budget
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Speaker travel as shared with Region PACE
Access to the Professional Development Seminar
Speakers List
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Contact speakers as early as possible
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Assist in their lodging and local transportation
Building Blocks - Finding Speakers
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IEEE-USA PDS Speakers
PACE and ECS Committee
Local experts
PACE Speakers
Career coaches
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Service Corps Of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Building Blocks – Budget
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Expenses
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Location rental (may be free - Univ. or Company)
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Audio/Visual (may be free - Univ. or Company)
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Speaker fee, traveling expense, lodging, etc.
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Food
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Publicity
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Handouts (may be provided by speaker)
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Miscellaneous items (name tags, stationary, etc.)
Building Blocks - Pricing
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Determine Fixed Costs
 Room
 A/V
 Speaker Fee(s)
Determine Variable Costs (incl. speakers)
 Food
 Handouts
 Misc: Name tags, pens, pads, prizes, speaker gifts
Building Blocks – Revenue
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Revenue
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Local Section
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Region
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Societies/Divisions
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Local industry and universities
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Ticket sales
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Promotions/advertising
Typical Budget
Expenses
Room rental
Speaker Travel
Speaker expenses
Income
$300
$1,000
$100
Speaker meals
$58
Speaker gifts
$80
Publicity
$200
Misc (handout, etc)
$400
Meals (30 x $15)
$450
TOTAL
$2,588
IEEE-USA PDS
$1,000
PACE Project
$500
Registration (30x$25)
$750
Local Section
$500
TOTAL
$2,750
Building Blocks - Publicity
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Publicize and initiate ticket sales
Advertise in Section Newsletter (30–60 days in
advance)
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Use Section e-mail, blog, virtual communities, etc.
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Distribute a PDS flyer/brochure
Ask other professional organizations to include in
their Newsletters
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Send press releases to local media (time sensitive)
Get on free community calendars of TV & Radio
(time sensitive)
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Advertise CEUs and PDHs
Building Blocks – Check List
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Review check list before Seminar
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Finalize agenda
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Confirm reservation (food, location, A/V, etc.)
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Confirm speakers and presentation needs
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Produce evaluation forms
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Purchase speaker gifts and door prizes (if desirable)
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Have IEEE membership applications and senior
member upgrade forms on hand
Prepare certificate for the attendees (CEU/PDH)
Building Blocks – Day of Seminar
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Start event ON TIME
Describe location of restroom facilities and
designated smoking areas
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Follow program agenda punctually
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Collect completed evaluation forms
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Recognize speakers, Committee, and attendees
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Present gifts and door prizes
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Conclude ON TIME
Building Blocks – After the Seminar
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Wrap up activities after the Seminar
Review completed evaluation forms and retain for record and
future considerations
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Submit a Final Funding Report Form to Regional PACE
Coordinator
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Treasurer to follow-up with speakers to get their expense
reports
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Send Thank You letters to speakers
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Treasurer to ensure all local expenses are reconciled
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Committee debriefing and wrap-up
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Document lessons learned
Examples of PDS Topics
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Leadership Skills
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Project Management
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Networking
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Consulting
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Career Transitions
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Professional Skills
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Job Fairs
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PE Related Topics
Example 1-Workshop
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Workshop on Active Career Management
Presented by IEEE Oregon Section and
IEEE-USA’s PACE Committee
Time: 7:30AM – 4:00PM
Continental Breakfast and Lunch
Held at University (no room charge)
Cost $25 Members, $35 non-members, $10
unemployed
Example 1 - Agenda
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Workshop on Active Career Management
Agenda
7:30 am
8:00 – 9:50
10:00 – 10:15
10:15 – 11:15
11:15 – 12:15
12:15 – 1:15
1:15 – 2:15
2:15 – 3:15
3:15 – 4:00
Doors open
Project Management – Tarek Lahdhiri
Break
Resumes Inside and Out – Don Hill
Networking in Less Than One Hour
Lee Stogner
Lunch / Keynote: Career Shift; dealing with rapid
and progressive changes in the US work-place
Henry Gregor
Career Defense in the Face of Globalization
Adeeb Hamzey
Career Transitions – Don Herres
Discussion
Example 2 - Workshop
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Workshop on Active Career Management
Presented by Northern Virginia and Washington
Sections of the IEEE and IEEE-USA's PACE
Committee
Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
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Morning Session Chaired by Section & PACE Chairs,
Northern Virginia Section
Afternoon Session Chaired by Section & PACE Chairs,
Washington Section
Continental Breakfast and Lunch
Held at Mitre Conference Room
Example 2 - Agenda
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Workshop on Active Career Management
Agenda
8:00-8:25 (Continental Breakfast)
8:25-8:30 Opening Remarks, Chair, Northern Virginia Section
Morning Session - Chaired by PACE Chair, Northern Virginia Section
 8:30-10:20
Career Enhancement through Project Management
Doug Holly
 10:20-10:30 (Break)
 10:30-11:30 Resumes Inside and Out Leann Kostek
 11:30-12:10 The Importance of Networking and Tapping into
Your Network - Kerry Hartman
12:10-12:50 (Lunch)
Afternoon Session - Chaired by PACE Chair, Washington Section
 12:50-1:40
Career Shift- Dealing with Rapid and Progressive
Changes in the U.S. Workplace - Amarjeet Basra
 1:40-2:40
Career Defense in the Face of Globalization
Adeeb Hamzey
 2:40-2:50
(Break)
 2:50-3:50
Career Transitions - Don Herres
 3:50-4:00
Closing Remarks and Feedback, Chair,
Washington Section
Example 3-Conference
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Career Planning For A Changing World
Presented by IEEE, Chicago Section
Cost: members $75, non-members $95,
students $40
Time: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM
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Keynote: Preparing for the jobs of tomorrow
Track 1 - Enhancing Your Career
Track 2 - Changing Careers
Lunch included
Held at Embassy Suites Hotel
Example 3 - Agenda
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Career Planning For A Changing World
Agenda
Keynote: Preparing for the jobs of tomorrow 8:30 to 10:00 am
Break: 10:00 TO 10:15 am
Lunch: 11:45 to 12:15 pm
Track 1 - Enhancing Your Career
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Career Planning 10:15 to 11: 45 am
Marketing your ideas 12:15 to 1:30 pm
Effective Technical Presentations 1:30 to 2:30 pm
Track 2 - Changing Careers
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From Corporate to Entrepreneur - 10:15 to 11:45 am
Protecting Your Intellectual Property 12:15 to 1:30 pm
Time/Goal Management 1:30 to 2:30 pm
Example 4 - Panel
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The Role Of IEEE In Our Careers: A Panel Discussion With R6
Southern Area’s Top Engineering Executives & IEEE Family
Day
Presented by R6 Southern Area and LA Metro Section
Cost: Free admission / parking
Time: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
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Families can tour gardens while members are meeting
Membership meeting starts at 9:00 A.M.
Senior Member Drive After Lunch
All attendees can tour the Gardens until closure - @ 5:00 P.M.
Breakfast and Lunch Provided
Held at Descanso Gardens
Repeated Twice due to Demand
Example 4 - Agenda
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The Role Of IEEE In Our Careers: A Panel Discussion With R6
Southern Area’s Top Engineering Executives & IEEE Family Day
Breakfast 8:00 A.M.-9:00 A.M.
Families will tour gardens while members are in the meeting if they prefer
Membership meeting starts at 9:00 A.M.
9:00
9:10
9:15
9:20
9:45
10:00
10:05
10:15
11:50
12:00
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Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance
Introductions – Officers, Followed by Members Self-Introductions
About Southern Area & Events
What is PACE?
Break
LA Metro Section Announcements & Introduction of PACE Chair
PACE Chair - Introduction of Panelists
Panelist’s Remarks
Questions from Audience
Meeting adjourns
- Attendees join their families for lunch;
Senior Membership Drive after Lunch
All attendees can tour the Gardens until closure - @ 5:00 P.M.
More Information
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The ieee-usa PACE website
http://ieeeusa.org/volunteers/pace/default.asp
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Your Local Section PACE Chair
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Your Region Coordinator
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Region PACE web page
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Employment & Career Service Committee
Go forth, do projects,
and LEAD!
Thank you!