PLSO July/August 2019

14 Vol. 42, No. 4 The Oregon Surveyor | OrYSN The Oregon Tradeswomen’s Annual Career Fair By Kelly Miller, RLS, EIT T he Oregon Tradeswomen held their 27th annual Career Fair, May 17 and 18 in Northeast Portland at the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Cen- ter. The land surveying profession was well represented again with exhibits on display from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and ODOT. The Ca- reer Fair invited over 70 companies and organizations to showcase their trades to women (and men!) of all ages. Exhib- its from pipefitting to firefighting were present to give women and girls options for future career paths. Friday is reserved for middle and high schools to tour the exhibits and participate in over 40 hands-on workshops includ- ing carpentry and welding. This year over 2,000 students attended, travelling from across Oregon and Southwest Washing- ton. Saturday is open to the public and also saw large numbers of attendees. Droves of women showed up to see what options may be out there for later in life career changes. There were also many high school counselors present seeking opportunities to share with students who are looking for technical options. The land surveying exhibits, provided by BPA and ODOT, showcased differ- ent technologies and displayed posters featuring maps and legal descriptions. Participants were able to get hands-on experience using robotic total stations, laser scanners, and evenmetal detectors, allowing them to see just a few tools the profession uses daily. Career and train- ing options were discussed, as well as possible education paths. Although the event promotes apprenticeship options, the many avenues into land surveying piqued interest in event goers. This marked the fifth year I have partic- ipated in this event. It is inspiring to see women of all ages proactively attend a career fair and seek out occupational op- tions to better their lives. It is also moving to see many different male-dominated professions being represented by wom- en. The hard fact is that we need more diversity in land surveying to spark new ways of thinking and solutioning, and that doesn’t come without a diverse work- force. Events such as these promote our amazing profession to people who may not be exposed to it in any other way. I encourage every PLSOmember to attend a career fair, classroom presentation, or other outreach event at least once a year to educate others and uncover a world of possibilities for the future generation of land surveyors. x Kelly Miller, OrYSN member and PLSO Financial Chair, educates middle school students about topographic maps and answers questions about how they are drafted. Brandee Shoemaker, an OIT graduate, explains the uses of a total station and how they work to a middle school student.