Description: Small water systems, especially in rural communities, face multiple challenges to support, replace and build their workforce. Attracting younger and more diverse generations to the industry is especially difficult. In this workshop small system managers, operators and board members will learn how to improve their communications and outreach to appeal to Gen Z, Gen X and the Millennials in between. The workshop will focus on 1) your internal “look”: what does your leadership footprint, mission, vision and values say about your system and 2) your external presentation: how can you improve your outreach skills from preparing a better job description to pitching your system to specific audiences.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Assess their workplace culture (and whether or not it can attract/retain employees)
• Understand job motivators for different generations
• Attract different generations to their water and/or wastewater system through focused communications.

• Managers, owners, and operators of water systems serving less than 10,000 people, or wastewater systems with an average daily flow of less than 1 million gallons
• Decision-makers for water and wastewater utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks
• Consultants and technical assistance providers serving water and wastewater systems

Partner: