WSB University
We started the WSB University in spring 2006 to enhance the educational opportunities of our staff and clients. We wanted to build a program that would develop not only the professional, but our staff's personal lives as well. To achieve this, we needed to provide more than an engineering curriculum, we needed the program to address the soft skills such as careful listening, sensitivity to issues, flexibility, and leadership.
The creation of the University was a staff driven effort to enhance the professional growth and success of the WSB team.
Vision – To be the desired engineering infrastructure consulting company among premiere clients by attracting, developing, and retaining top talent.
Mission – To develop staff with the skill sets to provide our clients with solutions through an effective education and development program.
Since the kick-off of WSBU, many outside organizations have enrolled and found the classes to be beneficial to them and their organizations. Our most recent addition to the WSBU is a program, consisting of over 30 courses, specifically designed for engineers who are Project Managers or who are on track to become Project Managers. This curriculum was designed with the intention of focusing on the types of specialized skills most important for developing Project Managers. We are developing our curriculum over a five-year period and are testing classes annually to determine those that provide the most value. We believe that by combining the talents and expertise of our staff with informative and entertaining experts outside our firm, we can bring a level of expertise that is unmatched. Our intent is to share some of these opportunities with our clients, which will help bridge our relationship.
The WSB University currently consists of four branches: In-House Classes, Brown Bags/Lunch and Learns, External Training, and Mentoring.
Currently, there are nearly 60 unique In-House Classes taught by WSB staff, professional trainers, contractors, and clients. These classes are designed to allow our staff and clients to develop skills necessary for their current role and to prepare them for advancement opportunities.
Brown Bag and Lunch and Learn events are another popular part of WSBU. These sessions generally focus on current issues and trends in infrastructure engineering ranging from recent legislative changes to innovative products offered by our vendors. In 2007, we invited three contractors to hold a Contractor Forum with our Project Management staff – an open and candid discussion on ways to improve the quality of our plans. We specifically critiqued several of our plans and specs for constructability issues. The session was videotaped in order to make it available to new Project Managers in the future.
The WSB University also encourages staff to participate in the many External Training opportunities that exist through professional societies, conferences, and educational organizations.
Staff may also elect to participate in a Mentoring program. This program allows staff to partner with and learn from some of the industry-leading experts at WSB.
The goal is to provide exceptional, client-focused service delivered from all levels of our business. The objective is to develop each of our staff members into a complete consultant who provides valuable input into projects, our clients’ businesses, and the management and leadership of WSB.