New Members Strengthen Consortium's Reach into Water Infrastructure Workforce and Technology Talent Pipeline

Washington, DC – April 21, 2025 – The Engineering Workforce Consortium (EWC) today announced that the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) have joined the collaborative effort to address the critical workforce shortage facing engineering and public works across the United States. The two organizations formally joined the consortium at EWC's annual meeting held today at ASCE headquarters in Washington, DC.

WEF connects EWC's workforce initiatives directly with the water and wastewater professionals who design, build, and operate the nation's essential water infrastructure. NCWIT brings more than two decades of experience providing the national network and resources necessary to mobilize industry, academia, and government to build the engineering and computing workforce of the future.

"NCWIT envisions a technology ecosystem, K-12 through career, where everyone thrives and influences innovation. We are looking forward to working with the EWC toward this future," said Terry Hogan, Executive Director and CEO, National Center for Women & Information Technology.

“Investing in the water workforce is fundamental to WEF’s mission and a central focus of our strategic plan," said Ralph Exton, Executive Director, Water Environment Federation. "We know real progress happens through collaboration, and that’s why WEF is thrilled to join the Engineering Workforce Consortium – working together to strengthen the engineering workforce and ensure the water community’s voice helps shape solutions that serve people and communities everywhere."

"The addition of the Water Environment Federation and NCWIT makes this consortium stronger, more diverse, and better equipped to meet the scale of the workforce challenge our industry faces," said Linda Bauer Darr, ACEC President & CEO. "WEF brings deep roots in the water infrastructure community that is central to economic development, and NCWIT brings a proven track record of expanding who enters and thrives in STEM careers."

“Addressing the workforce shortage in public works and engineering requires collaboration across disciplines and sectors,” said Scott D. Grayson, CAE, CEO of the American Public Works Association. “The addition of new organizations to the Engineering Workforce Consortium amplifies our collective reach and commitment to raising awareness of career opportunities in engineering and public works, and to building the skilled workforce needed to deliver resilient, safe infrastructure for the communities we serve."

"ASCE welcomes WEF and NCWIT to the Engineering Workforce Consortium. Their leadership will be essential as we work together to address the workforce shortages facing our nation’s infrastructure systems. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated action to broaden participation, strengthen education-to-career pathways, and ensure the profession reflects the communities it serves. WEF and NCWIT bring invaluable expertise that will accelerate workforce solutions and position engineering for long‑term success across the United States," said Peter J. O’Neil, ASCE CEO.

WEF's workforce development programs including the Veolia Workforce Academy North America and the Work for Water career-awareness initiative complement the consortium's efforts to grow the talent pipeline serving the nation's water systems. NCWIT's coalition of more than 1,600 member organizations and its programs reaching millions of students add significant capacity to EWC's mission to attract the next generation of engineers and technology professionals.

For more information about the Engineering Workforce Consortium, visit engineeringworkforce.org.

About the Engineering Workforce Consortium (EWC)

The Engineering Workforce Consortium is a collaborative effort led by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), American Public Works Association (APWA), and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) to address the critical workforce shortage in engineering and public works. The consortium brings together diverse voices from government, industry, and academia to attract, retain, and grow the engineering workforce.

EWC partner groups include:

American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) | American Public Works Association (APWA) | American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) | ACE Mentor | American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) | American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) | DiscoverE | ElevateHER | Engineers Without Borders USA | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE USA) | Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) | National Academy of Construction | National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) | National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) | National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) | Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) | Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) | Society of Women Engineers (SWE) | Training and Technical Assistance Center at the University of Connecticut | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Water Environment Federation (WEF)

About the Water Environment Federation (WEF)

Through WEF’s flagship initiatives such as the Water Leadership Institute, the Student Design Competition, and operator career programs like Operations Challenge and the Veolia Workforce Academy, WEF has established itself as a leading force in advancing both engineering leadership and the skilled workforce needed to sustain the nation’s water systems. For more information, visit wef.org.

About the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)

The National Center for Women & Information Technology is a nonprofit organization working to widen participation in technology and computing. Founded in 2004 with support from the National Science Foundation, NCWIT's coalition of more than 1,600 member organizations spans K–12 education, higher education, industry, and government. For more information, visit ncwit.org.