Winter 2022

NSPE Today
Leading and Promoting the PE in the Permian Basin

The Texas Society of Professional Engineers’ Permian Basin Chapter is located in the heart of a bustling oil and gas industry that is attractive to engineers and technical professionals. While there is no big push for engineering licensure in that industry, the chapter is playing a unique role by promoting the PE and fostering engagement in West Texas.

The Permian Basin chapter hosts a popular fall ethics seminar, a spring lunch-and-learn event, and golf tournament. The most recent tournament had 14 participating teams and generated $10,000 for a scholarship fund.

“We offer a way for professional engineers to come together for con-tinuing education. We also have a broader representation of the profession than any other [engineering] organization, which sets us apart in the region,” says Amanda Benson, P.E., chapter president and a civil engineer at Parkhill, a multidisciplinary engineering and architecture firm in Midland.

Benson is optimistic about the prospect to grow membership. The chapter is on target to hit a 12% share of the 450 PEs located in the Permian Basin area (Andrews, Borden, Crane, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Reagan, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, and Winkler counties).

Benson’s introduction to TSPE and NSPE began as a Texas Tech University student member while she pursued a civil engineering degree. Her continued involvement as a professional was inspired by TSPE Past President Joseph Rapier, P.E., the former CEO of Parkhill and current director of innovation. He vigorously promoted NSPE and state society membership and made it easy for employees to get involved in meetings and activities. “I was allowed to jump right in, first serving as a membership and events coordinator dedicated with the task of ramping up seminars and outreach activities,” Benson recalls.

The Permian Basin Chapter is providing essential networking and leadership opportunities for young professionals like Erin M. Gonzales, P.E. “The most rewarding part of volunteering with TSPE is getting to know engineers that I normally would not meet in my typical industry meeting. I have been able to get to know some wonderful individuals in our community,” says Gonzales, the chapter treasurer and a process engineer at West Texas Gas in Midland.

Gonzales also joined the society to get the support she needed to earn an engineering license, which she accomplished last year. She makes it a priority to advise other prospective licensees on the benefits of licensure as well as share the challenges faced on the way to becoming a PE. “I make sure to talk to any engineer that is interested in professional licensure and offer the guidance that I wish I had earlier in my career.”

Stephanie Mygrant, P.E., believes that it’s important to introduce young students to the engineering field and to facilitate STEM activities. She plays her part in this effort by serving as the chapter’s MATHCOUNTS coordinator.

“The MATHCOUNTS program instills a sense of teamwork that is really important and a love of mathematics that will set these kids up for a successful career when they get older,” says Mygrant, a project engineer at Saulsbury, a full-service engineering, procurement, and construction firm headquartered in Odessa. “I love seeing how excited they get when they answer a question correctly and the way that they cheer on their classmates.”

A chapter goal for 2022 is to increase engagement with engineering students at the University of Texas-Permian Basin and Midland College to promote the path to licensure. “We can and do make an impact on engineering students about to enter the workforce and offer scholarships to students entering the upper years of their degree program,” says Mygrant. “We have also financially assisted students with attending the annual TSPE conference and other seminars to help them learn more about the engineering profession.”

Benson understands how critical licensure is to both protecting the public and solidifying an engineer’s career path. She is proud that her chapter is dedicated to playing a key role in spreading the message. “The PE license is really important for working with the public,” she says. “[In addition], having a PE license can set you apart within the engineering field. It’s a milestone.”