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CHICAGO By Tiffany Howlett, MPA
Reflections on YP Summit & PWX 25

This year’s APWA Young Professionals first time. Tennessee showed up, and it
Summit and PWX in Chicago was a week was a wonderful reminder of the strong
full of learning, connection, and stepping support and connections we have across
outside my comfort zone. our branches and our chapter.
At the YP Summit, I had the chance Conferences like PWX aren’t just about
to hear from incredible leaders like professional development; they’re about
Eric Herdman and Allison Swisher, building community. The networking
who reminded us that leadership isn’t receptions, time with colleagues, and
just about titles. It’s about empathy, chance encounters with APWA leadership
adaptability, and the choices we make (including meeting our new President, Vic
every day. The conversations, breakout Bianes!) highlighted the importance of
sessions, and fireside chats reinforced the showing up and being part of something
power of young professionals to shape the bigger than ourselves.
future of Public Works. I want to encourage other young Howlett with incoming APWA President Vic Bianes.
PWX itself was an equally inspiring professionals in our Tennessee branches: if
experience. From the Opening Ceremony you’ve ever thought about attending PWX If you or someone in your branch is
at McCormick Place to the exhibit hall or the YP Summit, now is the time to interested in attending PWX or getting
innovations, solution hub learning, and make it happen. The experience is career- more involved with our chapter’s
sessions on CIP planning, there was no changing, and I’d love to see more YPs committee, please reach out—I’d be happy
shortage of opportunities to learn and represented next year in Houston. to connect and help guide you through
grow. I even got to join PWX TV with In fact, I’m currently working with a the process.
Joey Carley and Amy Linderman, PE, to few other YPs on a potential panel session PWX is always a highlight of my year,
encourage more young professionals to for PWX 2026 focused on influencing and I’m grateful to our chapter, APWA,
get involved with APWA. without authority. The session will explore and the YP community for making this
One of my favorite moments was how emerging leaders can make an year’s experience so meaningful. Until
attending the TCAPWA dinner for the impact, even without formal authority. 2026—Houston, here we come!

26 TPW November/December 2025