The Deep End

Download a sample e-mail to help justify your participation to your supervisor.
The Mentorship component of The Deep End is an incredible opportunity for experienced water professionals across the State to share expertise, inspire others, and contribute to the growth and development of our water workforce.
Why a mentorship program?
As we all know, mentorship plays a crucial role in personal and professional growth. By becoming a mentor for the Deep End, you have the chance to positively impact someone's career journey, provide guidance, and foster a culture of learning and collaboration within our water workforce.  As a seasoned water professional, you have technical insights from your experience and your institutional knowledge is invaluable to others. The participants in this program are young and new professionals in the water industry. The mentorship program is designed to pair a cohort member with a water professional from who can support and guide their mentee toward a successful career in water.
Throughout the program, mentors will receive resources and be coached through the process to help provide their mentee with the best experience possible.
Expectations
The minimum time requirements to be a mentor are the following:
  • Mentors will participate in a Mentorship Boot Camp to learn the ins and outs of being an impactful mentor in Grand Rapids, MI.
  • Mentor/Mentee matching at the 2025 January kick-off of the program
  • Lead/Co-lead a session on a topic outlined in the course curriculum (guidance will be given at Boot Camp)
  • The Mentor will schedule a monthly meeting with their mentee (M3)
However, it should be noted that a successful mentorship is built on what you as a mentor, and your mentee put into it. Relationships may not be confined to the minimum time requirements (but remember healthy boundaries)!
Still not sure?
Here are a few reasons why participating as a mentor can be a rewarding experience:
  • Give Back: Sharing your knowledge and insights can have a profound impact on someone's professional development, allowing them to learn from your successes and challenges.
  • Enhance Leadership Skills: Mentoring offers an opportunity to further develop your leadership, communication, and coaching abilities, which are all highly valued skills in any role.
  • Fresh Perspectives: Mentoring is a two-way street. You'll have the chance to gain new insights and ideas from your mentees, fostering a dynamic exchange of knowledge.
  • Networking: Building relationships with mentees can expand your professional network, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations.
  • Contribute to a Positive Culture: A strong mentorship program contributes to a positive and inclusive workplace culture where everyone is invested in each other's success.
Next steps
If you are interested in being a mentor for this program, please fill out a short Q&A form using the application on the main page. The final date to submit the application, letting us know that you are interested in being a mentor for the 2024 cohort is November 10, 2023.
Remember, this is an opportunity not only to support the growth of our new professionals but also to enrich your own professional journey. Let's come together and make a difference by fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
At the core of the program are two concepts: mentorship and the cohort. Each participant will be matched with a mentor for the year. The mentor and mentee will meet outside of class time and will set their own goals for each meeting. The cohort will consist of up to 12 individuals selected to participate in the program for the year. Over the course of the year, this cohort will be a resource for each other and lay the foundation for a growing professional network.
Specific program locations dates are being determined. Check back later this month for updates.
2025 Registration Fee:  Members $1,495   Non-members $1,795
The program course outline can be found here. 
Once your application is approved, you will be able to register for the program.

The Deep End Program is a new training program catered specifically to new water professionals (i.e. drinking water, wastewater, stormwater) of all occupations and ages. Join other newer to the water sector by exploring your role in water and form personal connections over the course of the year through a cohort style learning experience where participants will attend monthly learning sessions, facility tours, and receive entry to MI-ACE 2025 to gain foundational information on the water sector from source to tap and back. You will also be matched with a mentor to work with throughout the program year.

This is a basic knowledge and skills development opportunity that provides supplemental training to emerging professionals in their first few years in the water sector. By enrolling in this program, cohort members will gain valuable knowledge and skills that make them more proficient and well-versed in industry practices. As a result, your supervisors and managers can be confident in having a workforce of well-trained employees who possess foundational knowledge, alleviating the challenge of finding time to invest in personal training.

Participants who complete the year long program will earn 1.4 CECs. For more information on pricing and course topics explored, see the Program Details tab.

Applications are currently being reviewed.

Program is scheduled to start in January of 2025.