More than mentorship: How ESa is strengthening the future AEC workforce

More than mentorship: How ESa is strengthening the future AEC workforce

For more than two decades, ESa has invested in the future of the architecture, engineering and construction industry through its involvement with the ACE Mentor Program of America, a nationwide mentorship program connecting high school students with industry professionals through hands-on projects, scholarships and real-world learning.

What began as a community partnership has grown into a lasting investment in mentorship, workforce development and opportunity creation across Middle Tennessee.

Investing in the next generation of professionals
Several ESa team members have served in leadership roles with the Nashville chapter of ACE beginning in 2002, including mentor positions, board appointments and chapter presidency roles. Today, the firm continues to support students across multiple schools and communities throughout Davidson, Williamson and Rutherford counties.

For many at ESa, involvement with ACE is deeply personal.

• Tara Myers became involved after ESa helped launch the Nashville ACE chapter. Over the years, she progressed from mentor to team leader, board member, board president and now chair of the advisory board.
• Jill Romano’s involvement began before joining ESa. Drawn to the program by a belief that students need firsthand exposure to understand architecture and construction careers, she has spent 21 years mentoring students, serving at all levels of the local chapter, including mentor, team lead, board president and board member.
• Allie Pelafos joined ACE within months of starting at ESa after previously working with high school students in recruiting during her time in college. She saw ACE as an opportunity to expose students to the AEC industry and guide pathways for furthering their education. She has served as a mentor and currently serves as a team leader.

Many students enter ACE without understanding what careers in architecture, engineering or construction look like in practice. Through the program, they gain exposure to each discipline and discover career paths they may never have considered.

That investment has come full circle for ESa, with several current employees being former ACE students themselves, reinforcing the firm’s belief in the program’s long-term impact on the future workforce.

Mentorship in practice
ACE mentorship extends far beyond traditional classroom learning. Student teams meet throughout the school year, combining industry education with hands-on project experience. In the fall, students are introduced to the fundamentals of architecture, engineering and construction through office visits, project tours and conversations with working professionals. In the spring, they are able to apply that knowledge through a collaborative design project that mirrors real-world industry coordination developed around an annual theme. This year’s theme, “performance,” challenged teams to think critically about how buildings and systems function together. The structure mirrors how the AEC industry operates in practice, requiring architecture, MEP and construction teams to solve problems together.

Creating access and expanding opportunity
One of the meaningful aspects of ACE is its ability to create opportunities for students from a wide range of backgrounds and communities. For students in Davidson County, especially, ACE scholarships and industry connections can become life-changing opportunities. At this year’s ACE Mentor Banquet, ESa sponsored one of the Nashville ACE chapter’s 27 scholarships that were awarded, totaling $160,000. The annual event brings together nearly 500 attendees to celebrate student projects, mentorship and the next generation of industry leaders.

The impact can already be seen throughout the region. Many ACE alumni return to Nashville after college, remaining connected to the local industry and contributing to the city’s growing design and construction community.

Strengthening the workforce pipeline
For mentors, the most memorable moments are often witnessing students whose lives were transformed through exposure, encouragement and opportunity.

Tara mentored Demauri, a first-generation college student from Glencliff High School who learned about ACE in a mentor presentation designed to introduce girls to careers in STEM. Through ACE, Demauri discovered her love for architecture, attended the architecture program at the University of Tennessee and launched her professional architecture career after graduation.

Allie shared the story of a student named Jackson who became interested in architecture through ACE, but felt pressured to pursue engineering in college instead. Through ongoing mentorship and support from his ACE mentors, he ultimately transitioned to architecture in college and was later nominated for a design award during his first year in the program. His journey reflects the impact mentorship and encouragement can have in helping students pursue careers aligned with their passions.

As the AEC industry continues facing workforce shortages and growing demand for talent, programs like ACE are becoming increasingly important. For ESa, relationships are our greatest resource and through mentorship, we are able to invest in people and communities for the long term. Exposing students to these careers early builds confidence and develops meaningful industry connections, strengthening the program and future AEC workforce across Middle Tennessee and beyond.

Interested in learning more about the people, values and collaborative environment that shape ESa’s workplace culture? Visit our culture page to read more about how our service is our greatest commodity.