Kelly Croke

PB's Professional Growth Network (PGN) is designed to improve career enhancement opportunities, enabling emerging professionals to directly shape the firm's future. Through efforts including professional recognition programs, community involvement, and mentoring and training, the PGN provides a method of direct communication among employees, their peers and senior management.

Kelly Croke, a Civil Engineer in PB's Cardiff, United Kingdom, office, is one of the many employees who has benefited from the range of opportunities offered by the PGN. Now serving as PGN Chair for the Europe-Africa-Middle East (EAME) region, she is giving back to the network by working to improve the program and spreading the word to her fellow colleagues.

Spreading the word happens to be the major challenge currently facing the PGN, Kelly says. The organization, which is comprised of four regions—Americas, EAME, Australia/New Zealand (Southern Cross) and Asia—is moving to boost its profile within PB so that it is mentioned as a matter of course to new employees upon their arrival.

"We want employees to know that the PGN is there for everyone as a tool for professional and personal development," she says. "We would like to ensure that we get more people involved, and make the group really inclusive."

One of the PGN's most essential components is the mentoring program, which Kelly likens to PB's version of a "buddy system." A PGN representative in each office takes a new employee under his or her wing and gets the employee involved with community activities and professional development competitions, along with providing valuable networking experience.

"Like many PGN members, I discovered that the more I participated in the program, the more enthusiastic I became about everything I could accomplish," she says.

Kelly is benefiting from such networking on her current project, the Fabian Way Bridge in Swansea, UK The newly chartered civil engineer has had to jump in with both feet to assist with the technically challenging design of a 71.3-meter (234-foot) cable-stayed bridge that includes a bus lane and a pedestrian/bicycle lane.

"On this project, I have been fortunate to have PB's support system at my disposal," she says. "One of the greatest advantages of working for PB is that experienced employees around the world are all at the end of a phone line or an e-mail."

That ease of communication aided Kelly while she served as Assistant Project Manager on the Northern Ireland Roads Service Project, which included the review, inspection, investigation and rehabilitation of 47 post-tensioned highway bridges. PB's ability to maintain swift and open communication among a team of 60 staff, the client and many subcontractors enabled the firm to meet all of its key performance indicators, she says.

Meanwhile, through the PGN, Kelly is currently taking advantage of PB's Research & Innovation program, which promotes and funds proposals that will enhance the firm's competitive position in the marketplace. PB has provided funding for her research project that, in partnership with the Cornwall County Council, will help engineers better understand the potential for deterioration in concrete structures. Kelly is serving as Project Manager and Lead Investigator.

Steve Denton, Technical Director at PB's Bristol, UK, office and Chair of EAME's Career Development Committee, says, "Kelly is a key member of the bridges group in Cardiff, and in addition to her considerable contribution to PB's portfolio of bridge projects, she has invested substantial personal effort in wider aspects of the enterprise—culminating in her appointment as EAME PGN Chair."

Kelly's mentoring efforts do not just end once she steps out of the PB office. She conducts additional work with students of all ages to encourage them to consider a career in civil engineering. Kelly has recently been named a "Science Superhero" by Women into Science, Engineering and Construction, an organization that promotes science and engineering as a suitable career for girls and women across the UK. As a "superhero", she will promote science and engineering to primary-school girls. Kelly also serves as a Construction Ambassador for the Construction Industry Training Board.