Strengthening the Talent Pipeline Together: Become a Founding ILP Partner

We believe this initiative will meaningfully strengthen the future of our underground infrastructure industry.

We talk often about the "aging infrastructure" crisis—the crumbling pipes, the leaking mains, and the desperate need for rehabilitation. But there is another aging pipeline that is just as critical to our industry’s survival: the talent pipeline.

Dr. Tom Iseley, President of BAMI-I and Professor at Purdue University, has spent four decades in academia with one driving conviction: "Even the strongest academic institution cannot prepare students to be fully productive on 'Day One' without strong partnerships with industry."

Today, BAMI-I is launching a new initiative to bridge that gap, and we are inviting you to be the architects of the solution.

The Challenge: "Day One" Readiness

Several years ago, the Construction Engineering Industry Advisory Board at Purdue made a recommendation: establish Human Resource Management (HRM) as a required core course.

Why? Because technical skills alone aren't enough. The industry needs engineers who understand the people side of the business—hiring, training, and performance. But more importantly, the industry needs students who have stepped out of the classroom and into the mud, the boardroom, and the expo floor.

The Solution: The Industry Leadership Partnership (ILP)

Today, we are inviting you to join us in establishing the  Industry Leadership Partnership (ILP)—a collaborative effort with Purdue, administered by BAMI-I, with the goal of expanding to other universities and ultimately becoming a national program.

Why We Need the ILP Now?

Purdue and BAMI-I have supported student delegations to different conferences/Events and construction jobsite  for the past four years with tremendous success. However, this grassroots effort has relied heavily on ad-hoc fundraising, volunteer coordination, and year-to-year uncertainty. While we've achieved remarkable results, the current model is not sustainable or scalable. To truly address the industry's workforce crisis and expand this proven approach to other universities nationwide, we need a structured, predictable framework.

The ILP is fundamentally different: it is not a one-time donation drive. It is a structured, ongoing framework designed to connect the brightest students from Purdue's NASTT (North American Society for Trenchless Technology) and UCA (Underground Construction Association) chapters directly with industry leaders like you—with guaranteed continuity, expanded reach, and measurable outcomes.

The Goal: To graduate construction engineers who are productive immediately and committed to long-term careers in underground infrastructure industry.

Why It works: A Proven Multi-Year Track Record of High-Impact Engagement

The ILP is not the beginning of a journey—it is the next evolution of a multi-year effort that has already transformed how students experience the underground infrastructure industry. 

During the past four years, BAMI-I, in partnership with Purdue University has consistently delivered transformative educational experiences that connect students directly with underground infrastructure industry leaders and real-world projects. This sustained effort demonstrates both the scale and impact of our collaboration in developing the next generation of Underground infrastructure professionals.

Our track record includes:

• 2025 Conference Participation – 14 students participated in UIC events across Oklahoma City and Houston
• 2024 Global & National Engagement – 8 students represented Purdue at the Global Buried Asset Management Congress (GBAMC) and 11 students attended the Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC) in Oklahoma City
• 2023 Experiential Learning Activities – 30 students visited the CSI Precast Concrete Facility and NEORSD Tunnel Project in Ohio; 33 Purdue CEM students participated in Beavers Student Day at the Gordie Howe International Bridge Project in Detroit, gaining hands-on exposure to cable-stayed bridge systems, self-climbing formwork, major safety operations, BIM modeling and robotics, and cross-border megaproject execution; annual participation in the 3RPORT CSO Tunnel deep tour 220 feet underground
• 2023 Conference & Industry Exposure – 32 students attended UCT 2023 in Orlando and participated in the 2023 WWETT Show
• 2022 Legacy Participation – 25 students attended UCT 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas, establishing the foundation for this multi-year initiative

The impact of these initiatives extends beyond attendance numbers. BAMI-I has published multiple articles, trip reports, and student reflections on its website and in its journal, documenting consistent outcomes: strong student enthusiasm, increased commitment to careers in underground infrastructure, deep appreciation for industry access and mentoring, and expanding interest from universities and municipalities. Our efforts have been recognized across industry and academic media, with Purdue platform, Tunneling Online Magazine, Trenchless Technology Magazine, and Underground Infrastructure Magazine reporting on our program achievements.

This multi-year effort has been possible only through the generous support of our industry partners, including 

• Beavers, Inc. & Beavers Charitable Trust 
• Boyer
• Danby PVC Lining
• ACE Pipe Cleaning (Carylon Group)
• National Water Main Cleaning (Carylon Group)
• SAK Construction
• Midwest Mole
• PVC Pipe Association (PPI)
• CPM Pipelines
• BrainDrip
• QuakeWrap
• Daniel & Laura Liotti, Bowen Engineering
• Waterline Renewal Technologies
• Bigane Paving
• SAERTEX multiCom Group
• F.H. Paschen
• Triad Engineering & Contracting
• Aldea Services
• PICA Corp
• Iowa Trenchless
• Herrenknecht AG
• UCA
• SolidCast Polymer Technology
• Jim Seibert
• U.S. Hydro-Vac
• InfoSense
• KMCE
• C.W. Felice, LLC.
• Etc.

Without the industry's support through funding, site access, mentorship, and travel opportunities, we simply could not sustain this long-term initiative. We extend our sincere appreciation to all past sponsors who have invested in the next generation of underground infrastructure leaders.

The First Mission of ILP: San Antonio 2026

Our inaugural ILP initiative is ambitious. We aim to bring a 20+ student leadership delegation to the Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC) in San Antonio, TX, this coming January (Jan 26–29, 2026). The ILP will also hold its inaugural member meeting at UIC (details forthcoming), providing a direct opportunity to meet these emerging young leaders.

For these students, UIC isn't just a conference; it is their first job interview, their first mentorship moment, and their first real look at the scale of our industry.

Meet the Future (Why You Should Invest)

These students aren't just faces in a lecture hall. They are the future Project Managers, City Engineers, and CEOs of the subsurface sector. By supporting the ILP, you aren't just buying a plane ticket; you are securing early access to top-tier talent before they hit the open market.

The ILP provides a direct link to students who are:

• Academically Elite: Hailing from Purdue’s top-ranked Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering.
• Field Tested: Required to complete 3–12 weeks of paid internships before graduation.
• Leadership Ready: Active officers and members of student chapters who are already organizing events and leading peers.

How to Become a Founding Partner?

We invite forward-thinking organizations to join the Industry Leadership Partnership.

• Initial Membership: $5,000 (Tax-deductible)
• Annual Renewal: $1,000
• Impact: 100% of funds go directly toward student development, travel, and leadership initiatives.

To Join: Please make checks payable to BAMI-I and mail to: 1721 Northwestern Avenue, West Lafayette, IN 47906

Shaping the Future, Not Just Reacting to It

This partnership is designed for leaders who want to shape the future of the industry rather than simply react to labor shortages.

Join us in building the bridges—both physical and human—that will sustain our industry for decades to come.

If you have any questions or would like to reserve your spot as a Founding Partner, please feel free to contact Dr. Tom Iseley at [email protected].

We sincerely hope you will join us in this mission, and we look forward to partnering with you.

Warm regards,

Tom Iseley, Ph.D., P.E., Dist. M. ASCE, PWAM

Professor of Engineering Practice

Beavers Heavy Construction Distinguished Fellow

Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering

Purdue University

Board Member, World Trade Center-Indianapolis

Professor Emeritus, Louisiana Tech University

Chair, BAMI-I Board of Directors

Adjunct Professor, Xi’an Jiaotong University, China