Ardrossan resident honoured provincially as 2024 ASET Volunteer of the Year Award winner
11, Jun, 2024
EDMONTON, June 11, 2024 – Ardrossan resident Bob Leman has received a provincial honour from his professional association, the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET). He recently won the 2024 ASET Volunteer of the Year Award.
The award was presented to Leman, a certified engineering technologist (CET) in the electrical discipline, during an awards event at the association’s annual general meeting (AGM) on April 19 in Banff.
Leman, now retired, was recognized for his contributions as a volunteer presenter on behalf of ASET to NAIT students, speaking with them about the engineering technology profession and ASET. He also helped advance ASET’s outreach efforts through his involvement in industry nights and teachers’ conventions. And, he participated in an ASET focus group to help define core competencies for electrical engineering technologists and technicians.
In his role as a volunteer presenter, one of the messages Leman routinely conveys to students is the value of having a professional designation through ASET. Whether it’s certified technician, (CTech), CET, or professional technologist (PTech), those letters after one’s name signal to clients, customers, colleagues, and the public that the regulating body for the profession has vetted one’s education, specialist knowledge, work experience, and commitment to professional development and ASET’s code of ethics.
“It’s what distinguishes you from others in the same field, confirming that you’ve taken the next step and done the work necessary to become recognized as a professional at what you do,” said Leman. “I’ve spent the majority of my career working on projects on both the consultant and client side, and I can honestly tell students that once they’ve earned that designation and have those letters after their name, it’s career currency for the rest of their lives.”
Leman points to the new reality in hiring where many human resources departments in companies input designations and keywords from résumés into an electronic recruiting system. If an ASET designation is absent from the résumé of an engineering technology professional, that applicant may be omitted from the job competition.
He often shares with students that demonstrating the ability to lead projects in the electrical discipline paved the way for opportunities for him to be in charge of large multi-discipline projects and attain a project management professional (PMP) designation.
Volunteering has always been an important part of Leman’s life. He started coaching community league basketball while in high school and resumed coaching later on - most recently at Ardrossan Junior Senior High School. Over time, he coached soccer, basketball and baseball, and served on the administrative side of various sports organizations. He also volunteered as director, registration and results, for the 2007 Western Canada Summer Games, was president of the Ardrossan Recreation and Agricultural Society for many years, and was chair of the Strathcona County Seniors Advisory Committee.
Leman believes that doing volunteer work for one’s professional association when one is older enables that association to benefit from those years of expertise, which can help shape and improve the next generation. A lot of retirees are in senior roles in the workplace prior to retirement. This makes the life lessons and advice they have to share with the next generation of engineering technology professionals more valuable than ever.
“2024 ASET Volunteer of the Year Award winner Bob Leman is a fine example of how it’s never too late to volunteer for one’s professional association and have a significant positive impact,” said ASET CEO Barry Cavanaugh. “Students to whom he makes presentations about the engineering technology profession are granted an opportunity to learn about an exciting and well-remunerated career from a veteran who’s been there and can offer sage advice and knowledge.”
About ASET
ASET is the professional self-regulatory organization for engineering technologists and technicians in Alberta. ASET currently represents over 17,000 members, including full-time technology students, recent graduates and fully certified members in 21 disciplines and more than 120 occupations across a multitude of industries.
Media Contact:
Michele Penz, Calico Communications for ASET
1.778.888.2249
calicocomm@telus.net