2030 might seem far away, but it’s just around the corner. The rapid pace of change in our industry and workforce makes it clear that we can’t afford to stay still. If we want to remain relevant and valuable in the years to come, the work begins now.
One way we’re preparing is through leadership planning. Our current CEO has already started laying the groundwork for his retirement within the next 10 years. He’s leveraging AI tools, such as executive chatbots and process-mapping systems, to capture institutional knowledge, document workflows, and prepare future leaders for success. It’s inspiring to see technology play such a practical role in ensuring continuity for the association.
Using today’s tools to prepare for tomorrow shapes how we plan for 2030 across all areas of our work.
Our members—primarily governmental jurisdictions —are facing new and pressing challenges. They’re being asked to do more with fewer resources, navigate workforce shortages, and adapt to rapidly changing technology. At the same time, our certification clients, the individuals on the front lines of the water workforce, need strong standards and professional development to succeed in their roles.
Rather than waiting for change to come to us, we’re building strategies now to help jurisdictions and certified professionals thrive in the future.
Technology is becoming the foundation of how we deliver value. We’ve worked with Cimitri to develop an AI Roadmap that helps us identify the tools we can implement quickly and effectively, and we’ve already begun putting that plan into action. Additionally, our entire team has completed Sidecar’s AAiP certification program, so we can all speak the same language and collaborate on the best ways to integrate technology into our daily workflows.
Here are some of the ways we’re using AI technology currently:
· Member Communication: Our newsletters are powered by Rasa.io, delivering personalized and relevant content to our members.
· AI-powered support: BettyBot, our website chatbot, is already helping members get answers quickly, and we’re developing an internal staff bot to make it easier for our team to provide consistent customer service.
· Smarter meetings: AI meeting summarizers are helping us save time and capture key action items.
· Data-driven insights: Soon, AI-powered analysis will help us better understand and respond to our members’ needs.
Thanks to key partnerships with organizations that have subject matter experts in evolving technology, we’re also exploring how we can further utilize AI in the future, including:
· AI for exam development (such as creating long-form practice exams for our core certification programs).
· Integrating AI into our certification management software to reduce processing time and potential for human error.
· Testing potential AI modules to improve record-keeping for members and volunteers.
The goal isn’t to replace relationships or expertise; it’s to give both our staff and our members stronger tools to succeed.
By 2030, the water workforce will look very different. Retirements (titled the “Silver Tsunami” in our field), new generational expectations, and changing skill requirements are already putting pressure on governmental jurisdictions and certification bodies. We are trying to take an active role in helping them prepare.
So, what do our members and certification clients need to succeed? We’re asking them and listening closely—through surveys, advisory groups, and pilot projects—to ensure we’re building solutions that matter. In a recent meeting, one of our members shared how the lack of transportation to training and examination centers limits their ability to bring new operators into their remote communities, reminding us why accessibility needs to be at the forefront of our member service strategy. We are excited to see how we can leverage current technology to tackle these challenges.
A few areas we’re diving into first include:
· Flexible credentialing and training programs that support both agencies and individuals, even in the most remote areas.
· Data-driven insights that help jurisdictions plan for workforce needs.
· Innovative approaches to connecting governments with peers and resources across the globe.
Our goal is to deliver what matters most to the entities and individuals we serve.
Preparing for the future isn’t just about long-range planning; it’s about the choices we make today. When we look ahead to 2030, it feels both daunting and energizing—there’s so much change on the horizon, but we get to shape what that change looks like for our
organizations. From implementing a customer service chatbot to exploring AI potential in a niche job function, every step is laying the foundation for a stronger association and a stronger profession. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but we know we still have a lot to learn.