How Has Technology Shaped Workstyles Across Generations?

Includes a Live Web Event on 05/28/2025 at 2:00 PM (EDT)

Overview
Speaker(s)

Experience Level: Any level of experience

Technology has profoundly shaped workstyles across generations, influencing how individuals communicate, collaborate, and approach tasks. This presentation explores these generational shifts, highlighting their relevance to professional engineers who navigate increasingly diverse, tech-driven workplaces. Attendees will gain insights into how Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z uniquely interact with technology, shaping their workstyles and expectations.

The topic is highly relevant to professional engineers, as effective collaboration often requires understanding and bridging generational differences in communication styles, tool preferences, and approaches to problem-solving. For instance, Baby Boomers tend to prioritize structured workflows and in-person communication, while Millennials and Generation Z favor real-time collaboration, mobile-first tools, and automation. Understanding these dynamics is critical for engineering leaders managing cross-generational teams and for professionals adapting to rapidly evolving technological landscapes.

Attendees will explore how technological advancements have influenced workstyles across generations, from Baby Boomers to Generation Z; identify differences in work methods, communication preferences, and tool adoption across generational groups; and take away actionable strategies to bridge generational gaps by leveraging shared strengths, adaptability, and effective use of modern tools.

By attending, professional engineers will enhance their skills in team management, adaptability, and leveraging technology to boost productivity. They will also develop a deeper understanding of generational preferences, allowing them to foster inclusive work environments, drive innovation, and improve problem-solving efficiency.

Organized by the New Professionals Committee

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand how technological advancements have influenced workstyles across generations.

2. Recognize the differences in work methods and preferences among generations.

3. Learn strategies to bridge generational gaps by leveraging shared strengths, adaptability, and effective use of modern tools.

1 PDH

Pricing:

NSPE Members: FREE

Non-members: $75.00 (Join NSPE today and save on this purchase.)

To register, add this webinar to your shopping cart and check-out in the NSPE e-store.

Amy DiRienzo, P.E.

Director

South Dakota Mines

Amy DiRienzo, PE is the Director of a co-curricular engineering program at South Dakota Mines called CAMP. She holds a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wyoming and is a licensed Professional Engineer in South Dakota. Amy joined South Dakota Mines as CAMP Director in 2022, having started her career as a consulting engineer in the mining industry. She was the first to use video-monitoring technology to measure movements of structures and equipment at underground and surface mines and was the lead investigator in developing a real-time, hazard warning system that uses video-monitoring technology for detecting and monitoring ground-support issues in underground mines. She also has extensive experience in numerical modeling of geomechanics problems in the salt-mining and petroleum-storage industries. Amy is active in K-12 STEM outreach in the community and currently serves as NSPE-SD President.

Paul Idzik, P.E.

Mechanical Discipline Lead

Cannon Design

Paul Idzik, P.E. is currently the Mechanical Discipline Lead at Cannon Design in Buffalo, NY where he lives with his wife and two young children. He is a Licensed Mechanical Engineer and has been designing HVAC systems for the Built Environment for 19 years. As the Mechanical Discipline Lead, he manages 12 engineers that range in experience from less than a year to more than 30 years with employees enjoying a remote work, flexible office schedule.

Mark Cook, Ph.D.

Managing Partner

CrossGroup

Mark Cook, PhD is the Managing Partner of CrossGroup, a management consulting and training firm that focuses on leadership and career development in engineering firms. CrossGroup has decades of experience in creating and facilitating learning experiences for executives and leaders at all levels of organizations. CrossGroup helps its clients advance and improve professional development, organization leadership, and strategy. The CrossGroup created and facilitates NSPE’s Emerging Leader Program. They are also the creators and facilitators of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers’ PE Leadership Leadership Institute (now in its 14th year).

Rachel Scheu, P.E.

Professional Engineer

WSB

Rachel Scheu, P.E. is a Professional Engineer in WSB’s Municipal Group with almost 5 years of experience. She is based out of Minneapolis, MN and is experienced in all elements of typical municipal work, partnering with both small and large cities. Rachel has been involved with construction observation, project design, and project management throughout her time at WSB. This work involves coordination with the Design Team, City Clients, Contractors, County’s, and the public. Also, she is proficient in design modeling using AutoCAD Civil 3D, including public utilities and roadway corridors.