MS4 Statewide Mentorship Network

What is the Mentorship Network?

The Washington State MS4 Mentorship Network is a a peer-to-peer program created by and for stormwater professionals implementing Phase I and II Municipal Stormwater permits in Washington State. It follows a collaborative learning process that allows experienced professionals to share knowledge and provide guidance to others.

For questions about the Mentorship Network, contact Laurie Larson-Pugh

A Word About Participation and Privacy

Program participation provides opportunities for professional growth and development. Mentee and Mentor participation is voluntary and either party can terminate their involvement at any time. Participants agree to keep their discussions confidential. Mentors provide information based on their knowledge and experience. Neither the Washington Stormwater Center nor program organizers evaluate or verify the accuracy or completeness of information provided by the Mentors. Mentors do not speak for the Department of Ecology (Ecology) and are not responsible/liable for any advice provided that fails to meet Ecology’s compliance expectations. As such, Mentees accept and/or use information provided by a Mentor at their own risk.

Reasons You Might Consider Seeking a Mentor

1. You’re new to the stormwater management world or in a new program role.

2. You’re the lone stormwater program management staff member and would like to bounce ideas off people.

3. You seek opportunities to discuss issues/ideas in a small group or 1:1 setting.

4. To support professional growth.

5. To help focus your efforts by setting goals and receiving constructive, candid feedback.

6. To seek out a source of relevant knowledge and experience.

Possible Reasons Why You Might Consider Serving as a Mentor

1. Help shape the leaders of tomorrow.

2. Boost interpersonal skills.

3. Help expand your network.

4. Improve your leadership skills.

5. Share your knowledge.

6. Creates a mutual learning opportunity (e.g., gain insights into the latest trends and practices).

Program Structure

The MS4 Mentorship Network offers two models: Office Hours and 1:1 Mentoring. Participants may opt to be mentors, mentees, or both.

Models

One-on-One

This approach involves matching a mentee with a mentor in a one-on-one pairing. This approach could involve virtual meetings, phone calls, in-person meetings, or email correspondence. While the mentorship pairing will ultimately establish the details of their arrangement, the expectation is that mentors and mentees will meet at least monthly for 12 months.

Office Hours

In this approach, mentors indicate their availability to meet with or respond to questions from mentees. Office Hours may take the form of a set time slot for individual meetings or a drop-in session with more than one attendee. Mentors may even offer office hours in partnership with other mentors. This mentorship model may be most suitable for providing support on specific permit elements. Expectations for Mentors involve making themselves available at least one hour each month. A Mentee’s commitment involves attending the appointments they schedule.

Mentors will use Microsoft Bookings as the online scheduling platform to indicate their availability for Office Hours sessions. This tool allows prospective mentees to see a mentor’s availability and prevents double bookings. Prospective mentees can access mentor calendars only after filling out the Office Hours mentee intake form.

New to Microsoft Bookings? Check out this brief tutorial to get started.

Scheduling Office Hours

After submitting your Office Hours Intake Form you will be provided a link to the web-based Office Hours Scheduling Platform. The platform posts available Office Hour sessions to facilitate scheduling time with a mentor(s).

Intake Process

Intake forms help facilitate mentor-mentee pairings by taking into consideration goals, interests, and complementary skills. The Washington Stormwater Center will post Mentor profiles on its website for viewing by prospective Mentees. Program administrators will share Mentees’ intake forms confidentially with prospective mentors.

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