The Class of 2020 is entering the professional world under unusual circumstances. For many graduates, uncertainty has been the name of the game. Not so for University of Indianapolis alumnus Payton Staman. Thanks to his newly minted bachelor’s degree in an in-demand field (mechanical engineering) and his outstanding work as a participant in the Partnership for Excellence in Research and Learning (PERL) program, Staman had a job waiting for him at Citizens Energy Group.
He joined Citizens in June, not long after graduation, and hit the ground running in his position as Engineer I. He is involved with multiple teams in UE&C, working closely with the capital project delivery team on helping with water projects, the DigIndy team on tracking financial invoices, projections and budgets, and the private development group on reviewing sewer lateral applications for residential and commercial properties.
Staman is enthusiastic about the work he’s doing, saying, “There’s a lot I’m excited about. Not only do I get to complete meaningful work for the people of Indianapolis, but I get the satisfaction of knowing I’m contributing toward positive change.”
Staman worked on two PERL initiatives while at UIndy: H2O to Go and an entrepreneurial management project.
In his role as project manager on the H2O to Go project, Staman led a multidisciplinary team of sophomore engineering students who developed and fabricated designs for a mobile distribution vehicle that provides free water at public events. While the team only had 10 weeks to produce a miniature model, the next class of students was able to construct the full-size H2O to Go using their designs. H2O to Go has since been used at events all over Indianapolis.
As a junior, Staman participated in UIndy’s entrepreneurial business pitch competition as a member of a team tasked with developing a “million-dollar” product. His team’s professional mentor, Richard Calvert, Manager Engineering - Gas, guided the group through engineering a modular charging station that was compatible with smartphones and other devices and focusing on the business aspects of running a new startup.
When asked about his experience with PERL, Staman said, “The PERL projects not only taught me how to become a more technical engineer, but also how to manage and be part of a team. Working together with peers wasn’t always the easiest, but I believe the UIndy and PERL collaboration strengthened my soft skills more than anything else. My professors would always say that being the smartest person in the world is pointless if you don’t have the soft skills to share your ideas effectively and compassionately with others.”
Though he’s only been in his position a short time, Staman has already jumped in with both feet. He said, “I love the culture at Citizens and am proud to be a part of a company that values diversity, social equity, the environment and other issues that are relevant in today’s complex world. I’m also excited to give back by participating in PERL projects with future UIndy students who are standing in the shoes where I once stood.”
Payton Staman and his team members from University of Indianapolis throughout the process of their H2O to Go project.
