Empowering the Future: CGA’s Young and Emerging Professionals Committee
A Conversation With New Committee Member of the Year, Robin Jussila
Robin Jussila, training manager at Roberts Oxygen Company, Inc., understands the importance of effective training for the company’s more than 500 employees. That’s why she values the support she receives from CGA’s Young and Emerging Professionals (YEP) Committee.
In 2019, when Jussila was new to the profession, she was advised to register on the CGA website to gain access to their publications. It was an email about the formation of the YEP committee that first caught her attention. Intrigued by its focus on individuals like herself, she decided to explore further.
Attending the first meeting allowed Jussila to contribute to shaping the new committee and CGA’s efforts in attracting young talent. This opportunity excited her, and she has been an active member ever since. In recognition of her dedication, Jussila was honored as the New Committee Member of the Year at CGA23, the organization’s 110th annual meeting held in April.
Robin Jussila Receives New Committee Member of The Year Award at CGA23
Jussila explains the purpose of the YEP committee, stating, “We designed the YEP committee to serve as an onboarding ramp for new members to engage with CGA’s technical committees. In recent years, we have far exceeded our goals in achieving this objective.”
According to Jussila, the Young and Emerging Professionals Summit is a valuable and vital part of that onboarding ramp. She believes it provides introductory technical education to industry newcomers and those in new roles. The summit has been tremendously successful since its introduction and remains one of the most well-attended events at CGA.
While onboarding and networking for newcomers have been a priority for YEPs at broader CGA events, Jussila emphasizes the importance of including CGA members who may not consider themselves young or emerging. She believes it is essential to bring value to all members of the organization.
Hear from Robin, August 15 at the Young and Emerging Professionals Summit. Her discussion with Steve Gentry, a 50 year veteran of CGA, is one you won’t want to miss!
Drawing from her own experience in a non-technical role at Roberts Oxygen, Jussila hopes to serve as a role model for others. Initially hesitant to transition into technical committee work, she decided to get involved with committees relevant to her company and volunteered to contribute to impactful publications. As a result, she has gained a deeper understanding of her company’s practices through CGA guidance. Actively participating in the revision process has provided her with clarity by engaging in conversations about the development and rationale behind those publications.
Jussila emphasizes that her involvement with CGA has not only enhanced her own work but also given her insight into the daily challenges faced by her colleagues. This knowledge enables her to create higher quality and more impactful training programs, reinvesting what she learns into the education of others. Furthermore, her connections with experts within CGA offer valuable resources for clarification and assistance when needed. Through CGA, she has also gained opportunities to participate in other industry events that she may not have otherwise been involved in, all thanks to the relationships she has cultivated.
For Jussila, being part of the YEP committee is a way to give back to the industry and ensure its future success. She emphasizes the importance of preserving the industry’s tribal knowledge held by senior members, which could be lost if not captured and passed down through the research and development of CGA publications. Jussila acknowledges the concern of losing technical expertise when evaluating publications up for review and emphasizes that early and active involvement is crucial to preserve and carry forward this valuable knowledge.
