PATHFINDER - Investing in Growth: Josh Coburn’s Experience with Leadership PE

Congratulations to Josh Coburn, P.E., on graduating from the 2025 Leadership PE Program!

At Palmer Engineering, we’re proud to invest in our people and support opportunities that inspire growth, leadership, and meaningful connections.

Josh described Leadership PE as more than a development course — a transformative journey of growth, community, and purpose. His experience reflects the same values we’re building through Palmer’s PATHFINDER Program, which supports career growth and leadership at every stage.

We’re proud of Josh’s accomplishment and grateful for programs like Leadership PE that strengthen the future of our profession. Read more from Josh below.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my professional career to have had many opportunities that I’m truly grateful for. One of the most meaningful of these has been the chance to participate in Leadership PE through NSPE-KY, ACEC, and SAME.

Leadership PE is so much more than a class or a series of technical sessions - it’s a transformative journey. It’s a collection of experiences designed to mold you into a stronger engineer, a more effective leader, and ultimately, a better person.

The program wouldn’t be what it is without the incredible dedication of the session deans, who generously volunteer their time to invest in the future of our profession. Behind the scenes, a tireless team makes it all come to life. In just six sessions, each lasting two to three days, they manage to turn a group of strangers into close friends - and in many cases, something that feels like family.

A special thank you goes to Russ, Jody, and David. Your passion, guidance, and commitment turned a great program into what has genuinely been one of the most impactful experiences of my career.

Leadership PE has changed me - how I think, how I lead, and how I prioritize what truly matters.

And of course, I can’t say enough about the incredible individuals who made up the 2024-25 class. It was an absolute blessing to connect with such a talented, driven, and kind group of engineers - each one exceptional in their field and even more remarkable as people. I looked forward to every session, knowing I’d walk away with new insights, shared laughs, and deeper connections. I’ve made friends for life through this program.

To my friends and peers in the engineering world: if you ever get the chance to participate in Leadership PE, take it! Invest in yourself. The growth, the relationships, and the inspiration you’ll gain are truly priceless.

Thank you Palmer Engineering for the faith that you have in me and your desire to see me grow and not only providing me this opportunity but for encouraging me to take it.

Lastly, a huge thank you to my wife, Jessica, for holding down the fort and take care of the kids and the house so that I could be available to participate in the Leadership PE program.