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Professional organizations and trade associations provide career assistance to their members. Many offer outreach programs for young people that are hosted by high schools or higher education. Some target historically underrepresented groups in their fields. Here is a short list of national organizations that have professional and university chapters.

American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) is dedicated to advancing American Indian and Native Alaskan students in science, engineering, and technology fields.
www.aises.org

DECA is an association of marketing students. It has corresponding college-level and alumni divisions in addition to its high school groups.
www.deca.org/

The Educational Society for Resource Management (APICS) was founded as the American Production and Inventory Control Society in 1957. As manufacturing became cross-disciplinary, the society broadened its focus.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) helps prepare high school and college students for business careers. FBLA also has professional chapters.

Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) is a network of industrial engineers—people who make systems work more efficiently.

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest industrial trade association in the United States. It seeks to raise awareness of the importance of manufacturing to the American economy.

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is the largest student-managed organization in the country. Its purpose is to increase the number of black engineers. The organization supports its members academically and professionally and encourages community involvement.

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) was originally founded in Los Angeles as a mentoring organization. SHPE is now a network of professional and student chapters that seeks to promote Hispanic achievement and advancement in engineering, math, science, and technological fields.

Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is the place to start learning about the manufacturing industry. It has 60,000 members and hundreds of chapters worldwide.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is dedicated to being a diverse organization that supports women in engineering and technical careers, and promotes engineering in general.

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