At Black & Veatch, solving complex infrastructure challenges is serious business. But inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers — and sparking imagination — can start colorfully with creativity, curiosity and even a well-used box of crayons.
That spirit is at the heart of “Hope Lights the Way: A Story About the Power of Engineering,” a children’s coloring book created by Black & Veatch to introduce kids to careers in engineering, consulting and construction of human critical infrastructure that makes the world work. The book’s heroine has a bold vision: Hope the BVer, a bright-eyed beaver whose natural talent for building, fixing and just figuring things out for wildlife pals — a mole, an otter and Little Bear — makes her a fitting guide through the worlds of water, power and community infrastructure.
Like the bright minds at Black & Veatch, Hope sees things not as they are but how they could be.
Designed for children and families in mind, Hope Lights the Way uses cheerful illustrations and gentle storytelling to turn complex ideas into things kids already understand in everyday life: clean water when they turn on the tap, reliable electricity that powers their tablets, and safe roads that get them where they need to go. The message is simple and, well, hopeful — this is how the world works, and one day you can help build it.
What began as a light-hearted internal conversation and a bit of spontaneous team building soon took on a life of its own as an impactful outreach tool. As the team brainstormed what a Black & Veatch mascot might look like, the answer felt obvious: a lovable, industrious beaver famously known as nature’s engineer. And Hope was born, along with the idea of a coloring book sharable with families at community events, trade shows and employee family programs.
Behind the scenes, Annie Noll was the creative spark, blending her role as a Black & Veatch marketing manager with a longstanding love of children’s storytelling.
We were talking as a team about our ‘why,’ the reason behind the work we do,” she said. “We kept coming back to the idea of hope. Black & Veatch professionals solve some of the world’s toughest problems, and there is something hopeful about that.”
The outlook shines through Hope’s adventures. Throughout the book, she meets challenges head-on and approaches them with curiosity, collaboration and creativity — the very qualities engineers and construction professionals lean into each day.
Beyond reinforcing Black & Veatch values, Hope Lights the Way supports a broader workforce development goal. By connecting with children early, the company hopes to plant seeds of interest in engineering and construction long before career paths and college majors even enter the conversation.
For Noll, the project also was meaningful on a personal level. Having spent more than a decade writing children’s literature, the coloring book became a rare opportunity to bring together creativity and storytelling with real-world impact.
“My boss suggested creating a coloring book, and knew I had the background to do it,” Noll said. “I love thinking about what keeps kids interested and turning the page. This project let me bring together my work and something I care deeply about.”
Copies of Hope Lights the Way made their way into small hands during the recent Take Your Child to Work Day and other internal and external events, giving families a hands-on way to connect with Black & Veatch’s mission of Building a World of Difference®. More than just a keepsake, the book is an invitation — to ask questions, solve problems and imagine futures in which today’s youth shape tomorrow’s world.
Through Hope’s adventures, Black & Veatch sends a clear message: the future of infrastructure belongs to today’s young problem-solvers, and sometimes inspiration starts by coloring just a little outside the lines.
Click to download pages featuring Hope and friends and Hope’s invention.
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