Young Professionals Advisory Council
A&WMA realizes the value of young professionals (YPs) under the age of 35 to the environmental industry. The Association created the Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC) to support the learning and networking opportunities needed to help YPs excel in their careers.
What does YPAC do? The YPAC advises the A&WMA Board of Directors and other Councils regarding services and activities to effectively engage YPs. This Council recruits and retains YP members by fostering relationships with current YP members, employers and A&WMA Sections and Chapters. Additionally, the YPAC assists the leadership of A&WMA in the recruitment, retention, and development of YP members to serve in roles within A&WMA and facilitate the integration of student members into the Association upon graduation.
Get involved now! Many of our active YPAC members have transitioned to new leadership positions on the Board of Directors and other technical and supporting committees. All members of the Association, regardless of age, are encouraged to get involved with YPAC activities.
YPAC Manual of Operations
Chair: Nadine de Bruyn
Vice-Chair: Jake Rattay
YPAC is composed of the following committees:
- Local Support Committee – Works with A&WMA Sections and Chapters Council to develop and support YP programs at the Sections and Chapter level of the Association.
- Technical Committee – Develops YP-focused technical programming and works with Technical Council to provide YP sessions at ACE and specialty conferences.
- Professional Development Committee – Works with Education Council to develops YP-focused professional development programming.
- Communications Committee – Generates the YP newsletter and maintains the YP LinkedIn group and YPAC webpage.
- Vitality Committee – Identifies strategies to retain YP members in the Association by facilitating student to YP and YP to general A&WMA membership transitions.
- ACE Liaisons – Liaises with the ACE Local Host Committee to develop YP-focused networking and technical programs at the annual conference.
- Publications Committee – Works with the A&WMA Publications Committees to facilitate YP publications in the Journal and EM Magazine.
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Young Professionals Advisory Council Officers |
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 Nadine de Bruyn
YPAC Chair Ontario Section |
 Jake Rattay YPAC Vice-Chair Allegheny Mountain Section |
 Armando Hurtado
ACE Co-Liaison (2027) West Coast Section Channel Islands Chapter |
 Eva Luu ACE Co-Liaison (2027) West Coast Section ​Channel Islands Chapter |
 Maria (Gaby) Saavedra Technical Committee Chair Southern Section Georgia Chapter |
 Sakina Amankwah Technical Committee Vice-Chair Southwest Section Gulf Coast Chapter |
 Gina McGee Vitality Committee Chair East Central Section East Michigan Chapter |
 Ryan Drover Vitality Committee Vice-Chair South Atlantic States Section Chesapeake Chapter |
 Haofan (Fianna) Li Professional Development Committee Chair Golden West Section |
 Josh Le Grande Professional Development Committee Vice-Chair Nevada Section |
 Zak Schmidt Communications Committee Chair Allegheny Mountain Section |
 I-Ting Ku Communications Committee Vice-Chair Rocky Mountain States Section |
 Wesley Hovatter Publications Committee Chair Pacific Northwest International Section Puget Sound Chapter |
 Sina Esfandiar Pour Publications Committee Vice-Chair Canadian Prairies and Northern Section |
 Fiona Jiang Local Support Committee Chair Golden West Section |
 Jhao-Hong Chen Local Support Committee Vice-Chair Midwest Section |
 Oluwatunmise Akanmu Member-at-Large Southern Section Georgia Chapter |
 Di Xu Member-at-Large Golden West Section |
