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. 

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YPAC Manual of Operations

Chair: Nadine de Bruyn
Vice-Chair: Stephanie Taylor

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.

Young Professionals Advisory Council Officers
Nadine de Bruyn YPAC Chair Canadian Prairies and Northern Section	Stephanie Taylor YPAC Vice-Chair Midwest Section	Lindsay Salvador YPAC Past Chair South Atlantic States Section Research Triangle Park Chapter
Aurelie Marcotte ACE Liaison (2025) and Local Support Committee Chair South Atlantic States Section Research Triangle Park Chapter	Fiona Jiang Local Support Committee Vice-Chair Golden West Section	Maria (Gaby) Saavedra Technical Committee Chair Southern Section Georgia Chapter
Sakina Amankwah Vitality Committee Vice-Chair Florida Section Coastal Plains Chapter	Ryan Drover Vitality Committee Chair West Coast Section Mojave Desert Chapter	Lindsey Thomassee Vitality Committee Vice-Chair Louisiana Section
Shelley Koehn Professional Development Committee Chair Upper Midwest Section	Haofan (Fianna) Li Professional Development Committee Vice-Chair Golden West Section	Jake Rattay Communications Committee Co-Chair Allegheny Mountain Section
Zak Schmidt Communications Committee Co-Chair Allegheny Mountain 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