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THE YP

CONNECTION V O L U M E 1 5 , I S S U E 1 | 2 N D Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7

“WHAT AM I DOING (next)...

...IN MY CAREER?”

If you are a living, breathing human 20 or 30 something, you

may at one point have lost a little sleep over what you are do-

ing in your career or what to do next. Do you start an aggres-

sive job search to find something in your field but with a new

focus? Or do you stay at your comfortable and maintainable

current position and pursue new opportunities there? What-

ever you decide I think that it’s safe to assume that everything

is going to work out and you shouldn't stress (too much) over

it. But if you are in need of some advice, this quarter’s news-

letter might have just the thing.

The thing that’s helped me figure out what I am doing or what

I want to be doing has been my membership with A&WMA

and my involvement with the YPAC. Working with the YPAC has given me so many different

opportunities; I think the leadership opportunities, which strengthen my managerial skills

among other qualities, have been a major benefit to my life and my career. And probably the

most important to me has been the professional network of people (reads: forever friends

and you’ll never be rid of me) I have developed from some of the most inspiring coaches that I

am lucky to now call my peers.

So if you are struggling with what’s “next” take it from me, read some of the articles in this

newsletter, and get involved in a professional organization...specifically this one because I’m

in it and it’s great.

Letter from the Editor, Laura Cremer

Just keep smiling ...it’s going to

be ok!

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H E R E I A M ! N O W W H A T A M I

S U P P O S E D T O D O ? Message from YPAC Chair, Jen Cowman Moore

C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E . . .

The first time I joined a professional organization I was fresh out of college.

I paid my dues, got a membership card in the mail, sat back and asked my-

self “Now what am I supposed to do?” I knew that I was supposed to be-

come a member of a professional association because it’s one of those

easy “it looks good on a resume” items. But I would later discover that

where my membership took me was really up to me. To someone who was

new to the field, it was not obvious what the next steps were or how to real-

ly get the most out of my membership. Fortunately for you, time has been a

great teacher and I have some recommendations based on my own experi-

ence. (You’re welcome.)

Participate and Learn

It may sound straightforward, but to get the most out of your membership,

you need to attend one of the many offerings that the Association hosts.

There are so many activities that are hosted by A&WMA – take advantage

of them! There are webinars, specialty meetings, the Annual Conference and Exhibition, lunch meetings, net-

working events, etc. Pay attention to the email communications for your Section/Chapter and A&WMA headquar-

ters and sign up for events that interest you.

Network

One of the best tools in your professional toolbox is your network. Your professional network can help you find a

job, hire the right person, identify the best consultant for the job, and help you learn from your peers. Hands

down, the biggest advantage of joining A&WMA is the network you create. So what do you need to do? Go to

events, seminars and workshops and talk with other attendees (see above!) Attend the networking social events.

Get your name out there and meet other environmental professionals. You never know when you will need your

network, but it’s best to have a solid foundation before you do.

Teach

A&WMA is a fount of undiscovered talent and sadly not everyone knows how to contribute. We all have so much

knowledge we can share with each other. Each one of us has a niche unique to our employer and the challenges

of working in the environmental field. Think about what interesting projects or recent discoveries you have made

in the last year. I can guarantee that you have at least one or two lessons learned that someone else would be

interested in learning about. If we don’t share those learnings, how can we improve?

I strongly encourage you to submit an abstract for your local Section or Chapter annual conference or the

A&WMA Annual Conference and Exhibition. You aren’t limited to presenting information in person – A&WMA has

an active webinar program so you can share your learnings and specialty through the power of the internet.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?!?

2017 YPAC

Page 3 V O L U M E 1 5 , I S S U E 1 | 2 N D Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7

… F R O M P R E V I O U S P A G E

Want to learn more? Visit Technical Council and Webinar webpages for more information.

Volunteer

It might surprise you to learn that nearly all of the programs and events that are brought to you under the

A&WMA banner are imagined, planned, and taught by volunteers – just like you and me. There are so many ways

to get involved! Your local Section and/or Chapter is a great place to start. Contact your Section/Chapter board

to learn about ways you can help. Are there committees that need volunteers? What events can you help plan?

Don’t be afraid to ask!

But wait, there is more! There are also volunteer and leadership opportunities at the international level:

Technical Council provides the Association with specialized expertise, developing the technical program for the

Association’s Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) and specialty conferences, providing resources for webinars,

conducting and reporting on state-of-the-art studies, providing technical review capability to governmental and

other organizations, and participating with regulatory groups to guide future regulatory direction.

Sections and Chapters Council enables, encourages, and ensures strong local member units throughout the

world. The purpose of the Council is to provide a conduit of information between Sections and Chapters and As-

sociation leadership. Grassroots regional programs are a key component of the Association.

Education Council encourages adequate human resources in the fields of air and waste management, improves

the knowledge and skills of members and professionals, and exchanges information to improve environmental

knowledge and decisions.

Young Professionals Advisory Council advises the A&WMA Board of Directors and other Councils regarding ser-

vices and activities to effectively engage YPs in the Association. 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 inte-

gration of student members into the Association upon graduation.

Influence and Lead

Gaining leadership experience is not something I immediately think of as a benefit of being a member of

A&WMA. One of the biggest obstacles a young professional has for advancing their career is getting opportuni-

ties to lead others and projects. In many ways is a classic Catch-22 scenario – you can’t get leadership experi-

ence if your manager doesn’t give you the opportunity to lead. But your manager won’t give you the opportunity

until you’ve proved that you are a capable leader. So what do you do?

I have a perfect solution for you – take on a leadership role in the Association. You can run for a director or chair

position at your local Section or Chapter. You can join one of A&WMA’s Councils (see above -Education, Tech-

nical Council, Sections and Chapters, or Young Professional Advisory Council) and lead a committee. You can be

elected as director of the Association. The fact of the matter is – there are more leadership positions available

than you think. All you have to do is ask for the opportunity.

Want to learn more about how to get involved in YPAC or other Councils? Jason Midgett is YPAC’s volunteer coor-

dinator and he is a great resource to get you started.

R E C A P O F Y P P R O G R A M S A T

# A C E 1 7 B U R G H

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C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E . . .

By Lindsay Rice and Eric Balboni, YPAC ACE 2017 Liaison Chair and Vice Chair

Wednesday, June 7th was “YP Day” at ACE 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA. This year’s events kept

YPs busy all day, beginning with the mentor breakfast and ending with a networking

reception in the evening at one of Pittsburgh’s best sports bars.

To start the day off, YPs, students and professionals attended the Mentor Breakfast, where

they were matched up according to their line of work

or interests. Students and YPs enjoyed one on one

time with professionals to ask questions and get

advice. Discussions included work-life balance,

professional certifications and bridging the gap

between millennials and other generations in the

workplace.

Directly following the Mentor Breakfast, attendees moved to the next room

over for Speed Networking. Participants lined up face to face and were

given 5-6 minutes with each person before rotating to the next. This event

is always a lot of fun and provides a relaxed, low pressure atmosphere for

networking.

Immediately following the Speed Networking were the first YP

Technical Sessions. The YP Technical Sessions are geared

towards YPs and students, and provide basic overviews of relevant

topics without being “over-our-head.” The first two sessions were

“How Does it Work? Industries” and “How does it Work? Monitoring

Equipment & Technology”. The Industry session consisted of an

impressive panel of 4 women who gave presentations on four

different industries. Kristin Ryan (Rice Energy) gave a detailed

overview of the oil and gas industry. Kristin Fritchman (CB&I)

talked about the mining industry and showed some video clips she took first hand while on the job. Jill Buckley

(NRG) presented on the power industry including renewable generation and Anna Migliore (NuCor) gave a great

overview of direct reduced iron manufacturing.

The “How Does it Work? Monitoring Equipment & Technology” consisted of another great panel including

including Jona-than Morrison (Insight Environmental), Todd Morrison (Insight Environmental), Matt Carideo (ALL4,

Lindsay Rice

“How Does It Work?” Industries

Speed Networking

Page 5 V O L U M E 1 5 , I S S U E 1 | 2 N D Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7

Inc.) and Andrew Taer (ESC). Panelists discussed different types of monitoring equipment such as continuous

monitoring systems (CEMS), data acquisition handling systems (DAHS), drones and infrared cameras.

The other YP Technical Sessions included “How Does it Work? Control Devices”, where panelists Jason Scheuler

(Anguil), Brian Cannon (ADWEST Technologies, Inc) and Arijit Pakrasi (CB&I) talked about emission control

technologies currently available, specifically for VOCs and NOx. The fourth YP Technical Session was Modeling

101, where panelists Tony Sadar (Allegheny County Health Department), Justin Walters (Southern Company),

Ross Beardsley (Ramboll Environ) and Michael Hammer (Lakes Environmental Software) talked about dispersion

modeling as part of the permitting process, including basic modeling concepts using AERMOD.

The Career Panel consisted of individuals from a mixture of career types giving advice to students and young

professionals who might be considering moving into or advancing in various fields. The panelists were Eric

Balboni (Vice President – Coy Balboni Environmental, Inc.), Erica Blumenshein, P.E. (Environmental Specialist –

Air – Chevron Appalachian Mountain Business Unit), Brooke Myer (Senior Environmental Manager, Office of Air

Quality, Compliance and Enforcement Branch – Indiana Department of Environmental Management), Albert

Presto, PhD (Assistant Research Professor, CIT Dean’s Early Career Fellow, Department of Mechanical

Engineering, Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies – Carnegie Mellon University), and Varun Shekhar, J.D.

(Associate – Babst Calland – Environmental Services Group). Each panelist spoke briefly on their career paths

and the work that they are currently doing. This was followed by an interactive question and answer period.

To finish off the day, students, YPs and professionals headed to the Jerome Bettis Grille 36 in the North Shore

for appetizers, drinks and socializing. A group of attendees met at the Convention Center and walked to the

Grille, taking the scenic route along the Allegheny River and over the Roberto Clemente Bridge. Guests enjoyed

local craft beers and good company.

… F R O M P R E V I O U S P A G E

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A N E W T O O L K I T F O R A N E W

A S S O C I A T I O N

When the original YP Toolkit was launched in 2013, it served as a free resource for A&WMA's newest members:

recent graduates and entry-level professionals. Designed as a welcome letter to A&WMA, the Toolkit highlighted

the benefits and opportunities afforded by being a member in the Association. Since then we have seen an enor-

mous growth in our YP group from an experiential standpoint. With this in mind the Vitality Committee has decid-

ed it is time for a Toolkit reboot! Unlike Hollywood Movie franchises attempts there will be no stale dialogue or

over the top tropes. What you will find in Toolkit 2.0 , however, are great new benefits tailored to accompany YPs

up the ladder of their career, including:

Individual toolkits for entry, mid, and senior-level young professionals that address the unique differences

and challenges a YP faces at that particular point in their career.

One-on-one programming from professionals of all career walks.

Targeted guidance for issues YPs may face in their career (work-life balance, contract negotiations, attending

A&WMA events on your own dime).

Podcast interviews with A&WMA leadership.

Opportunities to contribute to the Toolkit and YPAC.

Our new Toolkit is designed for YPs by YPs and the best part is that it is still free for A&WMA members! Anyone

with an A&WMA login can access the Toolkit by scanning the QR code below. If you would like to submit program-

ming for the Toolkit, please contact Vitality Committee

Chair Paul Algu or incoming Committee Chair Lindsay

Rice.

By Paul Algu, Vitality Committee Chair

What’s a “QR” Code?

QR (Quick Re-

sponse) code is the

trademark name for the

two dimensional bar-

code system that can be

digitally scanned using

your phone! Scan the

QR here for access to

the YP Tool Kit!

Linke Twitt

Face-

Connect with the YPAC and

other YPs on our media

platforms. Click on the log-

os for a direct link to our

pages. Follow us and we

will follow back!

Connect with the

YPAC

Page 7 V O L U M E 1 5 , I S S U E 1 | 2 N D Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7

Every spring over the past three years, members of my local section and chapter would ask if I was going to

attend the A&WMA Leadership Training Academy (LTA). I always had a similar reason for not attending: I would

rather attend ACE and travel funds are hard to come by in the public sector. Well, 2017 was finally my year after

securing resources from the South Atlantic States Section. Now, all I can say is WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?

Leadership Training Academy lasted two and a half days (Friday through Sunday) and focused on three areas:

(1) A&WMA structure and governance, (2) strengthening leadership skills, and (3) tips and tricks to implement

in local chapters and sections. Check out the agenda for more detailed information on the individual sessions

and presenters. Although every presentation was beneficial, my two favorite programs were the Personality

Profile Review and the Generational Synergy activity, both led by the renowned Michelle Gehring.

During the Personality Profile Review program, I finally calculated my Myers-Briggs type (ESTJ, shocking) and

gained insight to how recognizing and managing different

personality types can make for a more effective leader. The

Generational Synergy activity was slightly more contentious

as the attendees were grouped into their generation (Baby

Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, or iGen). Each group was

required to compose three pros and three cons about each

generation. As one can predict, the results were often

humorous and stereotypical, but we all gained a deeper

understanding that each generation has their own

strengths and weaknesses.

If you have not attended a A&WMA event in the past, I am

going to fill you in on a little secret: we take our technical

programs seriously during the day and we take networking

programs just as seriously in the evenings. LTA

coordinators mixed in a few social events with the technical

program. There was a meet and greet with the A&WMA HQ

staff, an evening of networking at Pirates game, and a group dinner in downtown Pittsburgh to conclude the

weekend. If you attend LTA in the future, keep in mind that these social events are equally as beneficial as the

A & W M A 2 0 1 7 L E A D E R S H I P T R A I N I N G

A C A D E M Y R E C A P By Corey Mocka Professional Development Committee Chair

C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E . . .

Fireworks at PNC Park in Pittsburgh after the Pirates Beat

The Yankees

Page 8 V O L U M E 1 5 , I S S U E 1 | 2 N D Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7

… F R O M P R E V I O U S P A G E

classroom sessions. I departed Pittsburgh realizing that many

chapters are facing the same challenges and that

collaboration between chapters is paramount.

It was great to put names with faces and meet A&WMA’s

leaders in person. Our session discussions and activities

made for a memorable weekend. I urge all A&WMA members

to attend LTA in the future. If funding is an issue, contact your

local section or chapter and ask if they might offer financial

assistance. If your employer is hesitant about sending you to

a training that appears to focus solely on A&WMA, stress that

a majority of the sessions relate to professional development

as well.

Finally, as a New England Patriots fan from birth, I was concerned about visiting the Steel City. Rest assured

that the Terrible Towels were packed away for the spring. Now, visiting during football season might be a

different story...

S P O T L I G H T O N :

C H R I S T O P H E R W H I T E H E A D , P U B L I C A T I O N S

C O M M I T T E E Y P A C R E P R E S E N A T I V E

Questions by Erika Capone, Communications Committee Vice Chair

Tell us a little about yourself.

I have a Master’s of Science in Environmental Management and Policy. I have been working as an environmental

regulatory compliance consultant for nearly ten years. My expertise is in the federal Title V air permit program. I

currently work as Air Permitting Manager at Cemtek Systems in Ocean, NJ.

How long have you been an A&WMA member?

I’ve been a member of A&WMA for one year.

What made you want to get involved with the Young Professional Advisory Council (YPAC)?

My past year has been spent trying to foster relationships with other firms to build our air permitting business

and gain clients. I saw YPAC as an effective way to try and C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E . . .

Looking back at the downtown skyline of Pittsburg, PA

Page 9 V O L U M E 1 5 , I S S U E 1 | 2 N D Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7

build on my network. Often in this field, if you need a service quoted, you’ll first

think to call a friend. In fact, a few days ago I was able to give an ACE contact a

few leads for some site work that he might need.

Why did you choose to get involved with the publications committee within

YPAC?

I have always loved writing and inspiring conversation. My hope is to make the

Young Professional Perspective (YPP) column into something that other young

professionals can use to find their voice. We are at a tough point in our ca-

reers, and I like the idea of encouraging expression.

What do you think the most challenging part of your new role on the Publica-

tions committee will be and how do you hope to overcome it?

From what I can tell thus far, my biggest challenge in my YPAC role will be restarting the Publications Committee.

It was dormant all of 2016. The EM/Journal submission is bi-monthly, meaning that I will need to cover six quali-

ty submissions a year. At absolute most I personally want to write two of columns myself and hope to get other

members of the YPAC involved to cover the remaining pieces. I will be issuing calls for submissions via email

lists and through “advertising” in the YPAC newsletter.

What are you looking forward to most in being a YPAC member and what are you looking to gain?

I am looking forward to meeting more people in the industry and hopefully being granted more access to publi-

cation and presentation opportunities.

Do you see benefits to your career by joining YPAC?

I see potential benefits. That is my job right now, to look for potential ways to grow myself and my company.

Did you enjoy ACE and the YP programs? Tell us what you liked the most.

I was only there for the first two days so can I say Yes-meeting everyone and just hanging out at the bar after. I

think I made like six contacts that night alone.

… F R O M P R E V I O U S P A G E

Call for Submissions from Young Professionals: EM-November Issue

Great opportunity for your first publication or to highlight your current pro-

ject

Subject--Next-Gen Air Sensors and Compliance.

Articles due by August 15. Contact Chris Whitehead, YPAC Publications

Chair for more information, CWhitehead@cemteks.com

Page 10 V O L U M E 1 5 , I S S U E 1 | 2 N D Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7

L O C A L Y P E V E N T S …

It’s often difficult for Young Professionals to

get approval to attend conferences. YPs are

less likely to present papers or get employ-

er support because we are still developing

our areas of expertise or there are other

more experienced colleagues who already

have priority to attend. The purpose of this

fundraiser was to fund a scholarship to

send a Young Professional to the A&WMA

Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE) in

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Our goal was to raise $1,000.

On April 29, 2017, the Upper Midwest Section hosted an Euchre (pronounced YOU-ker) tournament to fund our

YP-to-ACE scholarship. Euchre is a trick-taking card game popular in the Midwest. Twelve two-person teams par-

ticipated in the event and enjoyed an afternoon of drinks, laughs, door prizes, and stiff competition. Thanks

again to our event sponsors: American Engineering Testing, Inc., Barr Engineering, Wenck, and A&WMA Upper

Midwest Section for sponsoring the awards, door prizes, drink tickets and appetizers.

The event raised $1,400! The UMS was able to award a scholarship to one YP - Benjamin Carlson-Stehlin of the

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency!

The YP-to-ACE program is an initiative started by the Louisiana Section YP group in 2010 and is spreading

across the Association! If you are interested in hosting a YP-to-ACE fundraiser at your local Section or Chapter,

please contact Jason Midgett.

U P P E R M I D W E S T S E C T I O N Y P - T O - A C E

F U N D R A I S E R

By Jen Cowman Moore,

It’s a Cinderella story – Miranda Mair, the UMS YP Chair (right), and her partner

were seeded 12th and made it to the tournament semi-finals.

Page 11 V O L U M E 1 5 , I S S U E 1 | 2 N D Q U A R T E R 2 0 1 7

The Louisiana Young Professional group hosted its

7th Annual Young Professionals Golf Tournament

just outside of Baton Rouge and raised over

$5,000. Proceeds were used to fund the continued

growth of the Louisiana’s Sections YP Group and

support Louisiana’s YP participation on an interna-

tional level within the association. We also raised

money from mulligans to support a Louisiana sci-

ence teacher and their school science project.

The event was a fun-filled day, featuring raffle priz-

es, great food, awards and of course, golf at one of

the area’s established courses. Every year we incor-

porate contests into the tournament including long-

est drive and closest to the pin. This year we added

a hole-in-one contest where a lucky winner could

take home $10,000! There were a lot of great shots, but no one took home the cash prize, join us next year for

your chance to win.

Thank you to all of our sponsors and players that made the 2017 YP Golf Tournament a success!

Does your Section or Chapter have a YP Group? Would you like to advertise upcoming YP events?

Or mention a successful past event?

We would be happy to advertise your YP events in our upcoming YPAC newsletters. Please send articles with pictures to Laura Cremer at lcremer87@gmail.com

L O U I S I A N A S E C T I O N A N N U A L Y P G O L F

T O U R N A M E N T

By Caitlin Morrison, LA Section YP Chair

From Top Left to Right: Sponsorship banner, Michelle Gehring and

Jeff Muffat, Jessica Miller and Jennifer Tullier, Prize Station.

YP ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Y P A C O F F I C E R S L I S T

If you have questions or comments on the YP Connection, or would like to submit articles,

please send an email with YP Connection in the subject line to lcremer87@gmail.com.

YPAC Officer Position Chapter Section

Jen COWMAN MOORE YPAC Chair N.A. Upper Midwest Section

Jason MIDGETT YPAC Vice-Chair N.A. Louisiana Section

Eric BALBONI YPAC ACE 2017 Liaison Chair N.A. Allegheny Mt. Section

Lindsay RICE YPAC ACE 2017 Liaison Chair N.A. Allegheny Mt. Section

Jessica MILLER YPAC Local Support Committee

Chair (2017) N.A. Louisiana Section

Corey MOCKA YPAC Professional Development

Committee Chair Research Triangle Park South Atlantic States Section

Ross LOWE BEARDSLEY YPAC Professional Development

Committee Vice Chair N.A. Golden West Section

Abhishek BHAT YPAC Technical Committee Chair Gulf Coast Chapter Southwest Section

Arpit BHAT YPAC Technical Committee Vice

Chair N.A. Rocky Mountain States Section

Laura CREMER YPAC Communications Commit-

tee Chair N.A. Golden West Section

Erika CAPONE YPAC Communications Commit-

tee Vice Chair Gulf Coast Chapter Southwest Section

Paul ALGU YPAC Vitality Committee Chair N.A. Louisiana Section

Brittney DUPRE YPAC Vitality Committee Vice

Chair N.A. Louisiana Section

Christopher WHITEHEAD Publications Committee Repre-

sentative Northern and Central New

Jersey Chapter Mid-Atlantic States Section

VACANT YPAC Member-At-Large N.A. N.A

Kaitlyn TINGUM YPAC Local Support Committee

Chair

Pat WRIGHT YPAC ACE 2018 Liaison Chair Connecticut Chapter New England Section