Students and Young Professionals Community

Student & Young Professionals logo

The mission of WEF's Students and Young Professionals Community is to encourage and facilitate student and young professional involvement in WEF and the Member Associations through professional development and leadership opportunities. The SYPC is made up of students, young professionals, academics and water quality professionals.

 

SYPC Welcome Guide  Explore WEF's
Student
Chapters

Liz Heise.jpg
Liz Heise
Community Role: SYPC Chair
Job Title: Water/Wastewater Engineer
Company: Trotter & Associates, Inc.
Location: St. Charles, IL
Member Association: Central States Water Environment Association
Email: e.heise@trotter-inc.com

Carolyn Christy update.jpg
Carolyn Klunder
Community Role: SYPC Vice Chair
Job Title: Business Development
Company: Trinnex
Location: Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Member Association: Pennsylvania WEA
Email: Carolyn.Christy@trinnex.io

mike web.jpg

Mike Piller
Community Role: SYPC 2nd Vice Chair
Job Title: Collections Program Manager
Company: Johnson County Wastewater
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Member Association: Kansas Water Environment Association
Email: Mike.Piller@jwc.org

Natalie Cook update.jpg
Natalie Cook
Community Role:
Immediate Past SYPC Chair
Job Title:
Water and Wastewater Engineer
Company: Donohue & Associates, Inc.
Location: Chicago, IL
Member Association: Central States Water Environment Association
Email: ncook@donohue-associates.com

haley web.jpg
Haley Goddard

Community Role: YP Summit Planning Chair
Job Title: Regional Manager
Company: Cleanwater1
Location: Boise, ID
Member Association: Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
Email: hgoddard@cleanwater1.com

Prachi Salekar.png

Prachi Salekar
Community Role: YP Workshop Subcommittee Co-Chair
Job Title: Process Engineer
Company: Black & Veatch
Location: Houston
Member Association: WEA of Texas
Email: SalekarPA@bv.com

Seoyeong lee web.jpg

Seoyeong Lee
Community Role:
Student Design Competition Planning Committee Co-Chair
Job Title: Infrastructure Planning EIT
Company: Black & Veatch
Location: Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
Member Association: WEA of Ontario
Email: lees@bv.com

Megan Woodwall web.jpg
Megan Woodall

Community Role: Student Design Competition Planning Committee Co-Chair
Job Title: Assistant Project Manager
Company: City of Corona
Location: Corona, California
Member Association: California Water Environment Association (CWEA)
Email: meganwoodall1219@yahoo.com

Brandon Friedland media.jpg

Brandon Friedland
Community Role: WEF Community Service Project Chair (Chicago 2025)
Job Title: Project Manager, WSSC Program
Company: Pure Technologies, a Xylem Brand
Location: Baltimore, MD
Member Association: Chesapeake Water Environment Association
Email: brandon.friedland@xylem.com

Olga Mikhalchishina media.jpg
Olga Mikhalchishina
Community Role: WEF Community Service Project Immediate Past Chair (2024) 
Job Title: Engineer
Company: Ardurra
Location: Tampa, FL
Member Association: Florida Water Environment Association
Email: omikhalchishina@ardurra.com

Remmie Monahan mobile.jpg
Remmie Monahan
Community Role: Water Palooza Subcommittee Chair
Job Title: Regional Sales Executive
Company: Transcend Software
Location: Remote / digital nomad
Member Association: Kansas WEA, Nebraska WEA
Email: remmie.monahan@transcendinfra.com

Prachi jan web.jpg
Prachi Jain

Community Role: Student Activities Community Chair
Job Title: Process Engineer
Company: Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Location: Bentonville, AR
Member Association: Arkansas Water Environment Association
Email: pjain@haleyaldrich.com

Nicole Cohen media.jpg
Nicole Cohen
Community Role: Workshop Committee Liaison
Job Title: Lead Engineer
Company: Carollo Engineers
Location: Sarasota, FL
Member Association: Florida Water Environment Association  
Email: ncohen@carollo.com

chandeler web.jpg
Chandler Mancuso
Community Role: EYPL Workshop Co-Chair
Job Title: Global Technical Director
Company: MacDermid Envio Solutions
Location: Brighton, MI
Member Association: Ohio Water Environment Association
Email: chandler.mancuso@macdermidenvio.com

Lauren Schmidit.jpg
Lauren Schmidt

Community Role: EYPL Workshop Co-Chair
Job Title: Project Engineer, Water Treatment Group
Company: J-U-B ENGINEERS, Inc
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Member Association: Water Environment Association of Utah
Email: lschmidt@jub.com

GuyYager.png
Guy Yager
Community Role:
SYPC Steering Committee Chair
Job Title:
Civil Engineer, Water
Company:
Black & Veatch
Location:
Walnut Creek, CA
Member Association:
California Water Environment Association
Email:
YagerG@bv.com

Mason Ericson web.jpg
Mason Ericson
Community Role: Strategic Leadership Committee Chair
Job Title: Graduate Research Assistant
Company: Kansas State University
Location: Shawnee, KS
Member Association: Kansas Water Environment Association/MWEA
Email: mericson01@ksu.edu

Nicholas Merchant-Wells.jpg
Nicholas Merchant-Wells
Community Role:
SYPC Member Association Outreach Chair
Job Title: Process Engineer
Company: Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Member Association: Ohio Water Environment Association
Email: merchant-wellsn@neorsd.org

Jayesh Charthal web.JPG
Jayesh Charthal
Community Role: SYPC Engagement Chair
Job Title: Water and Wastewater Process Engineer
Company: Jacobs
Location: Draper, Utah
Member Association: Water Environment Association of Utah (WEAU)
Email: jcharthal99@gmail.com

Jenny Warren mobile.JPG

Jenny Warren
Community Role: SYPC Outreach Chair
Job Title: Environmental Engineer
Company: Burns & McDonnell
Location: Kansas City
Member Association: Kansas Water Environment Association
Email: jnwarren@burnsmcd.com

WEF Staff Manager
Ama Richardson
Students and Young Professionals Manager
Email: arichardson@wef.org 

Related Areas

Latest News
Latest News
WEF SmartBrief
See more
WEFTEC Achieves EIC PLATINUM Sustainable Event Certification
See more
Water Sector Organizations Partner on Innovative Generative AI Research Project
See more
Time is Now to Abandon ‘Bathtub Modeling,’ Researchers Argue
See more
Manhattan Looks to The Future With Integrated Flood Protection
See more
Upcoming WEF Events
Upcoming WEF Events
AWWA/WEF Utility Management Conference 2025
See more
Joint Conference: Residuals & Biosolids and Innovations in Treatment Technology
See more
WEF Webcasts
See more

Join a Community

WEF members can join almost all communities using our Community Platform. 

  • Meet other members
  • Interact in the forums
  • Find opportunities
  • Join calls and meetings
Visit the Community Platform

Visit Our Community Platform

This virtual workspace, called WEFUnity, empowers WEF members to network and collaborate in an online environment.

See what's happening in the Community Platform

Join or Renew Your WEF Membership Today

Connect with our community of water professionals who ensure that our local communities have access to clean water that protects public health. Explore our member benefits and find the membership type that’s right for you.

Join or Renew Online

EXPLORE ALL PRACTICE AREAS

WEF is a source of high-quality technical resources featuring the latest research, news, and education. WEF's members and other credible resources have created and compiled this information into the Practice Area groupings listed in the dropdown menu.

Industrial Water Resources

Industries treat and reuse wastewater and process water as well as provide environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment while reducing costs and maintaining value for their businesses.

Learn more

Operations

From hands-on-training and leadership opportunities, such as Operations Challenge, to online training, such as the Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals series, WEF provides operators with many opportunities to advance on-the-job knowledge and develop their careers.

Learn More

Utility Management

To respond to myriad daily challenges faced by water and wastewater utility leaders, WEF continuously works with its members and partners to develop a variety of management initiatives; resources; and educational, training, and networking opportunities.

Learn more

Biosolids Resource Recovery

Through biosolids management, solid residue from wastewater treatment is processed to reduce or eliminate pathogens and minimize odors, forming a safe, beneficial agricultural product. Biosolids are carefully monitored and must be used in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Learn More

Collection Systems and Conveyance

The system of underground pipes and maintenance structures that convey wastewater has brought dramatic improvements to public health. Most sewers carry wastes from households and commercial establishments and are referred to as sanitary sewers.

Learn more

Government & Regulatory Affairs

WEF advocacy activities aim to educate WEF members and the water sector on public policy issues related to water quality and resources and equip them to play a greater role in water policy discussions.

Learn more

Public Health

The water sector and its systems protect public and ecological health. Using the data that can be collected through smart water technologies provides additional insights to address complex public health issues.

Learn more

Stormwater & Watershed Management

Take a comprehensive look at how all water resources, including uplands, drainage basins, wetlands, stormwater, surface water, and groundwater interact.

Learn more

Water & Wastewater Treatment

More than 16,000 publicly owned water resource recovery facilities operate in the United States. Skilled engineers and operators work together to ensure new and updated facilities continue to protect public health and the environment.

Learn More