Students and Young Professionals Community

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
Students and Young Professionals
Chapters

Bernadette Drouhard
Committee Role: SYPC Chair
Job: Process Specialist, Water Division
Company: Black & Veatch
Location: Atlanta, GA
Member Association: Georgia Association of Water Professionals
Email: DrouhardB@bv.com

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

Liz Heise
Committee Role: SYPC 2nd Vice Chair
Job: Water/Wastewater Engineer
Company: Trotter & Associates, Inc.
Location: St. Charles, IL
Member Association: Central States Water Environment Association
Email: e.heise@trotter-inc.com

Pono Hansen
Committee Role: Immediate Past SYPC Chair
Job: Project Engineer
Company: Brown and Caldwell
Location: Alexandria, VA
Member Association: Chesapeake Water Environment Association
Email: PHanson@brwncald.com

EJ Katsoulas
Committee Role: YP Workshop Subcommittee Co-Chair
Job: Water/Wastewater Engineer
Company: Tetra Tech
Location: Denver, CO
Member Association: Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association
Email: EJ.Katsoulas@tetratech.com

Guy Yager
Committee Role: YP Workshop Subcommittee Co-Chair
Job: Civil Engineer, Water
Company: Black & Veatch
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Member Association: California Water Environment Association
Email: YagerG@bv.com

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

Jenny Warren
Committee Role: Student Design Competition Sub-committee Co-Chair
Job: Environmental Engineer
Company: Burns & McDonnell
Location: Overland Park, KS
Member Association: Kansas Water Environment Association
Email: jnwarren@burnsmcd.com

Jenny Loconsole
Committee Role: Student Design Competition Subcommittee Co-Chair
Job: Process Engineer  
Company: Black & Veatch
Location: Chicago, IL
Member Association: Illinois Water Environment Association (IWEA)
Email: loconsolej@bv.com

Joe Lapastora
Committee Role: WEF Community Service Project Chair (2023 Chicago)
Job: Staff Engineer
Company: Northern Moraine Wastewater Reclamation District
Location: Island Lake, IL
Member Association: Central States WEA
Email: lapastora@nmwrd.org

Anniestacia Miskel
Committee Role: WEF Community Service Project Vice Chair (2024 NOLA Chair)
Job: Water Engineer
Company: Arcadis
Location: Mobile, AL
Member Association: Alabama's Water Environment Association
Email: anniestacia.miskel@arcadis.com

Maria Claudia Reed
Committee Role: WEF Community Service Project Immediate Past Chair (2022)
Job: Wastewater Engineer
Company: Brown and Caldwell
Location: Portland, OR
Member Association: Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association
Email: mreed@BrwnCald.com

Blaga Delic
Committee Role: Water Palooza Subcommittee Chair
Job: Water Engineer I
Company: AECOM
Location: Reno, Nevada
Member Association: Nevada Water Environment Association
Email: blaga.delic@aecom.com

Evan Heronemus
Committee Role: Student Activities Subcommittee Chair
Job: Environmental Engineer
Company: CDM Smith
Location: Kansas City, MO
Member Association: Kansas Water Environment Association
Email: heronemusej@cdmsmith.com

Vicki Chou
Committee Role: Fundamentals Workshops Chair
Job: Global Community Engagement Program Manager
Company: Arcadis
Location: Queens, New York
Member Association: New York Water Environment Association  
Email: Vicki.Chou@arcadis.com

Grant Zebold
Committee Role: EYPL Co-Chair
Job: Senior Project Engineer 
Company: Lamp Rynearson
Location: Leawood, KS
Member Association: Kansas Water Environment Association
Email: grant.zebold@lamprynearson.com

Mike Piller
Committee Role: EYPL Co-Chair
Job: Project Manager – Existing Infrastructure  
Company: Johnson County (KS) Wastewater
Location: Olathe, KS
Member Association: KWEA
Email: Mike.Piller@jcw.org

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