The Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA) Committee enhances member benefits for young professional ASHRAE members, 35 years old and younger, by identifying activities and services focused on their needs
Hello, my name is Chonghui Liu, people often call me CL. It is an honor and my pleasure to serve ASHRAE Region 1 YEA members as YRC starting 2016-2017 ASHRAE year. My main objective as YRC during my term is to encourage all YEA members to regularly get involved in local chapter YEA activities for professional networking and friendship, professional education and experience sharing, soft skill and leadership development, and many other benefits by being an ASHRAE YEA. I plan to work with YEA Chapter Chairs, Chapter Presidents and other Chapter Officers from all 15 chapters in Region 1 to make the ASHRAE experience truly beneficial and rewarding to all YEA members.
Since the foundation in 1894, ASHRAE has been fulfilling its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and romote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education. But as for us, YEA who are born in the 80s and 90s, how do we fit in this grand mission of ASHRAE in our workplace nowadays?
First, you belong here. After more than 120 years leading the HVAC&R industry, ASHRAE has become an international organization with more than 56,000 members, including engineers from all fields, architects, contractors, code officials and other government representatives, technicians, professors and researchers, manufacturer’s representatives and distributors, and of course the future of ASHRAE – students. So if you still think ASHRAE is a club of old engineers and contractors with pocket protectors, think again! And if you still think ASHRAE is just another society which only collects dues and cares little about its members’ professional and personal development, think again! No matter how insignificant your contribution right now in the industry may seem like, no matter what professional or academic fields you are pursuing, and no matter what gender, age, ethnical or religious backgrounds you may come from, as long as you are contributing or are willing to contribute to our mission – to advance the arts and sciences of HVAC&R to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world – then You Belong Here.
Second, it’s all about learning. As a global technical society, ASHRAE provides essential resources for sustainable design, construction and operation of buildings and facilities; its technical foundation is built upon more than 56,000 volunteer members from over 130 countries who dedicate their time and knowledge to moving the industry forward. In addition to technical learnings from the abundant ASHRAE resources and industry leaders, ASHRAE also equips you with the tools you need to succeed. Leadership U and LeaDRS Program, YEA Leadership Weekend (YLW), YEA Technical Weekend, College of Fellows Graduate Student Travel Award, SmartStart Program, and New Faces in Engineering are just a few examples of YEA-focused educational and networking programs. That’s why many people, especially YEA members, call ASHRAE not only a technical learning institute, but also an “ASHRAE MBA” – it’s all about learning.
If you have any questions about YEA, please feel free to contact me at r01yea@ashrae.net
I look forward to helping all YEA members to succeed