Step into 2026 ready to embrace new opportunities, challenges, and growth!
Whether you’re just starting your professional journey, stepping into new responsibilities, recently promoted, or simply looking for fresh strategies to approach your career, this panel is for you.
Join a panel of accomplished women at different stages of their professional paths as they share candid insights, personal stories, and actionable advice about navigating change, taking on new projects, and stepping confidently into unfamiliar roles.
Walk away with practical tips and strategies to tackle new experiences, manage increased responsibilities, and approach your career with confidence and clarity. Start the new year inspired, equipped, and ready to embrace the possibilities ahead!
About Our Moderator & Panel:
Moderator: Van Do, PMP, Vice President of Business Strategy, Imperion
Van is a reputable operations and business strategy professional with over 13 years of professional experience. With extensive experience managing multimillion-dollar incentive programs and a deep understanding of utilities and government programs, Van helps Imperion customers navigate funding opportunities on a national scale.
A trusted partner among colleagues and high-profile organizations, she is known for her commitment to quality and ability to overcome challenges, leading projects from inception to completion. As a seasoned leader, she excels at building diverse, high-performing teams, maximizing efficiency, and delivering significant cost savings.
Inspired by exploring new phases of her personal and professional careers, Van brings together our lovely panel from unique backgrounds at all stages of their careers to discuss how they are all navigating the NEWs of their lives.
Panelist: Rosie Kang, Vice President at Willdan
Rosie Kang is a Vice President at Willdan Energy Solutions with 25 years of professional experience, including 17 years in energy efficiency. She's spent her career figuring out how to make "new" work—whether that's bringing on clients, building teams, or helping new hires find their footing.
Right now, she's particularly excited about her work partnering with nonprofits that specialize in reaching communities often left out of the conversation. These organizations serve as in-community outreach teams, and the approach has been incredibly rewarding and successful.
Rosie holds a Bachelor's degree and a Master's in Public Administration. She's looking forward to sharing what she's learned about those critical first interactions and how to build relationships that last.
Panelist: Emma MacKinnon, Assistant Engineer, Imperion
In her role, Emma supports industrial clients through detailed M&V analysis, GHG reporting and technical modeling focused on improving water use, energy performance and overall environmental sustainability. She is committed to helping facilities understand their resource impacts and adopt cleaner, more resilient operational strategies. Emma is completing her engineering degree at California State University, Bakersfield, graduating in May 2026, and is involved in research on airfoil design and plasma-activated water for agricultural applications blending academic curiosity with real-world impact.
Emma is also active in regional clean-energy communities, such as Kern County Women in STEM and AEE, where she is passionate about mentorship and expanding pathways for young women entering technical fields. She values collaboration, community and the belief that thoughtful engineering can meaningfully improve water systems, energy resilience and environmental outcomes.
Panelist: Rachel Mireles, Environmental Programs Manager, University of California, Riverside
Rachel has over 14 years of experience in environmental consulting and manufacturing, with a strong background in process improvement, compliance, and project and client management. Her expertise includes stormwater program development, air permitting and reporting, as well as auditing environmental and quality management systems. She is also experienced in remediation, environmental site assessments, and environmental permitting across a wide range of industries.
She is enjoying getting settled in her new position at UCR and has also recently started a new hobby, trapeze yoga!
Panelist: Ashley Nguyen, Hourly Trader, ACES Power Marketing
Ashley Nguyen is a recent graduate of the University of California, San Diego, where she earned a B.A. in International Business with a minor in Finance. She recently began her professional career as an Hourly Trader at ACES Power, a nationwide energy management firm that transacts several billion dollars annually on behalf of electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and other market participants operating across all major U.S. electricity markets.
In her role, Ashley supports real-time power market operations, executing hourly, daily, and monthly trades that help optimize client portfolios while mitigating risk. Working alongside ACES’ Trading Team, she contributes to managing a collective client portfolio of more than 55,000 MW of load and generation resources across North America. Her work supports critical energy transactions and helps clients navigate market volatility through data-driven strategies and strong market relationships.
Starting a new job in a new state with a new team has been transformative for Ashley, and she looks forward to sharing insights on embracing change and contributing meaningfully to a growing energy industry.
Registration
Registration is free for active AWWEE members who may add up to two guests (new to AWWEE please). Registration is $20 for non-members.