More upcoming AMCA Young Professionals events coming soon!
Please check the Annual Meeting website for details.

Sign up today to donate art to our AMCA YPs Mosquito Art Auction https://bit.ly/YPsArtAuction25
Please sign up today!

Support the YPs and Earn a Chance at a Huge Prize! Find us at Booth #428
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2025
8:30 am – 4:00 pm: Pre-Conference YPs Workshop
Sponsored by Central Life Sciences

Theme: Responding to Vector-Borne Disease Emergencies
Organizers: Benjamin Nyman, Nicole Foley, Mitchell Kirsch, Zackary Sieb, Constance Darrisaw, Andrew Rivera, Chloe Wang & Kyndall Dye-Braumuller
08:30 am – 09:00 am: Check-in: Join us for coffee, tea, and pastries
09:00 am – 12:00 pm: Morning Sessions
09:00 am – 09:10 am: Welcome/Opening remarks
09:10 am – 09:30 am: Icebreaker
09:30 am – 10:30 am: Panelist introductions and subtopic talks
Panel: Dr. Whitney Qualls, Dr. Lawrence Hribar, Dr. Alexandra Chaskopoulou, Andrea Leal, Dr. Corey Day
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Panel Q & A
11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Mock interview activity
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch (provided)
Presentations: Dr. Solomon Birhanie (ASTMH); Dr. Kyndall Braumuller (SOVE) & Dr. Corey Day (ESA)
01:00 pm – 04:00 pm: Afternoon tour of PRVCU (transportation included)
01:00 pm – 01:30 pm: Travel to PRVCU
01:30 pm – 03:30 pm: Tour facilities in groups
03:30 pm – 04:00 pm: Return to convention center
**Registration required**
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2025
YPs Dinner
Sponsored by Clarke
**Registration and ticket required**
Waitlist is now open.

Pick up tickets the YPs Pre-conference workshop or at the YPs booth (#428)
All unclaimed tickets will go to those on the waiting list
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2025
7:15 am – 8:15 am: Welcome Networking Breakfast (Location: Ballroom A)
Hosted by Community & Member Engagement Subcommittee
1:45 pm – 5:30 pm: Young Professionals Symposium: Roles in Response: How vector-control professionals manage public health emergencies
- Symposium I will feature a career panel that aims to highlight different careers and how they may contribute to emerging vectors and vector-borne diseases. The panel will consist of four speakers with 15 minutes each to share their unique career journeys, insights, challenges, and advice for YPs. After the presentations, there will be a Q&A session.
- Symposium II will allow attendees to rotate between career roundtables to discuss career information and advice with experts representing a variety of career paths. Small groups of YPs will discuss with two experts per table, then move to the next career, allowing each person to explore five out of seven different featured careers: Abatement/Public Health Agencies, Academia, Consulting/Entrepreneurship, Federal/State Service, Industry, Military, Mosquito Control, and PR/Education. Come with questions ready!
- Be sure to stay until we take our group photo at the end!
1:45 pm – 3:15 pm: Young Professionals Symposium I: Career Panel (Location: 201)
Organizers:Drew Lysaker, Vilma Cooper, Kassidy Caride, Kyndall Dye-Braumuller, Andrew Partin, Casey Parker-Crockett, Andrew Rivera & Chloe Wang
1:45 Welcome and Introductions
1:55 Career Panel:
- 1:55 - 2:05 pm Academia – Eva Buckner
- 2:05 - 2:15 pm Academia - Erika Machtinger
- 2:15 - 2:25 pm Industry - Samer Elkashef
- 2:25 - 2:35 pm Consulting– Mark Latham
2:35 Q&As
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm: Break
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Young Professionals Symposium II: Career Roundtables (Location: 201)
Organizers: Drew Lysaker, Vilma Cooper, Kassidy Caride, Kyndall Dye-Braumuller, Andrew Partin, Casey Parker-Crockett, Andrew Rivera, Chloe Wang
4:00 Overview of the Career Roundtables and Introduction of Experts
Young Professionals will discuss career information and advice with experts representing a variety of career paths.
Representatives from Academia
Eva Buckner - University of Florida
Vanessa Rivera-Amill - Ponce School Of Medicine
Erika Mactinger - Penn State
Representatives from the Military
Kendra Dagg - US Army / University of Florida
Sierra Schluep - United States Navy
Representatives from Abatement and Public Health Agencies
Priscilla Matton - Bristol County Mosquito Control Project
Abelardo Moncayo - Tennessee Department of Health
Representatives from Federal and State Service
Bethany McGregor - USDA-ARS
Representatives from Industry
Samer Elkashef - Central Life Sciences
Jessica Strange-George - MGK
Representatives from Education and Public Relations
Amelia Geiner Safi - Cornell University
Raiza Alvarado - Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit
Representatives from Consulting
Manuel Lluberas - Mosquito Den LLC
Mark Latham - Manatee County Mosquito Control District retired
Rotations
4:10 Rotation #1
4:25 Rotation #2
4:40 Rotation #3
4:55 Rotation #4
5:10 Rotation #5
5:25 Group Photo
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Young Professionals Social (Location: 207)
All YPs and Speakers are welcome.
Sponsored by Valent

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Pre Banquet Social (Location: Terrace)
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm: Banquet (Location: Ballroom A)
FOR THE DETAILED SCHEDULE, VISIT AMCA 2025 FULL SCHEDULE.
Congratulations to the 2025 AMCA YPs Shadowing Program participants! A big thanks to our industry sponsors for their incredible support in helping AMCA YPs attend the Annual Meeting.
Joe Bonaccorsi, Collier Mosquito Control District. Sponsor: AMGUARD
Jafina Tubbs, Boise State University. Sponsor: Azelis Agricultural and Environmental Solutions
Mitchell Mullin, Western Carolina University. Sponsor: Central Life Sciences
Amy Jamison, Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District. Sponsor: Clarke
Abram Estrada, University of Florida/Oregon Health and Science University. Sponsor: Clarke
Nina Shearrill, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Sponsor: SC Johnson
David Jimenez-Vallejo, Emory University. Sponsor: Valent Biosciences
Yunfei Liao, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Sponsor: Vector Disease Control International (VDCI)
Special congratulations to the 2025 AMCA YPs Industry Travel Stipend Award recipient!
Connor Kuppe, Anastasia Mosquito Control District & University of Florida Department of Entomology and Nematology
FOR THE DETAILED SCHEDULE, VISIT AMCA 2025 FULL SCHEDULE.
Please check the Annual Meeting website for details.

Sign up today to donate art to our AMCA YPs Mosquito Art Auction https://bit.ly/2024YPs-artauction.
Please sign up today!
MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2024
8:30 am – 3:00 pm: Pre-Conference YPs Workshop
Sponsored by Central Life Sciences
Theme: Placing your best tarsi forward: How to be prepared for anything
- 8:30 am – 9:00 am: Check-in
- Join us for coffee and tea
- 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Morning Sessions
- 9:00 am – 9:10 am: Welcome/Opening remarks
- 9:10 am – 9:30 am: Icebreaker
- 9:30 am – 10:15am: Panelist introductions and power talks
- Panel: Dr. Brian Byrd, Dr. Scott Larson, Jodi Holeman, Dr. Joe Iburg, Andrew Rivera, Dr. Lawrence Reeves
- 10:15 am – 10:45 am: Break
- 10:45 am – 12:00 pm: Invasive species and responses activity
- 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm: Lunch (provided)
- 1:15 – 2:50 pm: Afternoon Sessions
- 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm: Interview preparation and scientific writing and publishing by Dr. Christopher Bibbs
- 2:15 pm – 2:50 pm: Activity
- 2:50 pm – 3:00 pm: Closing remarks
TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2024
YPs Dinner
Sponsored by Clarke
**Registration and ticket required**
Waitlist is now open.
- Pick up tickets the YPs Pre-conference workshop or at the YPs booth
- All unclaimed tickets will go to those on the waiting list
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2024
7:15 am – 8:15 am: Welcome Networking Breakfast (Location: Dallas BC)
Hosted by the Diversity and Inclusivity Subcommittee
1:45 pm – 5:30 pm: YPs Symposium – The Odyssey from Larvae to Leaders: Crafting your Career Path in Mosquito Control (Meeting room: D2)
- Symposium I will feature a career panel that aims to highlight different careers within the mosquito control industry. The panel will consist of four speakers with 15 minutes each to share their unique career journeys, insights, challenges, and advice for YPs. After the presentations, there will be a Q&A session.
- Symposium II will allow attendees to rotate between career roundtables to discuss career information and advice with experts representing a variety of career paths. Small groups of YPs will discuss with two experts per table, then move to the next career, allowing each person to explore five out of seven different featured careers: Abatement/Public Health Agencies, Academia, Consulting/Entrepreneurship, Federal/State Service, Industry, Military, Mosquito Control, and PR/Education. Come with questions ready!
- Be sure to stay until we take our group photo at the end!
1:45 pm – 3:15 pm: Young Professionals Symposium I: Career Panel (Location: D2)
Moderators: Caroline Gongora, Carla-Cristina Edwards, Vilma Montenegro Castro, Kyndall Braumuller, Chloe Wang
1:45 Welcome and Introductions
1:55 Career Panel
- 1:55 – 2:10 Academia – Dr. Christopher Barker
- 2:10 – 2:25 Abatement District – Dr. Mark Breidenbaugh
- 2:25 – 2:40 Industry – Emily Boothe
- 2:40 – 2:55 Public Relations/Education – Michael Mut
2:55 Q&As
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm: Break
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Young Professionals Symposium II: Career Roundtables (Location: D2)
Moderators: Caroline Gongora, Carla-Cristina Edwards, Vilma Montenegro Castro, Kyndall Braumuller, Chloe Wang
4:00 Overview of the Career Roundtables and Introduction of Experts
Young Professionals will discuss career information and advice with experts representing a variety of career paths.
Abatement or Public Health Agencies
Bethany Bolling – Texas Department of State Health Services
Jason Fritz – Williamson County and Cities Health District
Academia
Christopher Barker – University of California, Davis
Joseph McMillan – Texas Tech University
Consulting/Entrepreneurship
Shelley Whitehead – Whitehead Entomology Consulting LLC
David Brown – LookOut Advice
Federal/State Service
Kristy Burkhalter – Centers for Disease Control
Michael Doyle – North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Industry
Mir Bear-Johnson – Central Life Sciences
Mitchell Kirsch – SC Johnson
Military
Michelle Colacicco-Mayhugh – US Department of Defense
Mark Breidenbaugh – US Air Force
Public Relations/Education
Tammy Gordon – Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District
Michael Mut – Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control Division
Rotations
4:10 Rotation #1
4:25 Rotation #2
4:40 Rotation #3
4:55 Rotation #4
5:10 Rotation #5
5:25 Group Photo
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Young Professionals Social (Location: Press Club)
All YPs and Speakers are welcome.
Sponsored by Valent
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2024
7:00 pm – 9:30 pm: Banquet (Location: Dallas BC)
FOR THE DETAILED SCHEDULE, VISIT AMCA 2024 FULL SCHEDULE.
Joe Bonaccorsi, Collier Mosquito Control District. Sponsor: AMGUARD
Jafina Tubbs, Boise State University. Sponsor: Azelis Agricultural and Environmental Solutions
Mitchell Mullin, Western Carolina University. Sponsor: Central Life Sciences
Amy Jamison, Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District. Sponsor: Clarke
Abram Estrada, University of Florida/Oregon Health and Science University. Sponsor: Clarke
Nina Shearrill, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Sponsor: SC Johnson
David Jimenez-Vallejo, Emory University. Sponsor: Valent Biosciences
Yunfei Liao, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Sponsor: Vector Disease Control International (VDCI)
Connor Kuppe, Anastasia Mosquito Control District & University of Florida Department of Entomology and Nematology