PEC 2022 marked a return from the pandemic to an in-person event, and PSMA partnered with IEEE PELS and IEEE IAS to engage with Young Professionals and Women in Engineering during the conference. On Tuesday, March 22 representatives of several PSMA Technical Committees and the PSMA Office attended the IEEE IAS/PELS Young Professionals Reception.  The event provided an opportunity for IAS, PELS and PSMA committee representatives to interact with young professionals excited to attend the in-person conference. PSMA was represented by Mike Hayes, Energy Harvesting Committee; Frank Puhane, Capacitor Committee; Jaume Roig, Semiconductor Committee, Brian Zahnstecher, Reliability Committee; and John Horzepa, PSMA Office.  On behalf of PSMA, Mike Hayes provided attendees with an introduction to PSMA at the beginning of the event.  After the introductions of each organization, the reception provided the Young Professionals an informal opportunity to network and mingle. All of the PSMA representatives were impressed by the Young Professionals they met and felt they had good conversations with this next generation of Power Electronics Professionals. They look forward to future engagements in the PSMA committees with these Young Professionals.

The next morning, March 23, PSMA was invited to attend the Women in Engineering (WiE) breakfast sponsored by IEEE PELS.  John Horzepa of the PSMA office and PSMA Vice President Renee Yawger represented PSMA.  Stephanie Watts-Butler, WiE Steering Committee Member, introduced the various organizations represented and encouraged the attendees to talk to as many groups as possible.  John and Renee had several good conversations with the women (and men!) attending the breakfast and encouraged all of them to become active in PSMA committees and activities.  There was a lot of interest in what PSMA is doing and how the attendees can engage.

Both events were a welcome opportunity to be out and interacting with new potential members in a live face-to-face setting instead of via a Zoom call.  There was a lot of excitement from the attendees to understand what PSMA is doing and how PSMA can help them advance their careers.

We look forward to continuing the interactions with these groups during APEC2023.

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