Lukasz Semla has been an active volunteer with the ASHRAE NYC Chapter since 2018, contributing significantly to its growth and development. Over the years, he has taken on various leadership roles, including serving on the Board of Governors as Governor, Chapter Secretary, Director of Education, and YEA Chair. In these positions, he has overseen several key committees, including Programs, Industry Partnerships, Building Decarbonization, Special Events, and Student Activities. Lukasz takes pride in organizing and hosting numerous events for professionals at all career stages within the local community. Most recently, on behalf of the ASHRAE NYC Chapter, he supported the DOB Webinar Series focused on New York City building energy and compliance laws. After graduating from leading universities in Warsaw, he started his career at a U.S. corporation in Poland, specializing in large, innovative refrigeration systems, particularly those utilizing cascade CO2 heat recovery and heat pump solutions. He later broadened his expertise internationally, moving to Germany and working with diverse HVAC companies across various markets, including Australia, the UK, and Israel. Through these roles, he gained extensive technical knowledge as well as valuable sales and business development experience. He eventually moved to New York City, where he has been focusing on innovative energy-efficient technologies that support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote sustainable solutions, and advance decarbonization and electrification initiatives.

Melissa Provenzano earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2021. Following graduation, she began her career with Mitsubishi Electric HVAC US as a Commercial Area Sales Manager. She focuses on researching electrification initiatives and identifying opportunities to help customers transition to more sustainable, energy-efficient HVAC solutions. In addition to her professional role, Melissa is an active member of the ASHRAE New York City Chapter, having been involved since 2021. She previously served as the Special Events Committee Chair and was elected Chapter Secretary for the 2025-2026 year. She is also a member of the Industry Partnerships Committee, where she collaborates with the Cross-Learning Alliance and plays a key role in strengthening relationships between ASHRAE NYC and other leading industry organizations.

Vincent Hwang is a mechanical engineer specializing in mechanical system design, commissioning, and energy services for municipal, educational, and healthcare facilities. His experience includes site evaluations, load analyses, HVAC system design, energy audits, commissioning, and building performance analysis. He has supported numerous mechanical design and commissioning projects for the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE) and New York City School Construction Authority (NYC SCA), performing field verification, code compliance reviews, and functional testing of HVAC, lighting, and controls systems. His expertise also includes energy conservation measure evaluation, electrification initiatives, and building decarbonization planning. He has been involved with NYC ASHRAE chapter since 2023, previously serving as the Programs Committee Chair. He currently serves as Director of Education for the ASHRAE NYC Chapter, overseeing the Programs and CTTC, Student Activities, Industry Partnerships, and Decarbonization Committees.

Ava Banfer is an Account Manager with GDI-Ainsworth, specializing in commercial Building Management Systems (BMS), helping clients optimize building performance through advanced controls, automation, energy efficiency, and data-driven operational strategies. Ava received her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. She began her career in manufacturing before relocating to the New York City metropolitan area to pursue a career in building automation. She is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and is currently pursuing her Professional Engineer (PE) license. Ava is very involved in the ASHRAE New York Chapter, previously serving as CTTC Programs Co-Chair (2024–2025) and YEA Chair (2025–2026). Outside of her professional career, Ava is committed to giving back to her community as a K–12 volunteer math & science tutor, where she enjoys helping students build their confidence in their STEM abilities.

Jacqueline McGlynn is a Senior Sales Engineer at Highmark in New York City, specialized in HVAC and plumbing system design with building efficiency solutions. With a focus on high‑performance building design and decarbonization initiatives, she collaborates with engineers, owners, and contractors, helping clients navigate complex design challenges and achieve efficient, forward-thinking building systems. Jacqueline is an active member of ASHRAE NYC Chapter, having served as Research Promotion Co‑Chair (2022–2024), Gala Committee Chair (2024–2025), and Golf Outing Committee Chair (2025–2026).

Michelle Niles is a Mechanical Engineer specializing in the design of mechanical, plumbing, and fire protection systems for a wide range of building types. As a consulting engineer, she collaborates with clients, architects, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver efficient, code-compliant, and coordinated building solutions.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science from Stony Brook University and her Master’s degree in Building Services Engineering from Brunel University London.  Michelle has been a member of the ASHRAE NYC Chapter for the past three years, serving as Co-Chair of the Programs Committee for the 2025–2026 Society Year and as a member of the YEA Committee for the past two years. She is also an active member of Professional Women in Construction (PWC), holding the secretary position within the PWC Mentorship Committee.