Faces of ASHRAE (Region X Highlight): Elise Kiland, PE

Interview copied from the July 2025 ASHRAE Insights Newsletter

Elise Kiland, P.E., has been an ASHRAE Member for over ten years, joining as a student member while still in college. Learn about her travels abroad, goals and advice to new engineers below.

What is your current job?

After over a decade at a design- build mechanical contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area, I recently started a new position as a Founding Building Engineer at Cambio, AI.

What is your level of education?

I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Years of industry experience?

I started in the industry with an internship at a design build contractor in the summer of 2013 before my senior year at Cal Poly .

ASHRAE Chapter:

I am a proud member of the San Jose chapter!

How long have you been an ASHRAE member?

I joined ASHRAE as a student in 2013 when my professor, who was the student branch advisor,

assigned the ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook as the textbook for our class. He suggested we join as student members to receive a discount on the book, so I signed up and the rest is history!

What technical committees or other parts of ASHRAE are you involved with?

At the society level, I am the secretary of TC 7.2 Design Build Technologies and will be rolling on

as chair of the YEA Committee on July 1, 2025. I am also on the nominating committee for Region X and am a past president of the San Jose chapter.

What got you into the industry?

I went to college for mechanical engineering because I took an auto shop class in high school and loved the mechanics of engines but after a few years at school, and a trip abroad to study at a university in Munich, Germany that had a partnership with BMW, I realized automotive engineering was not for me. I did not enjoy classes like dynamics or vibrations, but I really loved my thermodynamics and fluid dynamics classes so my dad, who is a structural engineer, encouraged me to look into building sciences. Fortunately, Cal Poly has a premier HVAC&R program, so I signed up for some technical electives, joined the ASHRAE Student Branch and

found my passion.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I really love that every day is different! Some days are spent entirely analyzing buildings, others

are spent on site working through construction issues with the field teams or collaborating with

cross functional teams to find the best solution for a project.

What advice do you have to young people starting out in ASHRAE?

Join your local chapter and attend meetings! Being a member of ASHRAE has opened many doors for me throughout my career through technical learning, developing interpersonal and leadership skills, and even new career opportunities. I found my new job through a good friend at ASHRAE!

What are your career goals?

I hope to help transform the building industry into a force for environmental sustainability while

delivering long-term value to clients and communities. I also hope to foster a more people-centered work environment that prioritizes collaboration, purpose and professional growth to create a culture where everyone feels valued, empowered and connected to the impact of their work.

What are the biggest challenges you see that the industry is facing?

One of the biggest challenges I see is the workforce shortage, specifically among skilled

technicians who are crucial for installation, maintenance and operation of the systems that engineers design to address climate change.

How do you think the industry could best address those challenges?

I would like to see ASHRAE have more involvement with vocational schools and the skilled trades and to incorporate more information about apprenticeship programs within our student activities information.

What do you enjoy doing when you are away from work?

I am a Puppy Raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind and love to take my current puppy, Tag, on adventures! He is the sixth puppy I have raised for the program and his dad is the last puppy we raised, Bruce! My husband and I also love to travel. We recently went to Milan, Italy for a long weekend!

What has been your favorite part of being an ASHRAE member?

My favorite part of ASHRAE is hands down the people. I have made some of my closest friends at my chapter and on society level committees.

What has been your proudest accomplishment of your career so far?

One of my proudest career accomplishments so far has been mentoring and developing younger engineers. I’ve had the opportunity to guide new team members through

complex projects - whether it’s helping understand design principles, offering constructive

feedback that builds knowledge, or encouraging confidence in client conversations. Seeing them grow into independent, capable engineers who contribute meaningfully to the team is incredibly

rewarding. I take pride in not just delivering technical results, but also in building a team culture that supports growth, collaboration, and long-term success

What is one thing you wished you knew when you started in the industry?

I wish I knew how large the industry is. Walking into my first AHR Expo blew my mind with how many booths and people were present! There are so many different opportunities and avenues to make a career in the HVAC&R industry.