Exclusive Insight From a Variety of Voices
Speakers
The speakers below are confirmed for 2024.
Marisa Adler
Marisa Adler, Senior Consultant, RRS
Marisa Adler is a senior consultant with Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), where she founded RRS's textile circularity practice. Marisa advises public and private organizations on their textile circularity goals. Her work focuses on leveraging collaborative action to drive systems-level change. Marisa serves on the Board of Directors for the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART) Association; chairs the New York State Association of Reduction, Reuse and Recycling's Textile Recycling Council; and is a seated member of the California Product Stewardship Council's Statewide Textile Recycling Advisory Committee. Prior to joining RRS, Marisa led waste programming for the NYC Department of Sanitation and studied natural resource management at Cornell University and Antioch New England Graduate School.
Steve Alexander
Steve Alexander, President and CEO, The Association of Plastic Recyclers
Steve Alexander serves as president and chief executive officer of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR, the Voice of Plastic Recyclers®), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association whose members represent more than 95% of the processing capacity for post-consumer plastics in North America. APR serves the plastics recycling industry by providing technical and educational solutions with the goal of creating a greater supply of quality material for recycling and enhancing the quality of the existing supply stream. Steve is also the president of Resource Recycling, Inc., a publishing and conference management firm that produces the Resource Recycling Conference, among others.
Robert Anderson
Robert Anderson, Senior Vice President, Circular Services
Bob Anderson, senior vice president of circular services, a Closed Loop Partners company, has been at the forefront of building the circular economy for over seven years. In his role at Circular Services, Bob has incubated innovative circular economy offerings, including distributive modular MRFs, distributive anaerobic digestion, doorstep collection of electronics and textiles, large-scale MRFs, and MRF automation through AI. With his 38 years of experience in solid waste and recycling, Bob has been instrumental in advancing the sustainable growth of recycling infrastructure in the Mid-Atlantic and North America. Bob serves on several boards, including as an officer for the Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center, chairman of the Cumberland County, New Jersey, Solid Waste Advisory Committee, board member of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, the City of Philadelphia Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee, and, most recently, he was appointed by Philadelphia Mayor Parker to the newly formed Clean and Green Cabinet.
Kate Bailey
Kate Bailey, Chief Policy Officer, Association of Plastic Recyclers
Kate Bailey is the chief policy officer for the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), the only North American organization focused exclusively on improving the recycling of plastics. Kate leads APR’s advocacy at the state, national and global levels to pass legislation to improve plastics recycling. She has 20 years of experience in recycling operations and policy development, and has passed several leading policies to improve recycling, including Colorado’s EPR for Packaging program in 2022. She is based in Colorado.
Elizabeth Balkan
Elizabeth Balkan, Director, Reloop North America
Elizabeth Balkan brings extensive public policy and strategy experience to her role as director, Reloop North America. Elizabeth works actively with decision-makers across the value chain as well as the most influential government and nonprofit stakeholders to deliver tangible, optimized circularity outcomes. She previously led the food waste program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, growing the Food Matters initiative to comprise more than 40 cities nationwide. Before that, Balkan developed and oversaw implementation of New York City’s zero waste plan, working first in the Mayor’s Office and then at the NYC Department of Sanitation. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and her master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
Michelle Balz
Michelle Balz, Solid Waste Manager, Hamilton County ReSource
For 22 years, Michelle Balz has worked as a public sector solid waste professional encouraging residents and businesses to reduce their waste and use fewer resources. As the solid waste manager for Hamilton County ReSource in southwest Ohio she oversees many organics-related projects from encouraging backyard composting to planning regional organics processing capacity. Michelle has written two books on backyard composting, Composting for a New Generation and No-Waste Composting. Michelle has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a master’s degree in professional writing, both from the University of Cincinnati.
Anja Brandon
Anja Brandon, Director, Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy
Dr. Anja Brandon is an environmental engineer and policy expert specializing in plastics pollution and waste management. As the director of plastics policy at Ocean Conservancy, Anja has been instrumental in drafting landmark state and national legislation regulating plastic pollution, including as part of the team of environmental advocates that helped draft and pass the strongest plastics legislation in the country, SB 54 in California. Anja’s ability to distill complex scientific and policy information into clear, accessible language has made her an effective advocate and spokesperson. Anja’s background includes a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Stanford University and experience as an AAAS Congressional Science Fellow for U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley. Anja's work has earned her recognition as one of Fast Company's Most Creative People of the Year in 2023 and is trusted as a go-to expert for policymakers, industry leaders and environmental advocates alike.
Scott Breen
Scott Breen, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Can Manufacturers Institute
Scott Breen is senior vice President of sustainability at the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI). CMI represents U.S. metal can manufacturers and their suppliers. His responsibilities include promoting the can as a sustainable/circular package, advocating for federal and state legislation and regulation that reflect the can’s sustainability advantages, and leading the industry’s efforts to build upon the can industry’s leading recycling rates.
Scott’s roles prior to CMI were associate manager of the Sustainability and Circular Economy Program at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and attorney-adviser at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Along with his position at CMI, Scott also explores various aspects of sustainability as creator and co-host of the podcast Sustainability Defined. Sustainability Defined has monthly episodes that reach thousands of listeners across more than 100 countries and all 50 states.
Nina Bellucci Butler
Nina Bellucci Butler, CEO, Stina Inc.
Nina Bellucci Butler is the CEO of Stina Inc., a mission-based company striving to harmonize human behavior with the natural world. She has testified before the U.S. Congress, been interviewed by ABC News’ chief correspondent, served as a subject-matter expert for XPrize, and presented to the OPEC Secretariat and on many other global stages such as a United Nations Summit, the World Plastic Summit in Monaco, the World Petrochemical Conference, the World Circular Economy Forum, the World Bank, and the Nat Geo Circular Economy Forum.
Nina’s team conducts critical research such as the Plastic Recycling Study, develops online resources such as CircularityInAction.com, and leads multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Plastic Squeeze Tube Recycling Project. Nina has volunteered on several expeditions including the Ocean Plastic Recovery Project: Katmai Clean Up. Nina currently serves as an advisor to the Ocean Plastic Recovery Project.
Gretchen Carey
Gretchen Carey, President, MassRecycle
Gretchen Carey has worked in the environmental field for over 15 years, six of those as the volunteer president of the board of MassRecycle, the statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable materials management. Her day job is as the Republic Services sustainability director for New England. Gretchen provides training and education on recycling for both municipalities and commercial customers while helping to build the organics infrastructure in New England. Gretchen is a LEED Green Associate, a Zero Waste TRUE Advisor, and co-founder of GreenLabs Recycling, the hyperlocal company for plastics recycling.
Myles Cohen
Myles Cohen, Founder, Circular Ventures, LLC
Myles Cohen has been the president of two of the USA’s largest recycling companies and MRF operators: Pratt Recycling and Sonoco. Since retiring from Pratt Industries, he has formed Circular Ventures, LLC, a sustainable packaging and recycling advisory firm. In that role, he serves on boards of directors including the board of VIPA USA. VIPA Group is the largest independent exporter of recovered fiber globally, selling to paper mills in 100 different countries. Myles has served on several boards of NGOs over his career and is a past president of Paper Stock Industries (part of ReMA), and he is a Lifetime Achievement recipient in the recycling industry. He is a sought-after speaker and delivered a keynote earlier this year at the Packaging Recycling Summit. He has worked closely with Bloomberg Intelligence to reveal a more accurate recycling rate for OCC (cardboard) versus what the industry has published.
Dylan de Thomas
Dylan de Thomas, VP of Public Policy & Government Affairs, The Recycling Partnership
Dylan de Thomas leads state policy work at The Recycling Partnership, and supports policy development and advocacy strategy for the organization. While at the Partnership, Dylan has worked across the organization, serving as a recycling system stakeholder representative, working to communicate, collaborate and find consensus on complex issues surrounding unlocking the circular economy. Dylan is also active around recycling policy implementation in his home state of Oregon, having chaired the state's Truth In Labeling Task Force, and is currently serving on the state's Recycling Advisory Council as it works to advise the implementation of Oregon's EPR law, the Recycling Modernization Act. Previous to joining the Partnership, Dylan worked for Resource Recycling for a decade, directing and producing content for three publications and three conferences covering different aspects of the recycling industry.
Scott DeFife
Scott DeFife, President, Glass Packaging Institute
Scott DeFife has served as president of the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI), the trade association for the North American glass container manufacturing industry, since the Summer of 2019. He also serves as president of the board for the Glass Recycling Foundation and on the board of directors for The Recycling Partnership.
Scott currently serves on both the Colorado and Maryland EPR for Packaging Advisory Boards. Scott has worked on packaging and sustainability policy for 15 years while vice-president of government affairs for the Plastics Industry Association and as EVP for government affairs and communications for the National Restaurant Association in addition to his time at GPI.
Scott has divided his 30+ year career in Washington between national and international trade associations, state government affairs and federal government, working as staff at the highest levels of the U.S. House of Representatives, with a focus on energy, environment, economic and financial policy.
Resa Dimino
Resa Dimino, Managing Partner, RRS
Resa Dimino is a managing principal with RRS, a sustainability and materials management consulting firm, and a managing partner at Signalfire Group, a subsidiary of RRS focused on supporting governments and businesses to navigate policy and regulation to move toward a circular economy. Resa has over 30 years of experience in waste reduction, recycling, product stewardship and environmental economic development. She has held roles in the recycling industry, trade groups, and public sector including WeRecycle, NAPCOR, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. As of late, she has managed and directed multiple recycling supply chain assessments, infrastructure gap analyses, EPR modeling and policy development projects. Resa recently led and participated in projects supporting the development of carpet EPR in New York, the study of PET thermoform recycling costs and material flows, and mapped the infrastructure and material flow of plastics in the U.S. and Canada.
Crystal Dreisbach
Crystal Dreisbach, CEO, Upstream
Crystal Dreisbach is a reuse pioneer whose life goal is to disrupt the status quo of our throw-away economy. Prior to leading Upstream, she founded Don't Waste Durham (established in 2013) which led local and state policy changes to reduce single-use plastics and built infrastructure (logistics, wash, staffing) that make reuse possible. Her goal is to help shift our economy to one that is just, sustainable, and builds economically-resilient communities. She believes reuse must be our societal norm, not the exception.
Crystal's award-winning work has been featured on national news including PBS, NPR, Treehugger and Fast Company magazine. In 2021, she was awarded Activist of the Year at The Reusies®. She has a master’s degree in public health and is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer. In her spare time, she connects with the natural world by camping, hiking and fishing. She’s the mother of two school-age boys.
Katie Drews
Katie Drews, Co-President and CEO, Eureka Recycling
Katie Drews is the co-president and CEO of Eureka Recycling, a nonprofit, mission-driven organization committed to zero waste. As a recycling operator, Katie works to bring Eureka’s unique “perspective from the pile” to industry and environmental discussions, advocating for effective solutions and systemic changes rooted in strong policy. She also serves as the national director for the Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling, where she works to challenge recycling myths, oppose false solutions, and drive meaningful reform in plastic production. Katie emphasizes shifting the focus from "Can we recycle?" to "Should we recycle?" Her work underscores that recycling is only a component of a larger strategy that should be focused on reduction and reuse to address the plastics crisis sustainably.
Katie holds both a bachelor's degree in business administration and an MBA from Hamline University, bringing her diverse experiences and a strong foundation in marketing and business strategy to her work.
MaryEllen Etienne
MaryEllen Etienne, Associate Director, U.S. Green Building Council
MaryEllen Etienne is committed to resilience—personally and professionally. She has helped numerous businesses, municipalities and nonprofits embrace sustainability and is a dedicated advocate for circularity.
MaryEllen is an associate director at USGBC where she works on green building. Prior, she led numerous reuse and recycling initiatives including Reuse Alliance, ReuseNYC, London Community Recycling Network and Materials for the Arts. As a thought leader, MaryEllen created and writes the ”‘Women in Circularity” column published by Resource Recycling, has developed and delivered a range of innovative programs and services, helped develop the TRUE certification and provides guidance on industry research, policy and legislation.
She earned a Master of Arts in sustainability and change management from the University of Dayton and a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences from the SUNY College at New Paltz. MaryEllen maintains LEED Green Associate and TRUE credentials and is a member of the National Recycling Coalition.
Thomas Ferretti, SVP, Operations, Balcones Resources
Tom Ferretti is a senior vice president for Balcones Resources and oversees the recycling operations for the East Coast. Starting in the metal side of the business and then to MRF operations and management, Tom has over 30 years of experience in the recycling industry.
Susan Fife-Ferris
Susan Fife-Ferris, Director, Solid Waste Planning & Program Management, Seattle Public Utilities
Susan Fife-Ferris is the solid waste planning and program management director for Seattle Public Utilities. She provides leadership and directs all aspects of Seattle’s solid waste planning, policy, and program development and delivery. With 35 years’ experience in all aspects of the solid waste industry, Susan focuses on long-range strategic planning, policy development, and program design and implementation. She oversees Seattle's efforts to move upstream, increase waste prevention and reuse efforts, require producer responsibility, and support a circular economy. Susan serves on the U.S. Plastics Pact Board of Directors. Susan previously oversaw all aspects of environmental programs and communications for Bellevue, Washington’s Utilities Department, served as a solid waste consultant to governments throughout the West, and practiced corporate and municipal finance law in both California and Washington. Susan received her bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a law degree from the University of Southern California.
Beth Forsberg
Beth Forsberg, SVP, Sustainability, Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona
Beth Forsberg has been a key leader at Goodwill for over 18 years, currently serving as senior vice president of sustainability at Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona (GCNA). With more than 30 years of experience in donated goods retail (DGR), she has driven GCNA’s sustainability initiatives, including the first large-scale sorting and grading program. She also played a pivotal role in supporting the ASU team to open a groundbreaking material recovery facility, converting plastic waste into new products.
Previously, as vice president of retail & operations at Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, Beth oversaw 10 departments, quadrupling sales revenue and launching the Sustainability Division with initiatives like curbside collection to enhance material diversion. She also expanded GCNA's Retail Operations Center by introducing innovative programs like e-commerce and textile grading, significantly boosting revenue and waste diversion efforts.
Angela Fox
Angela Fox, Sustainability Manager, City of Royal Oak, Michigan
Angela Fox is the City of Royal Oak's sustainability manager. She brings 15 years of sustainability experience to the role. She is a strong advocate for community activism with over 12 years of philanthropy experience and has held several board and committee positions for grassroots nonprofits. She specializes in waste reduction, composting, program implementation and community engagement. Angela is also a faculty associate with the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University. In her spare time, you can find her by any body of water or digging around in the soil. She is a local restaurant foodie who loves exploring destinations off the beaten path.
Anne Germain
Anne Germain, Chief of Technical & Regulatory Affairs, National Waste & Recycling Association
Anne Germain is the chief of technical & regulatory affairs for the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), responsible for establishing and implementing strategies for recycling, landfilling, and sustainability. She has over 30 years in the industry that includes extensive background in analysis of industry trends, contracting, engineering, operations and compliance.
Prior to joining NWRA, Anne was chief engineer with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority. Anne is a past president of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and is a trustee-at-large for the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES). She is a professional engineer and a board-certified environmental engineer with a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech. In 2020, she was recognized by MSW Management with its Legacy Award, and in 2023 she was named to the inaugural class of Waste360's Women Who Inspire.
Wayne Gjerde
Wayne Gjerde, Recycling Market Development Coordinator, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
As the recycling market development coordinator for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Wayne Gjerde consults with startup and expanding companies in the areas of finance, new product development, business plan development, sales, and marketing. Wayne has also done extensive work in economic analysis linking the environment and economy. Wayne has been a speaker at many local and national recycling events.
Wayne has over 40 years of experience in financial analysis, banking, new business start-ups, sales, marketing, new product development, customer service, consulting, business development and management. He has worked in the private and public sector. Wayne has been using the REMI model for 29 years to analyze the effect of recycling, composting and pollution prevention on Minnesota’s economy.
Wayne earned his B.S. in business administration with a concentration in management from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Nora Goldstein
Nora Goldstein, Editor, BioCycle
Nora Goldstein is editor of BioCycle, published by BioCycle Connect, LLC. BioCycle, The Organics Recycling Authority, has been published for over 65 years. She is a board member of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and serves on the ReFED Advisory Council.
Marissa Heffernan
Marissa Heffernan, Associate Editor, Resource Recycling, Inc.
Marissa Heffernan started working for Resource Recycling in January 2022, after spending several years as a reporter at a daily newspaper in Southwest Washington. She focuses on recycling policy and also curates the monthly Policy Now newsletter.
Dan Holtmeyer
Dan Holtmeyer, Managing Editor, Resource Recycling, Inc.
Dan Holtmeyer is a writer, editor and photographer in northwest Arkansas, where he oversees Resource Recycling's national publications focusing on the recycling industry. His career in journalism, in both reporter and editor roles, has stretched from Nebraska to Oklahoma, Missouri, Minnesota and here in the Natural State. Prior to joining Resource Recycling in early 2024, Dan managed the recycling program of a local regional nonprofit, connecting stakeholders, collecting data, and supporting public education and outreach.
Mylinda Jacobsen, SVP, Plastics, Encina Development Group
Mylinda Jacobsen has been with Encina since March of 2020 and has served in various roles since then, including her current role of senior vice president. Prior to coming to Encina, Mylinda worked at Envision Plastics for 17 years. Mylinda has over 30 years of experience in the waste and recycling industry.
Samantha Kappalman
Samantha Kappalman, Senior Consultant, RRS
Samantha Kappalman is a senior consultant at RRS with nearly three decades of experience in behavior change, policy and public affairs. Before RRS, Samantha led the marketing and communications team at The Recycling Partnership and then performed policy tracking and analysis on The Partnership's policy team. Before moving to Asheville, North Carolina, Samantha spent many years in Maryland state government working on environmental policy and communications in a variety of roles as well as serving in a similar capacity at the National Education Association for nine states in the Midwest. Samantha insists on a human-first approach, building strong relationships and engaging stakeholders along the way.
Alison Keane
Alison Keane, President, International Sleep Products Association and Mattress Recycling Council
Alison Keane is an environmental attorney with over 30 years’ experience in both the private and governmental sectors. She is currently the president of the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) and the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), the association representing U.S. and global manufacturers of mattresses and their stewardship organization running mattress recycling programs in four states. Prior to ISPA/MRC, she was the president and CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) for eight years. Alison began her association career with the American Coatings Association (ACA) and PaintCare, where she worked for 16 years. Other employment experience includes the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters office, the Maryland State Senate and private practice. Alison has a B.A. in biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a JD from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She is admitted to practice law in both Maryland and the District of Columbia.
John Lair
John Lair, President & CEO, Momentum Recycling
John Lair is president and CEO of Momentum Recycling. Founded in 2008, Momentum provides recycling services throughout the greater Salt Lake City metro area, specializing in glass recycling and food waste. Initially trained as a systems engineer, John has been an entrepreneur for over 25 years, starting four companies along the way. John enjoys bringing ideas to reality and creating entities that improve communities.
A strong believer in giving back to the community, John has served on the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Business Advisory Board, the Loan Committee of Salt Lake City’s Economic Development Loan Fund and the Utah Independent Business Coalition board. John received a B.A. from Fort Lewis College and an MBA from the University of Utah.
Megan Lane
Megan Lane, Senior Manager of Circularity & Public Affairs, Ball Corporation
Megan Lane is a seasoned leader in circularity, recycling, and policy advancement, currently serving as senior manager of circularity and public affairs at Ball Corporation. With more than 12 years of experience in sustainable materials management and policy advancement, Megan joined Ball in 2021 to spearhead comprehensive strategies for advancing aluminum recycling and circularity. Her role involves leading Ball’s recycling policy strategy, fostering industry collaboration, and driving thought leadership to promote circular economies.
Before joining Ball, Megan held influential roles with the City and County of Denver, where she led initiatives in recycling program management, strategic planning, policy development, and coalition building. Notably, Megan also served as president of the board of directors for Recycle Colorado, championing sustainable practices statewide.
Cher Lei
Cher Lei, Co-Founder & CEO, Cyclei
Cher Lei (she/her) is the co-founder and CEO of Cyclei, where she leads efforts to drive scalable reuse adoption through innovative supply chain solutions. Cher has worked across various stages of the supply chain, including procurement, manufacturing, and product delivery. Her background includes leading large-scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) transformation projects and conducting landscape analyses on sustainability initiatives and the future of mobility. Cher is passionate about leveraging industry technology to drive widespread adoption of reusable systems and is committed to building a circular economy model that benefits businesses, communities and the environment.
Brian London
Brian London, President & CEO, Whitehouse & Schapiro
Brian London is the president and CEO of Whitehouse & Schapiro, a fifth-generation textile recycling company that traces its roots back to 1907. A Baltimore native, Brian holds degrees in mathematics and comparative literature from Cornell University and earned his medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College before training in psychiatry in New York. In 2014, he returned to lead his family's business.
Under his leadership, Whitehouse & Schapiro has greatly expanded its presence as one of the largest buyers and exporters of post-consumer textiles, with headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland, and multiple warehouses across the U.S. along with a sorting facility in Costa Rica serving secondhand stores through Central America. The company gives a second (and sometimes a third and fourth) life to over 250 million pounds of textiles annually, with a strong focus on sustainability and on investments in end-markets, including recent infrastructure plans to help rescue end-of-life textile waste as part of a fiber-to-fiber recycling effort in Central America.
Brian also serves as president of the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART), continuing his family's decades-long legacy of industry leadership. He has played a pivotal role in expanding the organization internationally and fostering collaboration with legislators, regulators and nonprofits to advance sustainability within the textile and apparel industries.
Adam Lovewell
Adam Lovewell, Process Engineer, Van Dyk Recycling Solutions
Adam has been involved in many recycling equipment projects over the last 13 years, including simple roll cutting and baling sites, large baling systems, C&D sorting systems, automated MSW/fuel systems, commercial sorting systems, PET/plastics sorting systems, single stream sorting systems, advanced recycling/chemical feedstock systems, and system retrofits. Adam lives in Silver Lake, Wisconsin, and travels throughout North America and Europe, gaining a broad perspective on the industry and its current trends. His most recent project/startup was a 40 TPH residential single stream system that only requires four manual sorters. He is currently overseeing the completion of two large projects for mechanical film sorting as well as feedstock prep for an advanced/chemical recycling plant, and has recently designed/sold a new 40 TPH residential single stream system.
Leslie Lukacs
Leslie Lukacs, Executive Director, Zero Waste Sonoma
Leslie Lukacs has been the executive director of Zero Waste Sonoma, a regional government agency, for over five years. Prior to her current role, she served as the director of zero waste at SCS Engineers for 13 years and had her own consulting company for seven years. Her dedication to the field is further exemplified by her current role as president of the National Recycling Coalition, vice president of Californians Against Waste (the industry’s lobbying organization), and board member of the Zero Waste International Alliance. She also serves as an advisor to Zero Waste USA and the California Resource Recovery Association. Leslie founded several influential stakeholder groups, including the Green Initiatives for Venues and Events (GIVE) Council, the Compost Coalition of Sonoma County, the Sonoma County Zero Waste Task Force, and the Zero Waste North Bay Symposium.
Brittany Martin
Brittany Martin, Senior Analyst, Americas Polyolefins, Wood Mackenzie
Brittany Martin is a senior analyst with experience in energy markets, specializing in the intersection of sustainability and the plastics industry. With a strong background in market analytics, Brittany leverages data to uncover trends and insights that drive informed decision-making. Her expertise in navigating regulatory frameworks enables organizations to adapt to evolving plastics legislation while enhancing operational efficiency. Passionate about promoting environmentally responsible practices, she advocates for innovative solutions that align with both industry needs and sustainability goals. Brittany's engaging approach and deep understanding of market dynamics make her a valuable voice in discussions about the future of plastics and energy. Outside her professional endeavors, she actively participates in initiatives that support sustainable development and community engagement.
Karen Maynard
Karen Maynard, Solid Waste Education Manager, Louisville Waste Management District
Karen Maynard studied biology and sustainability at Berea College and later completed her master’s degree through Miami University’s Global Field Program in 2017. She began her career with Louisville Metro in 2001 as an educator at the Louisville Zoo. She spent 16 years teaching classes, planning programs, coordinating day camps, and caring for educational animals. Karen’s graduate studies inspired her to transfer to the Solid Waste Management District in March 2017 as their one educator. Since then, the Education Department has grown to four full-time positions and four part-time positions. In her role as the solid waste education manager, she shares her passion for reducing waste with the Louisville Metro community. She enjoys overseeing all the education programs that help residents understand local waste and recycling systems.
Jed McDonald
Jed McDonald, Director, Corporate Development, AMP
Jed McDonald is director of corporate development for AMP, a leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered sortation for the waste and recycling industry. In this role, he focuses on commercial origination of facility-scale solutions. Before that, he served as AMP’s director of finance. Prior to joining AMP in 2020, he led financial planning and analysis at Simple Energy, an energy efficiency technology company now part of Uplight. He began his career in investment banking at Lehman Brothers and Barclays, and then in investment management at Forest Capital Partners. Jed holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Middlebury College and a master’s degree in business administration from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.
Tom Metzner
Tom Metzner, Environmental Analyst, Connecticut DEEP
Tom Metzner has been an analyst with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for more than 30 years focusing on hazardous and solid waste planning. Tom has been involved in planning and implementing Connecticut's extended producer responsibility programs for paint, mattresses, e-waste, gas cylinders and tires. Tom also works on toxics in packaging and serves on the board of directors of the Product Stewardship Institute.
Chaz Miller
Chaz Miller, CEO, MRA
Chaz Miller’s career in recycling and waste began in 1976 at the U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste’s original resource recovery and source separation program. He also worked for the Glass Packaging Institute and the National Waste and Recycling Association. He testified at Congressional and state hearings and spoke at conferences throughout North America and in Japan and China.
He is an ex officio member of the Board of the Northeast Recycling Council, chairing its Recycling Markets Committee. He is a board member of the Maryland Recycling Network, chairing its Legislative Committee. He chaired Montgomery County, Maryland’s Aiming for Zero Waste Task Force.
Happily “semi-retired,” he writes The Circular File for Waste360, prepares a monthly analysis of recycling markets for NERC, speaks at recycling conferences, and is a member of Maryland’s EPR Advisory Council. Chaz is a recipient of the National Recycling Coalition’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Allyson Mitchell
Allyson Mitchell, Vice President, Sustainability, Apkudo
Allyson Mitchell is vice president of sustainability at Apkudo, the leader in supply chain automation for connected devices. Allyson provides customers with meaningful sustainability metrics that demonstrate how Apkudo’s AI-enabled robotics and software driven asset recovery solution eliminates e-waste and reduces carbon emissions. She partners both internally and externally to build circularity metrics into strategic and operational planning to transform the connected device supply chain industry. She also hosts the bi-monthly Apkudo podcast.
Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Allyson is a coalition builder and advocate for pursuing the circular economy. With a diverse background in environmental sustainability, public policy, design, and law, she has positioned herself as a dynamic and multi-dimensional leader who excels at bringing diverse groups of stakeholders together to achieve shared goals.
McKenna Morrigan
McKenna Morrigan, Strategic Advisor, Seattle Public Utilities
McKenna Morrigan is a solid waste and circular economy advisor for Seattle Public Utilities (SPU). In this role, she advocates for state and local policies to advance SPU’s vision of zero waste and support the development of a circular and inclusive economy. She is also part of Reuse Seattle, a City-led initiative working to make Seattle home to the first standardized, citywide reusable food and beverage container system. Previously, McKenna was a senior associate at Cascadia Consulting Group, where she led research and evaluation projects for local and state governments related to recycling programs, policies and markets.
Darren Nichols
Darren Nichols, Consultant & Facilitator, Nichols & Irish LLC
Darren Nichols is a recovering construction contractor, executive director of two interstate compact agencies, a veteran Oregon land use planner, a chronic big thinker, and optimist.
As a skilled consultant and facilitator, Darren carries in his tool bags: collaborative governance, environmental and natural resource policy, economics, political diplomacy, teenage parenting, a law degree (and more!) to tackle complex projects and public policy challenges. He has a proven track record of designing effective legislative strategies, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and leading groundbreaking collaborative efforts in the Columbia River Gorge, the Great Lakes Basin, and across the Pacific Northwest.
Darren frames solutions and builds consensus. He is energized by innovation, vision, and constructive action - and an obstinately persistent champion for mutual-gains solutions.
Linda Norris-Waldt
Linda Norris-Waldt, Deputy Director, US Composting Council
Linda Norris-Waldt is deputy director and advocacy and corporate relations director of the US Composting Council, where she has advocated for compost as a healthy soil and carbon-sequestering solution for organic waste for 10 years. She has been in the recycling industry for 30 years, having spent 10 years as the recycling director for Frederick County, Maryland. She is a University of Maryland graduate; a member of the MD-DC Composting Council Board of Directors and Maryland Compost Advocacy Coalition; and is part of the Frederick Compost Workgroup, a citizens advocacy group for composting and food waste in Frederick County. She lives in Middletown, Maryland.
Kerrin O'Brien
Kerrin O'Brien, Executive Director, Michigan Recycling Coalition
Kerrin O’Brien has worked with the Michigan Recycling Coalition in a variety of capacities since 1993. In addition to guiding and managing the organization, she builds consensus and movement around pro-recycling policies that work for both the public and private sector. In recent years, she has led Coalition efforts to pass funding for recycling and changes to Michigan solid waste laws through the legislature. The Coalition and recycling in Michigan continues to grow and develop under her leadership.
Lucy Pierce
Lucy Pierce, Senior Project Manager, Sustainable Packaging Coalition
Lucy Pierce is a senior project manager at GreenBlue. Lucy leads the SPC’s Policy Pillar work, covering the Guide to EPR Proposals, Packaging Policy Collaboratives, and the development of other policy related resources. Lucy earned her Master of Environmental Studies from the Evergreen State College and holds a Bachelor of Arts in sustainability studies and cultural anthropology from Otterbein University. Her background includes expertise in the environmental impacts and social perceptions of compostables and bioplastics, a fluent understanding of sustainable materials management, and a passion for policy and climate justice reform. Prior to GreenBlue, Lucy was the assistant director of sustainability at the Evergreen State College, where she led climate action planning, zero waste goals and sustainability reporting.
Tonya Randell
Tonya Randell, Public/Private Engagement Manager, Stina Inc
Tonya Randell is the public/private engagement manager at Stina Inc., a mission-based research and technology company. She is the co-lead and data analyst for the Plastic Squeeze Tube Recycling Project, which supports efforts to convert plastic squeeze tubes to compatible-for-recycling designs. She also supports Stina’s core data collection and insights work focusing on policy tracking, national plastic bale audits and the Plastic Recycling Study. Additionally, she serves on the APR Film Committee and as Critical Guidance Recognition Reviewer and is the Stina representative as a RecyClass Supporter.
Katy Rees
Katy Rees, Program Manager, City of Upper Arlington, Ohio
Katy Rees is the program manager for the Public Service Department at the City of Upper Arlington, Ohio, where she has served for nine years. She oversees trash and recycling collection and leads the city’s waste diversion initiatives, including the food waste collection program.
Katy earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Dayton and a master’s degree in management from Ohio Dominican University. She is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.
Originally from Xenia, Ohio, Katy now lives in Upper Arlington with her husband, Jim, and their dog, Hazel. She is dedicated to promoting simple and effective sustainable practices within her community.
Natalie Regennitter
Natalie Regennitter, Planner III, City of Austin - Austin Resource Recovery
Natalie Regennitter has worked for the City of Austin for five years, currently as a planner for Austin Resource Recovery's Zero Waste Policy and Program Development team. She graduated with a degree in sustainability studies from the University of Texas and has been working towards Austin's zero waste goal ever since.
Becky Reichenbach
Becky Reichenbach, Recycling Marketing Manager, Rumpke Waste and Recycling
With nearly 30 years of experience in the waste and recycling industry, Becky Reichenbach joined Rumpke just over three years ago. Becky graduated from Purdue University with an environmental science degree. Today, Becky oversees Rumpke's movement of recyclable commodities from its 14 recycling plants in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Rumpke moves nearly 60,000 tons per month into the circular economy through long-term partnerships with its end-user network. She is a member of the Glass Recycling Coalition supporting Rumpke's glass recycling plant in Dayton, Ohio.
Susan Robinson
Susan Robinson, Principal, SusanKRobinson Consulting
With 40 years of experience in the environmental industry, Susan Robinson’s background includes environmental policy, sustainability reporting and goal setting, and a range of waste and recycling topics. Her experience includes working for local government, for a nonprofit environmental organization, as a consultant, and in the private sector. After retiring from WM in 2022 after 22 years, Susan is currently supporting a diverse array of recycling and sustainability efforts through her work with trade organizations and private-sector clients.
Susan attended Stanford University and holds a B.S. in applied earth sciences from the University of Washington. Her master’s work in environmental studies was at The Evergreen State College. She holds a sustainability leadership certificate from Stanford University.
Andy Rose
Andy Rose, Head of Circular Systems Modeling, Perpetual
Andy Rose is an experienced circular economy professional focused on shifting business to an ecologically and economically viable future. His expertise is in business model development and implementation for reuse innovation across operations, reverse logistics and packaging design. Andy has helped launch reuse models at startups like Loop and Good Goods.
Stacy Savage
Stacy Savage, Founder/CEO, Zero Waste Strategies LLC
Stacy Savage grew up under the brown, hazy skies and rotten egg smells of southeast Texas, where both her parents worked for the oil and gas industry for a collective 75 years.
Known as the “Texas Trash Talker,” Stacy has championed recycling and waste reduction for 22 years. She was instrumental in passing two statewide producer takeback laws for toxic e-waste and four recycling ordinances in Austin. As a volunteer, Stacy co-founded the Austin Zero Waste Alliance, served as a City of Austin Zero Waste Advisory Commissioner, and co-hosted a popular green talk radio show on KOOP 91.7FM.
In 2013, Stacy founded Zero Waste Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in corporate waste reduction and municipal policy development. Her clients include Dell, Apple, AT&T, Nestlé, Kohler, Boston University and City of Austin.
Stacy currently serves as a board member for the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling and is a certified TRUE Advisor.
Joel Schoening
Joel Schoening, Senior Consultant, RRS
Joel earned a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Oregon and published research and taught courses at the nexus of sustainable urban policy, social change, and organizational development. Since 2010, he’s been leading public affairs, strategic planning, communications, and stakeholder engagement for environmental policy initiatives and campaigns. Before joining RRS, he worked as an analyst at Oregon Metro, the community relations manager for Levee Ready Columbia, the senior public relations manager for Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, and the director of communications for the Oregon Environmental Council. He currently serves as board chair for the Association of Oregon Recyclers.
Megan Schulz-Fontes
Megan Schulz-Fontes, Executive Director, Northeast Recycling Council
Megan Schulz-Fontes serves as executive director for the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC). She has a decade of experience in nonprofit management and facilitating multi-stakeholder partnerships. Megan oversees the strategic development and operations for NERC, facilitating public and private partnerships and leading the team in carrying out its mission through a diverse range of activities and membership engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental resource economics from the University of New Hampshire and a Master of Business Administration in social impact and energy and environmental sustainability from Boston University.
Marissa Segundo
Marissa Segundo, President & Chief Strategist, Transformations PR
Marissa Segundo has enjoyed nearly 20 years of proven success in strategic sustainability planning and measurable behavior change. Her award-winning communications campaigns have built bridges to key audiences. She has worked with public, private and collaborative recycling and sustainability industry clients. Marissa opens doors to Hispanic communities while prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion for robust results.
Elisa Seltzer
Elisa Seltzer, Senior Consultant, RRS
Elisa Seltzer joined RRS in 2019 as a senior consultant. Prior to RRS, Elisa served as public works director for Emmet County, Michigan. During her 30-year tenure, she helped the county reach a diversion rate approaching 50%; spearheaded the successful bin-to-cart transition for six municipalities; and managed a regional facility that included a material recovery facility (MRF), transfer station, compost facility, and a drop site and curbside fleet. She collaborated with private haulers and government stakeholders, oversaw the solid waste management planning process, developed markets for many materials, and developed residential and commercial curbside routes and drop-site recycling sites in Emmet and four partner counties. At RRS, Elisa assists communities in developing and improving recycling and composting programs, cultivating public-private partnerships, and strategically connecting the right resources to move communities toward zero waste and sustainability goals. She serves as the NextCycle Michigan program lead.
Antoinette Smith
Antoinette Smith, Reporter, Resource Recycling, Inc.
Antoinette Smith has spent years immersed in the commodity plastics, energy and supply chain space. Her particular areas of focus are the PET value chain and macroeconomic influences, and she was awarded two Goldschmidt data fellowships from the SABEW association of business journalists. Antoinette received a degree in magazine journalism from the University of Kansas, and outside of business hours, she fosters rescue dogs and cycles compulsively.
Elizabeth Chin Start
Elizabeth Chin Start, Founder, Start Consulting Group
Elizabeth Chin Start (she/her) is the founder of Start Consulting Group LLC. She has worked in reuse, recycling, waste prevention, and solid waste for over 22 years, with a focus on equity and justice. Throughout her career, Elizabeth has engaged with community members, local and state governments, private industry, and community-based nonprofits. Her goal is to build equitable, accessible and inclusive systems within materials management and the circular economy. In addition to her consulting work, Elizabeth is a passionate reuse advocate and artist, known for her ability to repurpose discarded objects like a magpie collecting shiny treasures.
Colin Staub
Colin Staub, Associate Editor, Resource Recycling, Inc.
Colin Staub is an associate editor at Resource Recycling, Inc., reporting on the municipal, plastics and electronics recycling sectors for the company's three trade publications. He first joined the publication as a staff reporter in 2017, and works out of the company's Portland, Oregon headquarters.
Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor, Business Process Specialist, Austin Resource Recovery
Elizabeth Taylor has worked for the City of Austin since 2008, spending time in Parks and Recreation, Austin Public Library and Public Works. Wanting to re-focus her career on sustainability, she moved to Austin Resource Recovery in 2023, where she joined the circular economy team. She studied English and classics at the University of Texas at Austin.
Rebecca Thomas
Rebecca Thomas, Government Affairs & Sustainability Associate, Glass Packaging Institute
Rebecca Thomas holds an honors Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, politics, and the public from Xavier University, where she graduated in May 2024. During her time at Xavier, she was vice president of the Student Government Association, a founding member of the Coalition United for Reproductive Awareness, and an active participant in the student planning committee for Laudato Si'.
Her prior work experience includes internships with the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio and OH-2 House Representative’s District Office, and an administrative clerkship with Blank Rome in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Now based in Washington, D.C., Rebecca joined GPI to help improve the glass recycling system through policy advocacy across North America.
Michael Timpane
Michael Timpane, Vice President and Partner, RRS
Michael Timpane is an RRS principal and vice president of process optimization and material recovery. He is currently a senior executive consultant advising brands, material manufacturers, municipalities, solid waste and recycling companies, MRFs, NGOs, major trade groups, and CPGs. In his engagement at RRS, Michael is known for technical execution in recycling and recovery matters, including processing, pricing, acquisitions and mergers, technology, material streams, recyclability, finance, commodities behavior, and process improvement.
During his career he has directly managed over 100 MRFs, e-waste, C&D, and compost operations, and has visited over 350 MRFs and other processing facilities in North America. Prior to RRS, Michael worked with WM, BFI, and Reynolds Recycling for over a decade each, and 2025 will mark his 50th year in the business.
Michael has three sons and six grandchildren and lives in Florida.
Amy Uong
Amy Uong, Senior Recycling Manager, Nespresso USA
Amy Uong is senior recycling manager at Nespresso USA, the pioneer and reference for highest-quality portioned coffee. Amy manages Nespresso’s aluminum capsule recycling program in the United States and leads the brand’s efforts to help improve recycling infrastructure in municipalities across the country.
Amy joined Nespresso in August 2023, bringing with her over 20 years of experience leading sustainability and construction efforts across New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C. and Florida.
Prior, Amy was deputy general manager at Sims Municipal Recycling, where she managed critical functions including capital budgets, operations, new business, and partnerships aimed at forging circular waste solutions. In her tenure at Sims Municipal Recycling, she completed the opening of its $110 million municipal recycling facility in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and oversaw $60 million in other capital projects and sustainability initiatives.
Lindsey Walker
Lindsey Walker, Market Development, Commercial Accounts, Emmet County Recycling
Since 2007 and with a great love of Michigan, Lindsey has been honored to work for the best hub and spoke rural recycling program in the state. Her enthusiasm for all things waste diversion and her passionate perseverance has led to consistent market relationships for 1-7 plastics, PE film and bags, glass, cartons and poly-coated cups.
She oversees the commercial recycling and food scrap collection and composting program. She is involved on the state level through the Michigan Recycling Coalition, the Michigan Organics Council, and NextCycle Michigan.
Lindsey is also an elected official in her hometown of Petoskey, having been elected to city council in 2018 and currently serving her third term. She holds a master’s degree in sustainable development and management from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont and an undergraduate degree in women’s studies from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, OH.
Edward Wansing
Edward Wansing, Owner/COO, The Compost Company
Ed Wansing holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State University and a Master of Science in sustainability from Lipscomb University. He has been a leader of the green building and sustainability movement in Middle Tennessee for over 20 years. He served as Chair of the Emerging Professionals National Committee and the Middle Tennessee U.S. Green Building Council. He has served on many other boards and committees including Cheatham County Habitat for Humanity and the Friends of the Cheatham County Bicentennial Trail. Ed and his wife, Carly, have been recognized for their work in the green building industry, for their contributions to the community, and for their energy efficiency and sustainability achievements at their home. He founded The Compost Company in 2011 and currently serves as co-owner and COO. He was instrumental in the adoption of the USCC model composting regulations by the State of Tennessee.
Andy Weins
Andy Weins, Owner, Camo Crew Responsible Junk Removal
Through consulting, teaching, podcasting and writing, Andy Weins is an enthusiastic supporter of veterans, entrepreneurs, community engagement, individual empowerment and the environment. His speaking engagements use data-driven methodologies and battle-tested experiences to give audiences practical takeaways. Andy’s nearly two decades of military service include service during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and continuing service as a U.S. Army Reserve career counselor. Outside of speaking, his ventures include Green Up Solutions, Camo Crew Responsible Junk Removal and the Trash Talk Business Podcast. He has won numerous awards through the years, including being named a 2023 Waste360 “40 Under 40” member, which honors the next generation of leaders who are shaping the future of the waste and recycling industry; 2022 and 2023 Outstanding Business of the Year—Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business award at the Wisconsin Governor’s Annual Conference on Diverse Business Development; and Titan 100 honoring the top 100 executives in Wisconsin.
Annie White
Annie White, Senior Consultant, RRS
Annie White is a senior consultant at RRS, bringing over 21 years of experience in solid waste and recycling programs, sustainable packaging, as well as corporate and urban sustainability. Prior to RRS, Annie was the program manager for the Office of Waste Diversion, Department of Public Works in Washington D.C., where she developed and implemented policies and programs for waste prevention, reuse, recycling, composting, co-digestion, contamination reduction, multifamily, and transfer station activities. She was also instrumental in infrastructure planning for waste, recycling and organics systems. Annie held several leadership positions including the director for Global Green’s New York Office, led the Coalition for Resource Recovery, and launched and was director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC). She earned an MBA and M.S. from the University of Michigan.
Ashley Wyland
Ashley Wyland, Environmental Outreach Specialist, Pinellas County (FL) Solid Waste
A passionate educator and communicator, Ashley Wyland has spent the last three years working with Pinellas County (FL) Solid Waste's education and outreach team, educating groups of all ages about waste reduction and recycling, what happens to garbage in Pinellas County and how the three R’s (reducing, reusing and recycling) will help the county reach its vision of zero waste to landfill by 2050. By continuously learning effective interpretive strategies, she works to improve her skill of connecting with residents to encourage positive behavior changes. Off the clock, Ashley can be found out in nature, traveling to new places and hiking the U.S. National Parks.
Macy Zander
Macy Zander, Local Reuse Manager, Upstream
As Upstream's local reuse manager, Macy supports advocates across the U.S. and Canada in their efforts to advance communities toward circular, reuse systems and away from single use disposables. Macy works on local reuse policy, co-leads the Upstream networks, and is involved in implementation project management. Macy has over 10 years of sustainability experience in the fields of environmental policy advocacy, field organizing and campaigning, renewable energy development, and social science research. She holds a Master of Science in environmental governance from the University of Freiburg in Germany and a double Bachelor of Science in environmental science and political science from Texas Christian University. She lives in Bastrop, Texas.
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