2024 Program

Download the 2024 CRA Conference Program

Agenda

Monday, April 8

Workshop
Collegiate Recyclers Coalition Workshop
Ivy Beach, Warren Wilson College
Larry Cook, Director, Office of Sustainability, University of South Carolina
Dameon Hopkins, Waste and Recycling Manager, University of South Carolina
Mary Allison Kane, Student Affairs Practitioner, Appalachian State University
Delaney King, Community Recycling Specialist, NC DEQ
Raechel Peterson, Environmental Specialist, University of North Carolina Asheville
Nicole Sommerdorf, Zero Waste Intern, Office of Sustainability, Appalachian State University
Joe Waldrum, Assistant Comptroller/Facilities Development, Southwestern Community College
Lia Waldrum, Cultural Resources and Restoration Coordinator, Conserving Carolina
Keep Carolinas Beautiful Workshop Mallory Coffey, Director of Affiliate Development, Keep America Beautiful
Kyle Prairie, Executive Director / CEO, Keep North Carolina Beautiful
Esther Wagner, Awareness Coordinator, Palmetto Pride

Tuesday, April 9

Workshop
HHW Council Workshop
Teresa Baker, Recycling Programs Coordinator, City of High Point
Londy Bracale, Business Development Manager, METech Recycling Inc.
Aaron Caudle, Environmental Program Manager, Mecklenburg County
John Twiddy, Business Development Manager, MXI
Workshop
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Workshop
DEI Workshop Combined Presentation
Charles Jackson, Jr., The Recycling Partnership
Jessica Levine, Diversity & Inclusion Manager, The Recycling Partnership
Elizabeth Schussler, Senior Director of Social Change, Behavior, and Impact, The Recycling Partnership
General Session 1
Opportunity Knocks for the Carolinas
Richard Chesley, Manager, SC DHEC
Anna DeLage, Recycling Market Development Manager, SC Dept of Commerce
Ashley Jenkins-June, Recycling Program Coordinator, SC Dept of Commerce, Part One
Ashley Jenkins-June, Recycling Program Coordinator, SC Dept of Commerce, Part Two
David Lambert, Economic Development Project Liaison, NC DEQ
Wendy Worley, Section Chief, NC DEQ
Breakout 1
Supercharging Battery Safety
Richard Chesley, Manager, SC DHEC
Morgan Crapps, Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations, Redwood Materials
Michelle LaRocco, Senior Environmental Manager, Cirba Solutions
Tracy Nestor, President, Republic Services
Breakout 2
Diversify Your Creativity
Ryan Buhay, Head of Sales, Recycle Coach
Leslie Hatchell, Recycling Coordinator, York County, South Carolina
Laura McCoy, Community Recycling Specialist, State of North Carolina
Breakout 3
Paper Cup Recycling
Teresa Baker, Recycle Programs Coordinator, City of High Point
Natha Dempsey, President, Foodservice Packaging Institute
LauraAnne Hunt, Recycling Coordinator, Lexington County (SC)
Patrick McDonald, Sr. Manager - Procurement and Sales, Sonoco Recycling
Wendy Worley, Section Chief, NC DEQ

Wednesday, April 10

General Session 2 - Keynote (ZWBI 1)
The Total Package
Wes Carter, President, Atlantic Packaging Corporation
Breakout 4
MRF Evolution
Brad Goins, Project Director, Machinex Technologies
Joe Hack, Senior Project Manager, Mecklenburg County
Josh Wagner, Sales Engineer- Eastern US, CP Manufacturing (IMS GROUP)
Breakout 5
Leading Examples of Textile Circularity in the Carolinas
Marisa Adler, Senior Consultant, RRS
Brian Iezzi, Research and Development Engineer, Fibarcode
Brian London, President and CEO, Whitehouse and Schapiro
Kerem Saral, President, Cirtex
Breakout 6
Seeing the Value in Waste and Recycling Studies
Shannon Culpepper, Recycling & Education Specialist, Chatham County Solid Waste & Recycling
Bethany Jewell Gray, Senior Consultant, Kessler Consulting Inc
Jennifer Maxwell, Sustainability Program Director, Appalachian State University
ZWBI 2
Circular Economy Storytelling
N. Tyrone Ellis, Aftermarket Engineering Leader, Trane Technologies
Tyler Hendricks, Environmental Manager, Pratt and Whitney
James Wilson, Project Manager - Battery Project, Toyota Tsusho
WWW 1
Collegiate Roundtable
Jennifer Maxwell, Sustainability Program Director, Appalachian State University
WWW 2
SC E-waste Recycling Law - How's It Going?
Tricia Conroy, Executive Direction, MRM
Ed Marr, Assistant Executive Director, Horry County Solid Waste Authority
Marcia Papin, Solid Waste Manager, Greenville County, SC
WWW 3
Repair & Reuse for a Local Circular Economy
Don Fick, Executive Director, Repair Cafe North Carolina
Katie Hunt, FUSE Executive Fellow, Sustainability Planning Strategist, City of Durham
WWW 4 & ZWBI 3
Setting Up Recycling for Success
Mike Greene, Recycling Business Development Specialist, NC DEACS
Derrick Pratt, Managing Partner, Global Circle
WWW 5
Sustainable Yard Waste Management
Robin Barham, Solid Waste Services Director, City of Concord, NC
Marc Mataya, CEO/Inventor, Burrito Brands Incorporated
WWW 6
Navigating Change in Glass Recycling
Laura Hennemann, SVP-Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Strategic Materials Inc.
Wendy Worley, Section Chief, NCDEQ
WWW 7 & ZWBI 4
The 411 on Chemical Recycling
Jacquelyn Keeney, Circular Feedstocks Project Leader, Eastman
Jean Jordan, Senior Vice President-Regional Feedstock, Nexus Circular
WWW 8
Hot Topics in Food Waste, Recovery and Composting
Adah Gorton, Food Waste Prevention Specialist, SC DHEC - Dont Waste Food SC
Lucille Nelson, Community Garden Manager, Dr. John Wilson Community Garden in Town of Black Mountain
Christine Wittmeier, Organics Recycling Specialist, NC DEACS
WWW 9
Creative Reuse Centers - How Can They Help?
Marissa Adler, Senior Consultant, RRS
Catena Bergevin, Executive Director, Reconsidered Goods
Jonelle Dawkins, Executive Director, Scraplanta
Jessica Tefft, Founder & Executive Director, The Art SHAC
WWW 10
Optimizing Construction and Demolition Waste
John Demary, Director, Pitt County
Steve Raines, Solid Waste Director, Pickens County SC
Wendy Worley, Section Chief, NCDEQ
WWW 11 & ZWBI 5
Net Zero - Unlocking the Power of
Waste Reduction to Achieve ESG Goals
Terry Albrecht, State Director, Waste Reduction Partners
Andrew Dagnan, Director of Safety and Sustainability, Wicked Weed
Susie Vincent, Director, USGBC - TRUE

Thursday, April 11

Workshop: Grants WorkshopCombined Presentation
Kim Charick, Sustainable Materials Management Project Manager, US EPA
Victoria Hoffman, Solid Waste & Recycling Program Manager, Beaufort County
Matt James, Grant Development Manager, The Recycling Partnership
Cindy Liles, Project Manager, HDR Engineering Inc.
Grace Anne Martin, Recycle Right SC/Smart Business Recycle Program Coordinator, SC DHEC
Matt Todd, Senior Consultant, RRS
Workshop: AuditopiaTori Carle, Waste Reduction Supervisor, City of Greensboro
Jenny English, Business Development Manager, Prairie Robotics
Cheryl Young, Research and Data Manager, Orange County

Attendees may be eligible for CEUs from multiple organizations including SWANA, APWA, NC OEE and others. CRA is happy to sign off on any CEU forms to help you request CEU’s from applicable organizations. We are no longer able to obtain pre-approval for SWANA CEU’s due to changes in SWANA’s policies. You can email SWANA to request your CEU’s using the agenda of the program you attended and the required forms. Additional CEUs may be available for workshops and tours based on attendance. CRA is happy to provide proof and verification of attendance.