Joanie Mahoney was appointed President at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in November, 2020.

Prior to ESF, Ms. Mahoney served as Onondaga County Executive for 11 years and oversaw all aspects of a county government, which served 460,000 residents. During her tenure as county executive, she earned national recognition for her environmentally friendly stewardship.

Before her elective office, Joanie worked as an attorney both in private practice with the Harris Beach law firm and for five years as a criminal prosecutor in the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office.

Joanie serves as chair of the New York State Thruway Authority.

Ms. Mahoney received her bachelor of science degree from Syracuse University's School of Management and her juris doctor from S.U.'s College of Law.

She and her husband Marc Overdyk have 4 adult sons and live in Dewitt, NY.

Kathryn Walker serves as the Executive Director for the New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM) at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry.  Walker brings with her 20 years of experience working in the environmental education and sustainability fields in New York State. Walker serves on the Boards of the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, the New York State Product Stewardship Council and as a founding member and President for the Rochester Ecology Partners. Prior to joining SUNY ESF, Kate led a statewide Outreach and Education program for the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where she managed project funding to over 100 organizations and municipalities across the state. Kathryn has developed an extensive network of regional and statewide stakeholders, including government, industry, community, academic, non-profit, and health and environmental organizations to advance sustainable materials management and pollution prevention policies. Walker holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from St. Lawrence University. 

Melissa has 17+ years of experience working on community sustainability, with a focus on waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and sustainable organics management. Melissa is currently on the board of NYS Association of Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling (NYSAR3) and has previously served on the board of the National Recycling Coalition. Melissa is a Master Composter, certified in Onondaga County, New York City, and US Composting Council. She received her Master of Science degree in Natural Resource Management from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Melissa also serves on the board of the Queens County Farm Museum located in Queens, NY.

Dereth Glance has been added to the line-up. Dareth Glance is the Director for Region 7 at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Prior to the that, Glance served as Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Remediation and Material Management NYSDEC and the Executive Director for Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA). Prior to that, Glance was appointed by President Obama to serve as a U.S. Commissioner at the International Joint Commission (IJC) charged with preventing and resolving disputes and promoting cooperation for the shared waters of the United States and Canada. She also previously served as Executive Program Director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), directing water, energy and waste reduction programs for five regional offices in New York and Connecticut and chaired the Citizen Participation Working Group for the Onondaga Lakes Bottom Subsite of the Onondaga Lake Superfund Site and OCRRA recycling committee. Glance has served on New York State’s Great Lakes Basin Advisory Council, the Clean Water Network and the Onondaga Lake Partnership Outreach Committee. She graduated from James Madison College of Public Affairs at Michigan State University with a degree in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy.

Delaney is a Program Manager with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). She leads ISE's waste reduction projects which includes the CSMMxTRUE program, a public-private partnership for zero waste certification with USGBC's TRUE Certification for Zero Waste. She also supports CSMM's reuse and green procurement initiatives across New York State.

She previously worked for ESF's Office of Sustainability where she led the development of the College’s Sustainability Action Plan, Green Purchasing Guide, Sustainability Ambassadors program, and the Sustainable Events and Green Office certification programs.

Delaney holds a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.S. in Environmental Science from ESF. Before attending graduate school, she worked at Argonne National Laboratory performing research on phytoremediation of bioenergy crops in agricultural fields and anaerobic co-digestion of food waste in municipal wastewater treatment systems.

Sue serves as the Director of Sustainability at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She also focuses on closed loop, responsible purchasing efforts and reuse at the Center for Sustainable Materials Management, sits on the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust Board of Directors, co-chairs the United University Professions (UUP) statewide Environmental Issues & Advocacy Committee, and serves on the SUNY Sustainability Advisory Council.

Dr. Gabrielle Gaustad is the Dean of the Inamori School of Engineering at Alfred University, Associate Provost of Research, and the Vice President for Statutory Affairs of the New York State College of Ceramics. For ten years prior, she was an Associate Professor in the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She holds a PhD in Material Science and Engineering and an MS in Computation for Design and Optimization from MIT and a BS in Ceramic Engineering from AU. The Gaustad group conducts research quantifying the economic and environmental trade-offs for materials at their end-of-life with a focus on recycling, resource recovery, and promoting a circular economy. Recent projects have focused on glass recycling in New York State, recycling PV and LIBs, and scarcity and criticality issues in supply chains. Dr. Gaustad has managed over $6M in externally sponsored research as PI and an additional $5M as co-PI or SP. She has a personal passion for attracting under-represented students to the engineering field as well as curricular innovation.

Methodologies include a variety of systems modeling techniques such as dynamic material flow analysis, optimization, simulation, systems dynamics, economic modeling, process based cost modeling, and life-cycle assessment, as well as traditional material characterization such as TGA, PSD, SEM, XRD, XRF, EDS, and ICP-MS. Specific projects include implications of material scarcity and criticality for clean energy technologies, aluminum and steel recycling technologies and compositional analysis, and environmentally benign and economically efficient recycling of lithium ion batteries, particularly those containing nanomaterials. Gaustad has been an organizer for several conferences on materials for clean energy (MCARE 2018) and recycling (REWAS 2019) and served as guest editor for an issue of Resources, Conservation, and Recycling on the circular economy.

Morgan Ingraham serves as a Program Associate for the Institute for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University, where she assists with sustainable materials management projects. Her work includes leading the NYS SMM Stewardship Program, waste reduction and reuse grants, maintaining Reuse/Repair Locator Map, and more. She has over a decade of experience in education, outreach, and ecological research working for environmental-focused non-profits. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Humboldt State University and an M.S. in Environmental Biology from SUNY-ESF.

Doug Daley is an Associate Professor of Environmental Resources Engineering at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY and a registered Professional Engineer in New York State. Professor Daley has over 35 years of government, consulting engineering and academic experience in environmental engineering. He is a Principal Investigator with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management focused on composting of non-marketable papers. His current research also addresses emerging contaminants of concern such as per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater biosolids.

Doug is also Director of SUNY ESF’s Analytical and Technical Services unit which provides high-end analytical laboratory services in support of research.

Prof. Bandaru V Ramarao (Ram) is a professor and chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse New York. He led the establishment of the chemical engineering program and  renaming of the department at ESF.

Ram has been at SUNY for more than 30 years where he has been involved with research in the applications of transport processes in fibrous media, separations processes, mathematical analysis and modeling of porous media structure and property relationships. He was an editor of the Elsevier Journal Separation and Purification Technology and co-edited a book titled ‘Separation Technologies in Biorefineries’.

He is a co-author of the monograph, Granular Filtration of Aerosols and Hydrosols with Chi Tien. He has co-authored more than 90 journal publications and has chaired several conferences and meetings. Among them, are the International Conference on Biomass Conversion Technologies (2014), Nanjing China, Progress in Paper Physics Seminar and chaired several sessions at national and international meetings.

Ram’s current research is focused on studies of separation operations, development of novel separation and adsorption media using stimuli responsive polymers and the conversion of waste fibers from industrial and municipal waste into biodegradable bioplastics and other bioproducts. Bioplastics are environmentally friendly and sustainable solution to the plastics pollution crisis.  

Ram is an elected Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and a winner of the AIChE’s Andrew Chase Award from the Forest Bioproducts Division.

Kweku is a PhD Candidate in Environmental Science at SUNY ESF and has a professional background in environmental consulting, with a specialization in circular economy, sustainability, and waste management. Currently, his research interests lie in the exploration of the intricacies of instituting upstream circular economy policy interventions in manufacturing value chains to identify pathways for more sustainable resource consumption. Kweku has also worked on projects promoting circularity in both the Global North and South, with an emphasis on the development of viable resource management policies and circular economy business models, as well as assisting resource sector stakeholders to improve operational efficiency, track sustainability performance, and reduce costs. Likewise, he has supported or collaborated with a range of stakeholders on waste management-related projects, such as governments, businesses, international development institutions, and non-profits. 

Dr. Gabrielle Gaustad is the Dean of the Inamori School of Engineering at Alfred University, Associate Provost of Research, and the Vice President for Statutory Affairs of the New York State College of Ceramics. For ten years prior, she was an Associate Professor in the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She holds a PhD in Material Science and Engineering and an MS in Computation for Design and Optimization from MIT and a BS in Ceramic Engineering from AU. The Gaustad group conducts research quantifying the economic and environmental trade-offs for materials at their end-of-life with a focus on recycling, resource recovery, and promoting a circular economy. Recent projects have focused on glass recycling in New York State, recycling PV and LIBs, and scarcity and criticality issues in supply chains. Dr. Gaustad has managed over $6M in externally sponsored research as PI and an additional $5M as co-PI or SP. She has a personal passion for attracting under-represented students to the engineering field as well as curricular innovation.

Methodologies include a variety of systems modeling techniques such as dynamic material flow analysis, optimization, simulation, systems dynamics, economic modeling, process based cost modeling, and life-cycle assessment, as well as traditional material characterization such as TGA, PSD, SEM, XRD, XRF, EDS, and ICP-MS. Specific projects include implications of material scarcity and criticality for clean energy technologies, aluminum and steel recycling technologies and compositional analysis, and environmentally benign and economically efficient recycling of lithium ion batteries, particularly those containing nanomaterials. Gaustad has been an organizer for several conferences on materials for clean energy (MCARE 2018) and recycling (REWAS 2019) and served as guest editor for an issue of Resources, Conservation, and Recycling on the circular economy.

Jesse Kerns is the Assistant Director of Sustainable Organics Management for Syracuse University's Institute for Sustainability Engagement. Through federal and state grants, he assists communities throughout New York State with wasted food prevention, food recovery, and organics recycling. He also serves as Chair for the New York State Organics Council, a professional network of the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling. He received a master's degree in environmental science from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and currently lives in Central New York.

Kathryn Walker serves as the Executive Director for the New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM) at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry.  Walker brings with her 20 years of experience working in the environmental education and sustainability fields in New York State. Walker serves on the Boards of the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling, the New York State Product Stewardship Council and as a founding member and President for the Rochester Ecology Partners. Prior to joining SUNY ESF, Kate led a statewide Outreach and Education program for the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where she managed project funding to over 100 organizations and municipalities across the state. Kathryn has developed an extensive network of regional and statewide stakeholders, including government, industry, community, academic, non-profit, and health and environmental organizations to advance sustainable materials management and pollution prevention policies. Walker holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from St. Lawrence University. 

Delaney is a Program Manager with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). She leads CSMM's waste reduction projects which includes the CSMMxTRUE program, a public-private partnership for zero waste certification with USGBC's TRUE Certification for Zero Waste. She also supports CSMM's reuse and green procurement initiatives across New York State.

She previously worked for ESF's Office of Sustainability where she led the development of the College’s Sustainability Action Plan, Green Purchasing Guide, Sustainability Ambassadors program, and the Sustainable Events and Green Office certification programs.

Delaney holds a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.S. in Environmental Science from ESF. Before attending graduate school, she worked at Argonne National Laboratory performing research on phytoremediation of bioenergy crops in agricultural fields and anaerobic co-digestion of food waste in municipal wastewater treatment systems.

Kshirajaa Ramesh is a second year Master of Science candidate in the Environmental Science department at SUNY ESF. She currently works with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management on a variety of projects ranging from sustainable procurement to extended producer responsibility. She previously served as a Sustainability Office for the State of Maryland and led the State’s green procurement program and supported overall climate and sustainability targets. 

Delaney is a Program Manager with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management (CSMM) at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). She leads CSMM's waste reduction projects which includes the CSMMxTRUE program, a public-private partnership for zero waste certification with USGBC's TRUE Certification for Zero Waste. She also supports CSMM's reuse and green procurement initiatives across New York State.

She previously worked for ESF's Office of Sustainability where she led the development of the College’s Sustainability Action Plan, Green Purchasing Guide, Sustainability Ambassadors program, and the Sustainable Events and Green Office certification programs.

Delaney holds a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an M.S. in Environmental Science from ESF. Before attending graduate school, she worked at Argonne National Laboratory performing research on phytoremediation of bioenergy crops in agricultural fields and anaerobic co-digestion of food waste in municipal wastewater treatment systems.

At SU-IES Ms. Eberhart works on a variety of SMM programs including the Recycle Right NY Campaign. To provide comprehensive recycling information through effective messaging and communication across various media platforms, she engages stakeholders and the public in New York State. Most recently, Ms. Eberhart has been working higher up on the materials management hierarchy by working to establish a tool lending library in her local community of the Champlain Valley Region, as well as participating in the Orange County Green Grub pilot program, which supports businesses in integrating reuse practices. She is a systems thinker dedicated to forging deeper connections with the Earth, and remembering thoughtful, connective, and enduring solutions to the environmental challenges we all face. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, Policy, Planning, and Law from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Celeste McMickle is the Director for TRUE Zero Waste certification with the USGBC. Celeste has a background in architecture and is a TRUE Advisor, LEED AP and LEED Green Rater. She worked as a LEED consultant for many years before her passion for recycling and composting led her to the wild world of zero waste.  She serves on the board of NYSAR3 and the Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board and is a certified Master Composter and Permaculture Designer. She is a 2021 recipient for the 40 under 40 award by Waste360. Celeste holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and a Master of Science in Sustainable Design from the San Francisco Institute of Architecture.

Kshirajaa Ramesh is a second year Master of Science candidate in the Environmental Science department at SUNY ESF. She currently works with the Center for Sustainable Materials Management on a variety of projects ranging from sustainable procurement to extended producer responsibility. She previously served as a Sustainability Office for the State of Maryland and led the State’s green procurement program and supported overall climate and sustainability targets. 

Lisa Ruggero specializes in outreach and education initiatives, especially related to waste reduction, reuse and recycling. She draws on 14 years of experience in the sustainable materials management field to find creative ways to connect with audiences through effective messaging. Ms. Ruggero received a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Communication and Culture from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She feels most connected to nature when she is spending time near the creek in her backyard or working in her garden. 

Combining her passion for sustainability with her skill for making connections, Carly assists the Center for Sustainable Community Solutions in all things communication, with highlighted support provided for Recycle Right New York (RRNY) and internal communications. With her English degree from SUNY Oneonta and years of experience in both journalism and marketing, Carly’s areas of expertise include developing and implementing communication and marketing strategies, creating content, and facilitating media relations.

Sarah Culler is the Senior Manager of Education & Outreach at the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA), where she has served for 18 years. She has played an important role in expanding the Environmental Education Program, which now includes two centers offering immersive educational experiences and hands-on learning for students across the state. 

Sarah holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Chowan University and a Master's degree in Management from Wilmington University. Her work focuses on educating residents about recycling and responsible waste management. Additionally, she serves as the Program and Outreach Manager for Keep Delaware Beautiful, where her lifelong connection to Delaware enhances her efforts to promote community engagement and environmental sustainability.

Cathy Doodnauth is an Environmental Analyst with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), within the Municipal Waste Reduction Branch. Cathy works on recycling outreach and education through the Recycle Smart MA program, engaging with the public on waste reduction strategies across multiple digital platforms. She also leads the Recycling Dividends Program, part of MassDEP’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP), that provides millions in waste reduction funding to cities, towns, and regional groups across Massachusetts. Cathy holds a B.A. in Environmental Humanities from Stony Brook University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, playing video games, and kayaking. 

At SU-IES Ms. Eberhart works on a variety of SMM programs including the Recycle Right NY Campaign. To provide comprehensive recycling information through effective messaging and communication across various media platforms, she engages stakeholders and the public in New York State. Most recently, Ms. Eberhart has been working higher up on the materials management hierarchy by working to establish a tool lending library in her local community of the Champlain Valley Region, as well as participating in the Orange County Green Grub pilot program, which supports businesses in integrating reuse practices. She is a systems thinker dedicated to forging deeper connections with the Earth, and remembering thoughtful, connective, and enduring solutions to the environmental challenges we all face. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, Policy, Planning, and Law from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Jennifer Heaton-Jones is the Executive Director of the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority, a regional, governmental solid waste and recycling authority serving 14 municipalities in Western Connecticut.  She has been with the HRRA since 2009.  She is a board member on the Recycle CT Foundation.  The RecycleCT Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the importance of managing materials more sustainably through waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.  The Foundation created the State of Connecticut’s universal recycling guide What’s In, What’s Out (WIWO).  Jen also serves as the President of the Northeast Chapter of NAHMMA, Chair of the CT Product Stewardship Council and President of the CT Recyclers Coalition.

Matt Flechter, Recycling Market Development Specialist at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), for more than 24 years has assisted recycling programs by growing the Michigan supply chain so the valuable commodities that businesses need make their way from the curb to new products. With a strong team at EGLE Matt has designed and developed the recycling and organics policies, education, infrastructure, markets programs that make Michigan a leader in recycling. He was a longtime member of the Michigan Recycling Coalition board of directors and the former chair of the Mid-America Council of Recycling Officials.  Matt is a graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Lyman Briggs and is always surprised by the number of other Peace Corps volunteers in the recycling world.

Keira Higgins is a consultant with Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) and part of the team driving NextCycle, an innovative approach to accelerate solutions for a circular economy. She has experience supporting zero-waste initiatives, coordinating collaborative events, working on community projects, along with performing technical and analytical work. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering providing a technical perspective to a passion for sustainability, Keira approaches projects with ambition, creativity, and a holistic perspective.

Shannon is a Natural Resource Planner with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) within the Waste Diversion Division. She is the project manager for Maryland's Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) workplan, represents MDE on the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council, and is currently the Sustainable Materials Management taskforce Chair for ASTSWMO. Within the Waste Diversion Division, Shannon supports Maryland's Extended Producer Responsibility laws for paint and packaging and the Climate Solutions Now Act - Photovoltaic Systems Working Group. Shannon's professional experience spans NPDES permitting of industrial storm and wastewater, waste and drinking water engineering approvals for a municipality, and international construction field engineer for industrial telecommunications and power stations. 

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.

Elizabeth founded Start Consulting Group to ensure that inclusion, equity, and justice are at the core of sustainable materials management. She believes in building relationships through trust, communication, and empowerment to help organizations create strong and positive cultures. 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.

With 15 years of working in the sustainability field, Megan Jorgensen has a unique set of experiences and skills around responsible sourcing and supply chains, operational footprint and impacts, zero waste programs, DE&I, and stakeholder engagement. She has spent her career developing programs for Sustainability, Environmental Compliance, and Occupational Health and Safety, and is currently the lead of Sustainability and Impact for Eco-Products, a leading provider of foodservice products made from renewable resources or post-consumer recycled content.

In her role at Eco-Products Megan is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive Sustainability and Impact strategy, including . She also supports the Product & Zero Waste Specialist team in their efforts to scale waste diversion practices for customers by assisting in the development of their zero waste programs, and by working with composters, industry partners and thought leaders to build responsible waste infrastructure across the US.

Megan earned a MSMO in Managing for Sustainability from the CU Denver Business School in 2016. She has been actively involved in the responsible business community through the years, from acting as the Sustainability Chair to local responsible food and business events, to serving on multiple advisory boards, and mentoring other individuals and organizations in their sustainability journey.

Celeste McMickle is the Director for TRUE Zero Waste certification with the USGBC. Celeste has a background in architecture and is a TRUE Advisor, LEED AP and LEED Green Rater. She worked as a LEED consultant for many years before her passion for recycling and composting led her to the wild world of zero waste.  She serves on the board of NYSAR3 and the Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Board and is a certified Master Composter and Permaculture Designer. She is a 2021 recipient for the 40 under 40 award by Waste360. Celeste holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and a Master of Science in Sustainable Design from the San Francisco Institute of Architecture.

Victoria Nellis has been with the State of Maryland for ten years, serving in different procurement related roles, and is currently the Green Purchasing Program Manager at the MD Department of General Services where she leads the statewide green procurement program. Victoria serves as the Chair of the Maryland Green Purchasing Committee, an interagency committee to advance sustainable procurement in Maryland state government. She has earned her Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), NIGP - Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP), Certified Maryland Procurement Officer (CMPO), and Green Purchasing Specialization (CMPO+GPS). She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Management. 

Anne Bedarf joined Colgate-Palmolive in 2017 as Packaging Sustainability Manager. Prior to joining Colgate, Anne spent 9 years with the non-profit GreenBlue, managing membership, training, and projects for the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), and also previously worked in local government and environmental consulting. While at the SPC, Anne worked with brands, retailers, packaging suppliers, local and federal governments, and non-profits to develop the on-pack How2Recycle Labeling Program. At Colgate, Anne is driving progress towards Colgate's packaging sustainability goals including unprecedented collaboration for recyclable tubes.  

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. 

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. 

Megan Daum is the vice president of sustainability at the American Beverage Association (ABA), where she has overseen the industry’s sustainability programs, policies and activities for over five years. Prior to joining ABA, Megan was the vice president of sustainability at the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI), where she headed the sustainability program for fourteen years. She has sat on various U.S. and International Committees on packaging, policy and the environment. She has a master’s degree from the University of Vermont and lives in Washington DC.

Lucy Mullany joined Eureka Recycling in 2022 as the Director of Policy & Advocacy.  In her work at Eureka, Lucy leads their local, state and federal policy campaign. She’s also a founding member of the Minnesota Zero Waste Coalition and serves as the Director of Policy for the Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers (AMBR). Prior to coming to Eureka, Lucy was a leading advocate for economic justice and financial security policy at the federal, state and local levels. While at Heartland Alliance for Human Rights and Human Needs in Chicago, she led their Financial Empowerment policy unit and served as the Director of the statewide coalition, Financial Inclusion for All Illinois. During her tenure, Lucy passed significant legislation including passage of the country’s first automatic retirement savings program for low-wage workers, reforms to the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program, and consumer protections against predatory financial loans and products. She lives in Minneapolis, MN with her husband, two kids, two cats, and dog.

Erica Nuñez is Head of The Ocean Foundation's Plastics Initiative, where she leads the management and strategic development of the organization's scientific and policy activities to combat plastic pollution. Erica has nearly twenty years of conservation experience and served fourteen years with the US federal government. She has an extensive background in international governance and policy related to plastic pollution issues. Her portfolio includes the ongoing negotiations for an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, the Basel Convention, and other bodies of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Rachel Setzke (she/her) has been with Eco-Cycle since 2019. In her role as Senior Policy and Research Associate, she researches trends and best practices in recycling, compost, Zero Waste and circularity in order to support Eco-Cycle’s education and advocacy work. Her work has focused on providing policy and program solutions at the community and state levels as well as studying diversion access, trends and scalable solutions across Colorado. Rachel is the lead author of the annual State of Recycling and Composting in Colorado Report and an author of the Municipal Blueprint for Compost Expansion. Rachel has helped draft, advocate for and implement state laws including the Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, Producer Responsibility for Recycling and two compost bills. She is an active member of Recycle Colorado’s Board, Greater Colorado Council and Policy Committee, as well as multiple national groups working on Extended Producer Responsibility. Rachel has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. Rachel was born and raised in Colorado and, after college in Wisconsin, she returned to the Colorado where she currently resides with her husband, kids and cattle dog mutt.