Exclusive Insight From a Variety of Voices

Speakers

Walter Alcorn

Walter Alcorn

Walter Alcorn, Vice President for Environmental Affairs and Industry Sustainability, Consumer Technology Association

Walter Alcorn is Vice President for Environmental Affairs and Industry Sustainability at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Walter manages legislative initiatives impacting consumer electronic product recycling, design, repair, packaging and hazardous materials restrictions for CTA. Prior to CTA Walter co-founded the National Center for Electronics Recycling and was a nationally-recognized consultant for public and private sector clients supporting development of state and corporate electronics recycling systems. Outside of CTA Walter serves as a local elected official on the Fairfax County, Virginia Board of Supervisors.

Steve Alexander

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 Plastics Recycling Conference, among others.

Nace Allen

Nace Allen

Nace Allen, Vice President, Echo Environmental

Nace Allen serves as Vice President for Echo Environmental (subsidiary of NYSE: ELA), and has more than a decade of experience in the electronics and non-ferrous commodities industry. Nace oversees the financial and operational aspects at Echo’s Carrollton, TX-based facility, which provides recycling services to over 20 percent of Fortune 100 companies. He holds a B.S. in kinesiology from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Mike Babbar

Mike Babbar

Mike Babbar, Head of WW Operations, Amazon

Mike Babbar is a seasoned operations leader with over 19 years of experience in the retail and circular economy space. He is currently the Head of WW Operations for Amazon's Trade-In and Pre-Owned Business, where he oversees global operations, which includes trade-in processing, Voice of the Customer, risk management and CX support.

Paul Baum

Paul Baum

Paul Baum, CEO, PlanITROI

Paul Baum is a “people first” entrepreneur who is passionate about closing the digital divide with affordable technology by disrupting the current IT asset disposition model. He enjoys teaching client suppliers about the next user of their retired assets and how their retired assets, refurbished and re-certified, make a huge impact for students, families and small businesses caught in the digital divide through the PlanITROI secure, purpose-driven ITAD business model.

Since 2001, PlanITROI has been closing the digital divide with affordable technology from our clients’ retired IT assets. PlanITROI’s 100% data secure approach helps organizations achieve critical environmental social governance (ESG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals while recovering the highest possible value for their assets, paying for their ITAD programs.

Elizabeth Beck

Elizabeth Beck

Elizabeth Beck, Sales Contracting Officer, Defense Logistics Agency

Elizabeth Beck joined DLA Disposition Services in 2016 as a material examiner and identifier. She has held several property disposition roles in the agency and currently serves as the Sales Contracting Officer for West Region Scrap Sales. Elizabeth previously served in the U.S. Army and has over two decades of Defense Department logistics experience.

Jamie Bohan

Jamie Bohan

Jamie Bohan, SVP, Sustainable Waste Solutions, Macquarie

Jamie Bohan is a Senior Vice President of Sustainable Waste Solutions at Macquarie. In this role, she leads investments into start-ups and companies that are attempting to grow, but who for various reasons struggle to get traditional financing. Her focus areas are e-waste, plastics, carbon and organic waste recycling.

Jamie is a chemical engineer with a master’s in sustainability leadership. Her experience spans technology commercialization combined with sustainability strategy development at Honeywell and Republic Services. She leverages her background to de-risk investments that help drive the circular economy. Jamie is based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Craig Boswell

Craig Boswell

Craig Boswell, President, HOBI International, Inc.

Craig Boswell is Co-Founder and President of HOBI International, Inc., and has more than 30 years of experience in the design, development and deployment of electronics demanufacturing and recycling techniques. Additionally, Craig is HOBI’s chief industry consultant on demanufacturing, design for disassembly and reverse logistics programs. Craig has published and presented numerous papers on electronic products recycling and the keys to designing more recyclable products. Craig holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Brad Brown

Brad Brown

Brad Brown, Senior Director of Compliance, Evterra Recycling, LLC

Brad Brown is an accomplished compliance and strategic business development professional with over 30 years of experience in regulatory compliance, risk management and corporate governance. Brad has a proven track record of developing and implementing complex compliance, strategic business programs and guidance on risk mitigation aligned with industry standards, regulatory requirements and company polices.

Brad is the Senior Director of Compliance for Evterra Recycling, a subsidiary of Pedal Point/Korea Zinc. Prior to holding key leadership roles within the recycling industry, he also held professional leadership roles within the semiconductor and contract electronic manufacturing industries.

Amanda Tischer Buros

Amanda Tischer Buros

Amanda Tischer Buros, Vice President of OEM Solutions, Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations

Amanda Tischer Buros is a seasoned professional in materials lifecycle management, leveraging her expertise to drive innovation and sustainable practices. In her current role as Vice President of OEM Solutions, Amanda’s passion for excellence and extensive knowledge of EPR legislation is evident as she implements industry-leading compliance services, recycling and ITAD sales strategies, and OEM programming for Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations. A respected thought leader, she maintains a diverse experience spanning a wide breadth including regulatory compliance, technical standards and ESG programming. Amanda holds an MBA from Viterbo University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

Eric Capps

Eric Capps

Eric Capps, Director, Global Compliance, Iron Mountain

Eric Capps is a senior compliance and quality leader with 18 years of experience in the electronics and ITAD industries with a focus on sustainable process excellence and innovative compliance strategies. As Global Director of Compliance for Iron Mountain's asset lifecycle management (ALM) business, Eric is focused on scaling quality and compliance strategies globally to meet the pace of ALM's growing organization.

Mary Castiglia

Mary Castiglia

Mary Castiglia, Executive Vice President, Hub International

Mary Castiglia is Executive Vice President of the HUB International. Mary draws upon her extensive risk management and insurance experience to guide her clients in developing and implementing insurance programs that fit each company’s life cycle of growth. Mary focuses on working with complex and fast growing companies, especially in the technology and clean tech sectors. Mary, together with her Hub colleagues, works alongside CFOs, risk managers, CISOs, legal counsels and finance executives to guide in developing and procuring best fitting and best-in-class insurance programs while managing total cost of risk.  

Mary has a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Colorado College. She holds several insurance designations: Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Surety Bonding, Registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) and Cyber COPE. Mary is a speaker on various panels.  

Elizabeth Chen

Elizabeth Chen

Elizabeth Chen, CEO, Trillion Technologies and Trading LLC

In 2012, Elizabeth Chen founded Trillion in Hong Kong and later expanded its global presence with operations in the United States (Dallas) and the UAE (Dubai). As the founder and CEO of the Trillion Companies, she brings remarkable energy and visionary leadership to the team, thriving on their high energy, diverse background and rigorous work ethic.​

With over 25 years of experience in consulting, management, supervision and administration, Elizabeth has  empowered small enterprises and Fortune 500 companies, including Trillion Companies, Ford Motor Company  and DTE Energy. Her expertise in technology, operations and business development has enhanced international operations, business strategies and overall development.

She holds an MBA in finance and an MIS from Wayne State University and an M.S. in geography from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in China. Beyond her professional achievements, Elizabeth actively engages in community service, currently serving as a board member of the Canyon Crest Academy Foundation.

Cheryl T. Coleman

Cheryl T. Coleman

Cheryl T. Coleman, Senior VP Advocacy, Safety & Sustainability, Recycled Materials Association

Cheryl T. Coleman is the Senior Vice President for Advocacy, Safety and Sustainability at The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA). In her current role at ReMA, she is leading efforts with ReMA members and other stakeholders to strengthen the recycled materials industry’s voice in domestic and global policy, including the evolution of energy sources like decarbonization, electrical vehicles, batteries management and workforce development.

Cheryl previously served as the Director of the Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Prior to her tenure at EPA, Cheryl was the Director for RCRA and CERCLA related programs at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.  

Amanda Cotton

Amanda Cotton

Amanda Cotton, E-Waste Coordinator, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Amanda Cotton has worked for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for 17 years as the E-Waste Coordinator and also works on policy for product stewardship, such as for solar panels, carpet, batteries, mattresses and packaging. 

Scott Denbo

Scott Denbo

Scott Denbo, CEO, Commercial Insurance Associates, LLC

Scott Denbo is proud to lead a group of dedicated folks who are growing Commercial Insurance Associates’ property/casualty insurance business and focused on remaining independent. He is navigating the great parts and the challenging parts about working with family members - his father and his brother. Scott is committed to making the insurance industry more transparent operationally and better understood despite its complexity. He believes people are kind and empathetic, striving to positively impact their families and communities. His three children are a constant source of wonder for me. Scott and his wife are happily raising them in his hometown of Nashville, TN.

Michael Espada

Michael Espada

Michael Espada, Senior Commercial Director, Sims Lifecycle Services

Michael Espada specializes in global business development for secure, sustainable asset management solutions while managing diverse, global sales teams. Along with core skills in SP&O and project/program management, Michael utilizes various sales approaches lending to his skills as a senior director with broad experience in international and cross-cultural business management.Michael has been with Sims for nearly 20 years. Lately, his experience has been integral to hyperscalers towards circular and sustainable asset management solutions. His experience as a defense contractor extends to his past employment by developing advance economic models for military branches and developing operational plans for engagement and enactment.

Jeff Farano

Jeff Farano

Jeff Farano, Corporate Counsel, Manager of Compliance and Governmental Relations, SA Recycling

Jeff Farano is an attorney with over 30 years experience in governmental relations at the local, state and federal levels. Jeff has been with SA Recycling LLC since its formation, handling environmental compliance matters as well as legislative regulatory matters on a local, state and federal levels. As a result of SA presence in many states, Jeff is well-versed in all aspects of regulatory and legislative matters related to recycling. Jeff is the legislative chair for the ReMA West Coast chapter and president of the Arizona Scrap Recycling Association. He has chaired several task forces and is active in several committees for ReMA at the national level.

Troy Firman

Troy Firman

Troy Firman, Sales Manager, Iron Mountain

Troy Firman started his company at the age of 24 in the ITAD industry. During that time, he ran all phases of the company. He sold that company to Regency Technologies. From there, Troy took over their outbound resale and looked to maximize profits. Regency recently got acquired by Iron Mountain at the beginning of this year. Troy is currently running outbound sales for CEU material.

Russell Fraker

Russell Fraker

Russell Fraker, Of Counsel, Beveridge & Diamond

Russell Fraker is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. His practice encompasses environmental regulatory issues associated with facilities and products. As a member of the firm’s international practice group, he counsels clients in the electronics, agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors on compliance with product stewardship and waste laws worldwide, with a particular emphasis on Latin America. Before studying law, Russell worked as an environmental consultant in the oil, forestry, and telecommunications industries; as a marine fisheries observer; and in the planning, permitting, maintenance, and repair of undersea cable systems.

Roger Gagnon

Roger Gagnon

Roger Gagnon, President & CEO, Extreme Protocol Solutions

Roger Gagnon is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Extreme Protocol Solutions (EPS). After graduating with bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from WPI in 1993, he worked as a data storage engineer for EMC Corporation and Digital Equipment Corporation before founding EPS in 1999. With over 25 years of industry leadership, storage protocol and hardware expertise, he has made EPS a global player in the data storage test, development and sanitization markets. His commitment to cutting-edge, customer-focused solutions that ensure risk mitigation while providing substantial ROI has allowed EPS to secure the trust and business of many Fortune 100, 500 and 1000 companies.

Jennie Gift

Jennie Gift

Jennie Gift, Vice President of Member Services, Information Governance & Management Association (i-SIGMA)

Jennie Gift, CRA, CSDS, is a 20 + veteran of the information governance industry. Jennie started her career at an independent information governance company in the DC metro area. Jennie recently joined i-SIGMA staff as Vice President of Member Services. She has served on the i-SIGMA BOD as the Corporate Partner Director for i-SIGMA and chaired the 2023 Conference Committee as well as the Corporate Partner Engagement Committee. She also served on the CSDS Board of Regents. In her current role, Jennie is enthusiastic about embarking on new challenges and is committed to leveraging her experience to assist organizations grow and expand their businesses through compliance and regulations.

Jeff Gloyd

Jeff Gloyd

Jeff Gloyd, Founder, Gloyd Recycling Solutions

Jeff Gloyd is the founder of Gloyd Recycling Solutions LLC (GRS). He has over two decades of experience working in the waste and recycling industry. His business specializes in e-waste recycling, the design and implementation of waste and recycling facilities, executive leadership recruitment, and sales leadership training and transition. Previous to GRS, Jeff was the President of evTerra Recycling and was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at URT, worked at the corporate office of Waste Management, and earlier in his career gained experience while managing a regional hazardous waste and landfill operation in Wisconsin. Mr. Gloyd has served on the Board of Directors of the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association for over 13 years.

Daniel Grande

Daniel Grande

Daniel Grande, Chief Product Officer, Arbor

Daniel Grande is the Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder at Arbor, a forward-thinking company revolutionizing carbon accounting. With his eyes set on enhancing value for customers, Daniel navigates the nexus of product design, strategy, and marketing, ensuring that Arbor’s solutions resonate with market demands. His mastery in communications enriches stakeholder experience, facilitating businesses to confidently present their product carbon footprints for diverse applications.

Daniel is passionate about democratizing access to precise and transparent carbon footprint data, driving positive change in the fight against climate change.

Beyond the office, Daniel's creativity and love for innovation take him outdoors, where he enjoys the tranquility of hiking, the rhythm of music and the challenge of engaging engineering projects.

Marissa Heffernan

Marissa Heffernan

Marissa Heffernan, Associate Editor, E-Scrap News

Marissa Heffernan started working for Resource Recycling and E-Scrap News 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.

Don Hennen

Don Hennen

Don Hennen, Director of OEM Programs, Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations

Don Hennen has over 14 years of experience in the industry as it relates to extended producer responsibility (EPR) associated with electronics. Currently, Don is the Director of OEM Programs at Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations and is primarily responsible for setting up and managing electronics takeback and recycling programs to fulfill the requirements that manufacturers must meet in accordance with the various state electronics EPR laws. Prior to Dynamic Lifecyle Innovations, Don worked for Reverse Logistics Group Americas serving as Director of Operations tasked with setting up electronic take back programs that satisfy the requirements of the various state EPR laws, developing auditing protocols and creating IT-based solutions for product returns and data management. Don has a master’s degree in engineering and is currently based in Irvine, California.

Clive Hess

Clive Hess

Clive Hess, President, CompuCycle

Clive Hess is currently the President of CompuCycle, a leading electronics recycling, processing and plastics plant. With over 25 years of experience in the family business, Clive has been instrumental in driving industry change. He has recognized the need for comprehensive solutions in security, data destruction and sustainability when handling corporate IT assets.

Under his leadership, CompuCycle manages the environmentally responsible disposal of approximately 120,000 reusable IT assets and 25 million pounds of potentially harmful electronic materials annually. Clive’s mission is to safeguard sensitive data and protect the environment by pushing for innovation in all processes.

His latest initiative aims to enhance CompuCycle’ s processing facility to handle plastics from electronic waste more effectively. This project will reduce the reliance on downstream entities, significantly lowering clients' carbon footprints by diverting thousands of materials from landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Charles Hildebrand

Charles Hildebrand

Charles Hildebrand, Sales Manager, UNTHA America

Charles Hildebrand has worked as a sales manager with UNTHA America since 2009. He has been integral in the company's growth in electronics recycling and data destruction, building them into one of the most respected names in the business. Long a fan of UNTHA’s solid and reliable four-shaft shredders, he is very excited about the advantages their newest shredding technologies are bringing to the electronics recycling industry.

He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has worked in a variety of industries, focusing on material properties and failure analysis. A ReMA (formerly ISRI) member since 2009, Charles is active in the Electronics Division and finds shredding electronics to be a strangely satisfying endeavor.

George Hinkle

George Hinkle

George Hinkle, President, ARCOA Group

George Hinkle is a managing partner at the ACROA Group, a holding company based in Illinois with entities that focus on asset management, end of life recycling, data security and logistics. He is also the past chair of the electronics division of ReMa and currently serves as the chair of RIOS. With over 20 years in the industry, he has an extensive background and experience working with corporate and government institutions of all sizes and companies throughout the recycling industry.

David Hirschler

David Hirschler

David Hirschler, Chief Sustainability Officer, ERI

David Hirschler is the Chief Sustainability Officer at ERI, the nation’s leading recycler of e-waste. David is responsible for ERI’s internal and external sustainability and circularity initiatives as well as ERI’s legislative responsibilities covering the gamut of producer responsibility regulations through data protection regulations. In addition, David serves as president of the board of FABSCRAP, a nonprofit organization focused on the recycling and reuse of commercial textile waste. David has worked in the recycling field for more than 20 years and holds a master’s degree in urban and environmental policy and planning from Tufts University.

Dan Holtmeyer

Dan Holtmeyer

Dan Holtmeyer, Managing Editor, E-Scrap News

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 January, Dan managed the recycling program of a local regional nonprofit, connecting stakeholders, collecting data, and supporting public education and outreach.

Felix Hottenstein

Felix Hottenstein

Felix Hottenstein, Sales Director, MSS Inc.

In 1993, Felix Hottenstein received his master’s degree in material science engineering from the Federal Polytechnical Institute in Zurich, Switzerland (ETHZ). Since 1999, Felix has been Sales Director for MSS Inc., the optical sorting division of CP Group, a manufacturer or materials handling and sorting equipment for the recycling and waste management industry.

Robert Houghton

Robert Houghton

Robert Houghton, CEO, Sage Sustainable Electronics

Bob Houghton founded Redemtech in 1998, leading one of the first and most successful ITAD services firms globally until its sale to Arrow Electronics in 2012. He is co-founder of the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER), the voice of responsible electronics recycling on Capitol Hill for over 10 years. Bob served as Interim Executive Director for the e-Stewards certification program to assist with developing its strategic long-term plan. In 2014 he co-founded Sage Sustainable Electronics, a rapidly growing mission-focused ITAD services company differentiated by its singular focus on reducing environmental impact by reusing more and recycling less—a practice also resulting in superior financial results for Sage customers. In 2023 Bob closed a growth capital investment with Closed Loop Partners to ensure Sage’s ability to continue its growth and innovation. His career is dedicated to the Sage mission: to make tech more sustainable, affordable and available to everyone.

Jay Illingworth

Jay Illingworth

Jay Illingworth, Director, Harmonization, Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA)

After previous executive roles with both the Canadian Federal Government & IBM Canada, in 2003 Jay Illingworth was appointed Vice President of Electronics Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC) where he worked closely with Canada’s leading manufacturers of information technology and consumer electronics on a variety of environmental issues.

In 2009 Jay was named the Director of Harmonization for Canada's industry-led environmental stewardship programs for electronics, leading the development of the industry’s performance measurement framework, and revitalized their work on setting and tracking environmental handling fees.

Since January of 2012 Jay has continued this harmonization work with the Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA), including industry outreach and stakeholder relations including liaison with EPR programs in the U.S. and Europe, and is a member of the R2 Technical Advisory Committee.

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson, Principal Advocate, Privata Vox, LLC

Robert (Bob) Johnson, CSDS, CIPP/US, CIPP/E, is the Principal Advocate at Privata Vox, LLC, a consultancy specifically focused on helping organizations capitalize on emerging data protection and privacy requirements.

Prior to his current endeavor, Bob is best known as the co-founder of NAID, where he served as CEO for 27 years, and where he also oversaw the 2018 merger of NAID and PRISM Int’l, creating the Int’l Secure Information Governance & Management Assn. (i-SIGMA).

Among his many accomplishments are appearing before U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearings on breach reform, participating in FACTA Final Disposal Rule rulemaking, and architecting NAID AAA Certification.

Bob holds IAPP’s Certified Information Privacy Professional accreditations for the U.S. (CIPP/US) and Europe (CIPP/E), is an I-SIGMA-accredited Certified Secure Destruction Specialist (CSDS), and is a prolific and respected writer and speaker on the topics of privacy and data protection compliance, policy development, and data processor management.

Chris Kaasmann

Chris Kaasmann

Chris Kaasmann, VP of Compliance, Greenchip

Chris Kaasmann is VP of Compliance at Greenchip E-Waste & ITAD Solutions, an e-Stewards and R2 certified electronics recycler with two locations in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Chris came to Greenchip in January 2022 after over a decade of experience in the recycling industry. Most recently, Chris spent four years at Samsung, where he managed e-waste environmental compliance and take-back operations. Prior to this, Chris managed recycling programs for RLGA and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Fearghal Kearney

Fearghal Kearney

Fearghal Kearney, Vice President Global Sales, Circulor

Fearghal Kearney is the VP of Sales at Circulor, whose mission is delivering traceability-as-a-service for raw materials and commodities, tracking supply chain data and embedded carbon at each stage of production, recycling, and end-of-life and helping companies verify responsible sourcing, address ESG objectives and create and maintain digital product passports. Fearghal is an experienced senior finance and commercial professional with over 25 years of experience in advising and managing businesses across several industries focusing on providing visibility into financial, procurement and supply chain processes.

Brian Kemp

Brian Kemp

Brian Kemp, Sales Contract Specialist, Defense Logistics Agency

Brian Kemp joined DLA Disposition Services in 2014 as an agency transportation specialist. He joined the Sales Contracting Division in 2022, where he currently oversees administration, billing and marketing of DLA’s electronic recycling account. He retired from military service in 2015 after 25 years with the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Michigan Air National Guard.

Samir Khoury

Samir Khoury

Samir Khoury, Head of Tech Operations, Iron Mountain

Samir Khoury is a seasoned operations professional with over 17 years of experience with Iron Mountain (previously Regency Technologies). During the span of his career, Samir has developed a diverse skill set spanning IT services, including day-to-day management of complex operations in one of the largest ITAD companies and overseeing planning and implementation of large operational processes and systems. As Head of Tech Operations, his current responsibilities include overseeing 10 Iron Mountain facilities across the U.S. with a focus on refurbishing and repair of ITAD assets for resale.

Maria Kisska

Maria Kisska

Maria Kisska, Group Manager, Sustainability and Regulatory Compliance, Epson America, Inc.

Maria Kisska brings over 30 years of experience in the consumer electronics and packaging industries to Epson’s newly created role of Group Manager, Sustainability & Regulatory Compliance. In addition to leading implementation in the Americas of sustainability initiatives and circular economy programs, her teams recently supported Seiko Epson Corporation’s global transition to renewably sourced electricity. Fluent in Spanish, she has a Master of International Business Studies (MIBS) from the University of South Carolina and has worked in Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina. Maria lives in Long Beach, CA with her husband, two daughters and a large collection of bicycle parts.

Susan Krautbauer

Susan Krautbauer

Susan Krautbauer, Senior Director, Advancement, Digitunity

Susan Krautbauer is a recognized leader in technology, focusing on digital equity and advancing opportunities for women in technology. With over 20 years in global ITAD and IT service delivery, and nearly five years in the nonprofit sector, she has championed equitable access to technology for everyone. In 2024, she received CompTIA's Advancing Women in Technology Leadership Award.

As Senior Director of Advancement at Digitunity, Susan applies Digitunity’s Methodology for a Sustainable Device Ecosystem, advocating for affordable computers and digital skills training. Advising the public and corporate sectors on policy and education, her work with SERI’s Technology Advisory Committee underscores her commitment to ESG principles. A sought-after speaker, Susan emphasizes computer reuse for environmental sustainability and social impact. Publications include "Digital Equity: Advocating For Where It Begins," “Refurbished Computers: Debunking 5 Common Myths and Highlighting Benefits” and "Connecting the Desire to Do Good with Opportunities to Help People in Need."

Rob Lawson-Shanks

Rob Lawson-Shanks

Rob Lawson-Shanks, CEO & Co-Founder, Molg

Rob Lawson-Shanks is the CEO and Co-Founder of Molg. Rob co-founded Molg after a decade of working in consumer electronics, where he realized he was contributing firsthand to the 50+ million ton problem of e-waste because of how products were being designed and manufactured. Prior to Molg, Rob was the CTO and Co-Founder of Lifefuels, an innovative beverage technology company funded by Keurig Dr. Pepper, which was sold in 2021. In addition to winning 2x CES Innovation Awards, Rob is a 2023 Grist 50 fixer and was featured in Forbes’ Unconventional Minds series discussing the challenges and opportunities that come with building complex, cross-category products.

Pablo León

Pablo León

Pablo León, CEO, Sostenplas

Pablo León is CEO and Co-Founder of Sostenplas SL. Based in Segovia, Spain, Sostenplas started operations in 2020 and has experienced massive growth year on year under Pablo’s leadership, becoming one of the WEEE plastics recycling industry leaders in its four years of existence. Prior to that, Pablo was CEO for Asia Pacific of Fosimpe SL, a global plastic collector and recycler, also from Spain, for almost 10 years.

Jim Levine

Jim Levine

Jim Levine, SVP North American Operations, Iron Mountain

Jim Levine has been working in the ITAD industry for over 25 years and was a founding member of Regency Technologies. Jim and the team at Regency helped to shape the industry as we know it today. In January of 2024, Regency Technologies was sold to Iron Mountain as a platform to grow the asset lifecycle management (ALM) business throughout North America and around the globe. While the industry has matured in many ways over the years, technology continues to evolve and Jim and his team continue to see opportunities for growth and improvement.

Jason Linnell

Jason Linnell

Jason Linnell, Executive Director, National Center for Electronics Recycling

Jason Linnell is the Executive Director of the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER), where he leads activities such as research on electronics recycling data and policy as well as management of the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (ERCC). Under Jason’s direction, the NCER manages and oversees the statewide networks of collectors and recyclers for the Oregon State Contractor Program and Vermont State Standard Plan and administers the Illinois and South Carolina Manufacturer Clearinghouses.

Robert Lubin

Robert Lubin

Robert Lubin, Managing Director, Corporate Fuel Advisors, Inc.

Robert Lubin leads Corporate Fuel Advisor’s (CFA) investment banking activities in clean technology, waste and recycling, sustainability, and organics and supports CFA’s broader industrial advisory activities. He offers a combination of financial advisory and operating management experience to client relationships.

As an operating executive and entrepreneur prior to joining CFA, Robert was SVP of Strategy and Business Development for HiWave Energy (Clean Technology), Treasurer and VP of Business Development for Interstate Waste Services, VP of Finance and Business Development of TransLoad America (waste-by-rail), and he started biomass recycling and glass recycling businesses.

Robert began his career in corporate finance as an investment banker for Arthur Anderson, and then led the Industrials Investment Banking Team at CIBC Oppenheimer, where he completed more than 30 transactions. He has a B.A. in political science from Lehigh University and an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

Tom Mahowald

Tom Mahowald

Tom Mahowald, Director, Americas, Bloom ESG

Tom Mahowald is Director - Americas for Bloom-ESG, a sustainability, finance and software-powered advisory focused on carbon and capital markets and across ESG. Bloom helps ITAD's quantify and benchmark avoided emissions from recycling operations to create economic value for ITADs and their most important clients across the electronics value chain.

Prior to joining Bloom ESG, Tom held senior positions at Guidehouse and was also an early member of Pike Research – a provider of quantitative market research for clean technology markets, which was sold to Navigant. Tom has decades of experience working in ESG, decarbonization and energy.

Naomi Manahan

Naomi Manahan

Naomi Manahan, Director of EPR Operations, Reverse Logistics Group

Naomi Manahan is the Director of EPR Operations at Reverse Logistics Group (RLG). She works with cities and counties across the U.S. to help them understand their responsibilities as they relate to their state’s EPR laws, as well as facilitating collection events and permanent sites in coordination with community leaders, local and state authorities and local recyclers. She also is the Head of Sustainability for RLG’s U.S. division and works to support internal and external efforts to expand the circular economy, reduce emissions and provide recycling opportunities to underserved communities. Naomi holds a master’s in sustainability management from Columbia University and previously worked as a scientist studying long-term ecological trends in Antarctica.

Kyle Marks

Kyle Marks

Kyle Marks, Founder & CEO, Retire-IT, LLC

Kyle Marks is an ITAD enthusiast, author, and CEO of Retire-IT, an independent consulting firm specializing in IT asset disposition management. He is the author of the book Where the IT Lifecycle Ends. With over 20 years of experience, Marks has managed more than 20,000 ITAD projects. Previously, Marks served as President of US Micro at Arrow Electronics, was a consultant with Bain & Company, and worked in marketing with Maybelline L'Oréal. He holds an economics degree from Rhodes College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is also proud to be the father of two wonderfully inexhaustible kids.

Michael McBride

Michael McBride

Michael McBride, Property Risk Control Practice Leader, HUB International

Mike McBride is the Property Risk Control Practice Leader for the HUB Risk Services Division. Mike has over 35 years in the property risk engineering field with a focus on highly protected risk (HPR) property loss prevention. Prior to joining HUB, Mike led the property practice for the largest global unbundled property risk engineering services organization, leading a global team of 140. He has also held leadership positions at several insurance organizations including director, property risk engineering of a large multi-national insurance carrier and vice president of engineered lines at a major global reinsurer. Mike’s experience includes a broad array of Fortune 500 companies including power generation, renewable energy, waste recycling and processing, auto industry, plastics and rubber, food processing, construction, metal working, textiles, telecommunications and paper mills. He served on The International Association of Engineering Insurers (IMIA) working groups for photovoltaic parks and wind energy.

Marcy McGrath

Marcy McGrath

Marcy McGrath, E-Cycle Wisconsin Compliance Specialist, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources

Marcy McGrath is the E-Cycle Wisconsin Compliance Specialist for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). She primarily works with electronics recyclers and collectors to help them maintain compliance with program requirements by conducting inspections, providing training, and offering technical assistance. She has been with the DNR for over 20 years, and for most of that time she has been with the Waste and Materials Management Program. She has a Bachelor of Science in environmental policy & planning and public administration from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.

Patty McKenzie

Patty McKenzie

Patty McKenzie, Education & Outreach, SERI - R2

Patty McKenzie has been with SERI, educating facilities about the R2 Standard and certification process, for more than 11 years. She also serves as the “first call for help” for questions about R2 requirements and the implementation of the standard. Prior to SERI, Patty was a research and communications consultant, working with clients from a broad array of industries. This experience, coupled with her own experience establishing and selling two businesses, provides her with insight into the challenges that many R2 Certified companies encounter.

Ed Moreland

Ed Moreland

Ed Moreland, Sales Contracting Officer, Defense Logistics Agency

Ed Moreland began his career in DLA in 2015 as Administrative Assistant in the agency’s Law Enforcement Support Office. In 2019, he became a sales contracting officer (SCO) covering DLA Disposition Services’ mid-America region scrap sales and currently serves as the SCO for DLA’s electronic recycling contracts.

Sarah Murray

Sarah Murray

Sarah Murray, E-Cycle Wisconsin Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Sarah Murray has been the E-Cycle Wisconsin Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources since 2010. She is active in state, regional and national electronics recycling policy, including serving on the executive committee of the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse and the board of the National Center for Electronics Recycling.

Steven Noble

Steven Noble

Steven Noble, Recycling Specialist, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy

Steve Noble is a recycling specialist with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. He coordinates Michigan’s extended producer responsibility program for consumer electronics. He has worked in various aspects of the environmental regulation field for nearly 40 years, spending time in both private industry and government. He operates a small educational nonprofit organization that provides material management education services to the community and runs a recycling drop-off center in his hometown. The center collects a wide variety of recyclable material. He is a graduate of Lake Superior State University.

Dr. Ryan Nolte

Dr. Ryan Nolte

Dr. Ryan Nolte, Senior Director of Safety Outreach, Recycled Materials Association (ReMA)

Dr. Ryan Nolte assists Recycled Material Association (ReMA) members with safety compliance and regulatory updates. He writes the weekly EHS Updates and produces the Monthly EHS Calendar. He developed and currently teaches the Organizational Culture and Safety Success class and provides outreach training for Material Handler and Powered Industrial Vehicle Train-the-Trainer. He is the co-trainer for their Fire Safety and Prevention in the Recycling Industry course. Ryan previously worked at two scrap metal recyclers in operations and as an environmental, health and safety manager. He has a total of 29 years as a professional in recycling operations and environmental, health and safety. He has also worked in brass rod production, automotive, plastics and battery making industries. Ryan has a Master of Science in occupational health and safety from Indiana State University and a Doctor of Education in organizational leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University.  

Emmanuel Nyaletey

Emmanuel Nyaletey

Emmanuel Nyaletey, CEO & Founder, BridgeSolar LLC

Emmanuel Nyaletey is the founder of BridgeSolar and a recognized expert in recycling and reuse markets in Africa. With over a decade of experience in the circular economy, Emmanuel has spearheaded efforts to bring renewable solar energy to communities in Ghana, with plans to expand into the rest of West Africa. BridgeSolar serves households and businesses that otherwise couldn't afford solar energy.

His work through BridgeSolar underscores the intersection of technical innovation and community impact, focusing on recycling and repurposing solar panels to create sustainable energy solutions. Emmanuel's expertise in both the technical aspects of solar energy, electronics, and software engineering, and his deep understanding of reuse markets in Africa, makes him a leading voice in the ongoing conversation about sustainable development, technology and energy access across the continent.