Exclusive Insight From a Variety of Voices
2025 Speakers
Please note: The 2025 schedule is under development and subject to change.
Walter Alcorn, Former Vice President for Environmental Affairs and Industry Sustainability, Consumer Technology Association
Walter Alcorn is a legend in the electronics recycling industry, recently retired after decades of leadership shaping responsible recycling and sustainability policies. As vice president for environmental affairs and industry sustainability at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), he managed key legislative initiatives on consumer electronics recycling, product design, repair, packaging and hazardous materials.
Before CTA, Water co-founded the National Center for Electronics Recycling and became a nationally recognized consultant, helping both public- and private-sector clients develop effective state and corporate electronics recycling systems. His influence has left a lasting mark on how the U.S. approaches electronics stewardship.
Even in retirement, Walter continues to share his expertise and perspective. He also serves his community as an elected official on the Fairfax County, Virginia, Board of Supervisors. At E-Scrap’s Legends of Recycling panel, Water brings his deep industry experience and unique perspective on where the movement has been — and where it’s headed.
Natalie Messer Betts, Assistant VP of Sustainability, ReMA
Natalie Messer Betts is the assistant vice president of sustainability at the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), where she leads sustainability and ESG education and resource development. Natalie previously worked as the director of partnerships and municipal relations at Balcones Resources, one of the largest independent recycling companies in the U.S. At Balcones, she worked with cities to support their recycling programs and expanded the company into new markets. Before joining Balcones, Natalie spent 10 years in public service with the city of Austin, including as the city’s circular economy program manager, where she spearheaded numerous reuse, repair and circular entrepreneurship initiatives.
Natalie graduated from Emory University, has a master’s in public affairs from Indiana University and was a 2019-20 Robert Bosch Stiftung fellow focused on circular economy innovation in Berlin.
Chris Bleess, Director of Business Development, Triage Partners
With more than 25 years of experience working for OEMs and third-party service providers, Chris Bleess has built a reputation for driving revenue growth, operational excellence and customer experience through innovative, integrated solutions. He has led initiatives that connect authorizers, people and service partners, ensuring that technology and service delivery work hand in hand to create value for both businesses and customers.
Chris also served on the CTIA reverse logistics and service quality (RLSQ) working group, where he helped shape best practices and industry standards that guide the next generation of wireless service excellence.
Outside the office, Chris brings the same analytical mindset and love of problem-solving to one of his favorite pastimes — bass fishing — where strategy, patience and adaptability are key.
Aaron Blum, Chief Operating and Compliance Officer, ERI
With a pivotal role in building ERI from the ground up as a co-founder, Aaron Blum has helped lead ERI to its current standing as the largest fully integrated IT and electronics asset disposition provider and cybersecurity-focused hardware-destruction company in the United States. Under his stewardship, ERI now has the capacity to process more than a billion pounds of electronic waste annually at its eight certified locations, serving every ZIP code in the United States.
At ERI, Aaron serves as the company’s chief operating and compliance officer, where he oversees all operations and is directly involved with high-level sales and compliance. Aaron works closely with government and regulatory agencies. He helped lead ERI’s efforts to achieve the highest level of certifications available for both data destruction and responsible recycling.
Aaron has also been instrumental in the development of the corporate relations and research and development infrastructures for ERI.
Craig Boswell, President, HOBI International, Inc.
Craig Boswell is co-founder and president of HOBI International, Inc. He is extensively involved 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. He has published and presented numerous papers on electronic products recycling and the keys to designing more recyclable products.
Craig holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Chris Bross, Founder and President, Tierrabyte LLC
An industry veteran with more than 30 years in consumer electronics, Chris Bross builds sustainable and circular electronics ecosystems, focusing on repair, reuse and e-waste reduction.
In 2024, Chris launched Tierrabyte LLC, guiding clients like Sell Your Mac/OWC on ITAD refurbishment, reuse and recommerce, and guiding Closing the Loop on e-waste recovery and recycling in the Americas. His background includes serving as vice president of business development at iFixit.com, establishing global partnerships and repair ecosystems to extend product lifespans.
Previously, as CTO at DriveSavers Data Recovery for 23 years, Chris specialized in data storage, data recovery and cybersecurity, and developing critical technical alliances.
He is a passionate advocate for international consumer electronics rights, championing Right to Repair and robust recycling standards. Chris has actively contributed to trade associations, including co-chairing the RLA's Service Parts and Warranty Committee. He holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin and a data communications certificate from UC Berkeley Extension.
Amanda Tischer Buros, Vice President of OEM Solutions, Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations
Amanda Tischer Buros serves as vice president of OEM solutions at Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, where she leads strategy, sales, and compliance initiatives within the recycling division. With deep expertise in extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation and electronics recovery, Amanda directs cross-functional teams to deliver scalable solutions through strategic OEM partnerships, reverse logistics innovation, and regulatory alignment.
With more than a decade of experience in materials lifecycle management, she focuses on integrating sustainability, operational excellence, and competitive market positioning. Amanda actively monitors macroeconomic trends and policy developments, providing industry insights that shape long-term strategy and customer-centric solutions.
A respected voice in the circular economy, she brings a unique blend of business strategy and environmental stewardship to her work. Amanda holds an MBA from Viterbo University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
Liz Chamberlain, Director of Sustainability, iFixit
Liz Chamberlain heads the advocacy, sustainability and editorial team at iFixit, which is the world’s largest free repair manual. She leads iFixit’s global fight for the Right to Repair. Her writing on repair and e-waste has been published in The Wall Street Journal and Wired, and she’s spoken on NPR and the BBC. Academically, her background is in rhetoric and writing, and when she’s not living and breathing repair, you might find her out in the woods, with her nose in a book or sitting in the garden with her pet tortoise.
Joseph Clayton, VP of Business Development, ARCOA Group
Joseph Clayton is an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience in e-scrap recycling and ITAD sales. He worked with the EPA to develop e-scrap recycling standards and fostered their adoption in business and government workplaces. He was on the ground floor of creating the e-scrap division of ISRI, now ReMA, and wrote the specifications that are still in use today for trading commodities. He also worked with the CTA to award recycling grants within the e-scrap field over the years. He is currently working on a project to recover rare earth minerals through a DARPA project.
From collections to sorting to hand disassembly and advanced shredding/size reduction, Joseph has been involved with it all. He worked to bring advanced post-shredder technology to the industry and was among the first to install a fully automated system to sort post-shredder e-scrap outputs.
Fred Cornell, Head of Business Development, NA, AD REM
Fred Cornell represents AD REM, a company that designs and manufactures recycling equipment that recovers plastics and metals. He previously served as general manager and business partner for Sims Metal’s Southeast Region, where his duties included directing the modernization of four facilities to assure regulatory compliance and long-term competitiveness. He was a founding co-chair of the Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS), a former chair for the Recycling Research Foundation (ReREF) and the Responsible Shredder Alliance (RSA), and a Solid Waste Advisory Group member for the development of "Beyond Waste, A Sustainable Materials Management Strategy for New York State."
David Daoud, Principal Analyst/President, Compliance Standards LLC
David Daoud is a veteran analyst and strategic adviser with nearly 30 years of experience in technology, sustainability and enterprise governance. As founder and president of Compliance Standards LLC, he leads research and advisory services focused on circular IT strategies, ITAD, ISMS, ESG compliance, risk management and sustainable infrastructure.
He pioneered the systematic study of IT hardware disposition as early as 2003, launching the GRADE Certification program at IDC, and remains a recognized industry expert. David advises global clients on market analysis, regulatory compliance, sustainability and AI’s impact on IT lifecycle management. His work appears in E-Scrap News and Resource Recycling, and he is authoring Sustainable IT in the Age of AI, set to publish in 2026.
He previously served as research analyst at IDG, data analyst at Harvard University and adjunct faculty in Massachusetts. David holds degrees in economics and a Wharton ESG certification.
Olivier Delesalle, Global Electronics Segment Leader, 3M
Olivier Delesalle currently leads the Electronics Segment at 3M’s Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division. Olivier started as an engineer and has more than 25 years of experience building partnerships with customers.
His career spans a broad range of technical and business roles, from technical service to key account, portfolio and marketing management in Europe and the U.S., all at leading chemical companies, into several industries like textiles, medical devices and consumer electronics.
Passionate about making a positive impact, Olivier had the opportunity to drive several sustainability initiatives, including the launch of new bio-based materials, support solar companies, and help customers reduce energy costs by using more efficient solutions.
Stacey DeSantis, Technical Scheme Lead, NSF
Stacey DeSantis brings nearly a decade of experience supporting accredited registration audits from the certification body perspective, focused on R2, RIOS and ISOs. Her technical expertise spans a diverse range of industries, including e-waste, where she leverages a dynamic blend of knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to drive improvement and compliance. Stacey’s unique career path — encompassing roles such as veterinary assistant, brownfield project manager and internal auditor — demonstrates adaptability and an innovative approach. Her ability to integrate insights from varied disciplines consistently leads to excellent outcomes and sets her apart as a versatile and results-driven professional.
Emily Farrant, Director of Operations, Greeneye Partners
Emily Farrant is a sustainability professional with more than a decade of experience in environmental, health and safety compliance. Since 2014, she has guided companies across four continents in implementing comprehensive ISO management systems and electronics recycling industry standards. She is an accredited auditor for electronics processing facilities throughout Washington and Oregon.
Her extensive expertise covers multiple certification frameworks, including ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 9001 and industry-specific standards such as RIOS, e-Stewards and R2. Emily specializes in electronics waste downstream due diligence, plastic recycling processes and ESG standard development, ensuring responsible material recovery and circular economy practices.
Patrick Ferry, Senior Global OEM Sales Executive, Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, Inc.
Patrick Ferry is a seasoned senior global OEM sales professional at Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, with more than 13 years of experience in the electronics recycling and IT asset management industry. He has a proven track record of securing and expanding partnerships with some of the world’s largest retailers and electronics brands, delivering comprehensive nationwide and global service solutions. He is recognized for leadership in sustainability-driven sales strategies and deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments.
Shannon Fertitta, Executive Director, Global Recycling Standards Organization/Recycling Industry Operating Standard (GRSO/RIOS)
Shannon Fertitta is the executive director of GRSO/RIOS (the Recycling Industry Operating Standard), promoting best practices for QEHS in recycling. She is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and has worked in the nonprofit space for 23 years. She led movements across Louisiana for responsible e-waste recycling, digital inclusion for the community, and safe workplace practices. She resides in Central, Louisiana, with her family.
Jennie Gift, Vice President of Member Services, i-SIGMA
Jennie Gift, CSDS, CRA, is vice president of member services for i-SIGMA®, with more than 25 years of experience in information governance, secure data destruction and cybersecurity. She began her career in information governance and secure data destruction and later expanded into cybersecurity, giving her a unique perspective on risk, compliance and data protection.
Jennie is recognized for her relationship-driven leadership, blending strategic insight with personal connection to strengthen member value, build trust and elevate industry standards worldwide.
Jesse Glasshoff, R2 Director, SERI
Jesse Glasshoff is an accomplished electronics recycling and IT asset disposition professional with more than 16 years of experience in e-waste management, data security and environmental, health and safety compliance. He has served as a lead auditor, consultant and trainer for SERI’s R2v3 Standard, supporting organizations worldwide in achieving sustainable and responsible electronics reuse and recycling. Passionate about guiding the industry forward, Jesse believes in holding recyclers accountable without creating undue burdens and in empowering them through training and guidance to recycle and reuse responsibly.
Jeff Gloyd, Founder, Gloyd Recycling Solutions, LLC
Jeff Gloyd is the founder of Gloyd Recycling Solutions LLC (GRS), a partner in the engineering firm Archimedes Industrial Advisory & Investments (AIAI), and a seasoned leader in the environmental services industry with more than 20 years of experience developing practical, forward-thinking solutions in the recycling, solid waste and sustainability sectors. His work spans public and private industries, guiding organizations through challenges in electronic waste, solid waste, medical waste, transportation logistics and compliance, always with a focus on value creation, operational efficiency and environmental responsibility.
Michelle Goff, Communications Specialist, Idaho National Laboratory
Michelle Goff is a communications specialist at Idaho National Laboratory, where she currently leads communication for a research project focused on raising awareness about and expanding electronics recycling programs in the state of Idaho. In this role, Michelle has led outreach campaigns that have helped the three-year project exceed several key milestones in the first year.
Prior to joining the electronic waste recycling project, Michelle worked at the Department of Energy, developing its communication strategy around grid modernization and artificial intelligence.
Sean Grixti, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Cyclic Materials
Sean Grixti is the vice president of strategic partnerships at Cyclic Materials. He leads transformative closed-loop partnerships with top OEMs, driving sustainability in the rare earth elements sector. With more than a decade of experience in the circular economy and materials for the green energy transition, Sean has played a key role in scaling commercial recycling operations across North America and Europe and advancing cleantech solutions.
Sean holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McMaster University and a Master of Applied Science in materials science and engineering from the University of Toronto.
Cassie Gruber, Circular Economy & Emotional Intelligence Thought Leader
Cassie Gruber is a global thought leader in circular economy and emotional intelligence, known for advancing sustainable systems, reverse logistics and human-centered leadership. With more than two decades of cross-industry experience, she brings empathy, authenticity and collaboration to circular design, lifecycle innovation and responsible supply chains.
Cassie serves on the board of directors at iNEMI and contributes to key industry committees with RBA, GEA (IPC), CEP, SERI and the EMF. Since 2013, she has served on SGS’s North America advisory board and the R2 TAC 2015-2021. A dedicated mentor and advocate, Cassie empowers individuals and organizations to lead with purpose and integrity.
She was honored with the Jim Lynch Hall of Fame Award in 2025 for her transformative impact on the electronics sustainability industry, her servant leadership and her commitment to developing others and the next generation of leaders. Cassie is also a co-author of The World’s Thought Leaders, an Amazon bestseller highlighting global voices of resilience, agility and purpose-driven leadership.
Kristen Hildreth, VP of Government Relations and Public Policy, ReMA
Kristen Hildreth is the vice president of government relations and public policy for the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), where she leads the organization’s federal advocacy efforts, working closely with Congress, the administration and key stakeholders to educate policymakers and advance policies that support the recycled materials industry.
Prior to joining ReMA, she served as the lead advocate for all 50 state legislatures, territories and the District of Columbia at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). In this role, she represented state interests before Congress and the administration on agriculture, energy, environment and transportation policy matters. Her work involved developing and implementing lobbying strategies, analyzing state-federal legislative trends, navigating complex regulatory frameworks and ensuring that state interests were effectively represented.
With a proven track record of shaping policy outcomes, Kristen specializes in identifying emerging legislative challenges, fostering bipartisan relationships and translating policy into clear, accessible insights for industry stakeholders.
Chris Kaasmann, VP of Compliance, Greenchip E-Waste & ITAD Solutions
With more than 16 years in electronics recycling, Chris Kaasmann has seen the industry from every angle—public programs, corporate sustainability, policy development, and hands-on operations. He started by managing Montgomery County, Pennsylvania’s recycling programs, helping implement the state’s first electronics take-back law. From there, he worked with Reverse Logistics Group, building nationwide take-back networks and ensuring compliance for major OEMs.
At Samsung Electronics America, Chris expanded national recycling programs, spearheading a more than 500-location in-store take-back initiative. Now, as vice president of compliance at Greenchip, he brings a well-rounded perspective, blending policy expertise with real-world implementation. He remains active in industry leadership through ANJR, ERCC, and the e-Stewards Leadership Council, always focused on making electronics recycling more effective, transparent, and accessible.
Sarah Kim, President, E-Reuse Services Inc.
Sarah Kim owns E-Reuse Services Inc., a company that provides consulting and collaboration services to the electronics repair, recycling and refurbishment industries. She also manages the E-Resource Network, a forum that allows its members to receive exclusive discounts from the industry's most respected vendors.
Sarah’s passion for the industry began when she watched her parents start a refurbishing business in 2000. She spent seven years working at the company and running ERC before opening ERS to focus on the industry's specific needs. She now travels worldwide to speak at conferences and deliver training to promote the reuse and recycling of electronic equipment.
She was a member of the R2 TAC from 2012 to 2021 and served on the Board of Directors of RIOS from 2012 to 2018. Sarah holds lead auditor certifications for R2v3 and RIOS, as well as internal auditor certificates for E-Stewards, ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001.
Glenn Laga, President and Co-Founder, Commercial Solar Panel Recycling
Glenn Laga is a visionary entrepreneur with a proven record of building and scaling service-based and recycling-focused businesses. At Commercial Solar Panel Recycling (CSPR), he is pioneering nationwide solutions for solar panel waste, prioritizing reuse, repurposing and recycling to divert panels from landfills and turn an environmental challenge into sustainable opportunities.
Previously, Glenn founded and led Guardian Data Destruction, transforming it from a local mobile lab into the nation’s largest provider of onsite data destruction, logistics and data center services. Following its 2024 acquisition, he remains an active investor and advocate.
Today, Glenn leverages his expertise in forging strong partnerships and driving innovation in PV recycling. His focus is advancing a cost-effective circular economy for end-of-life solar panels, with CSPR committed to partnering with e-waste providers to ensure a responsible, scalable national recycling solution for photovoltaics.
Jim Levine, SVP, Iron Mountain
In the late 1990s, with the proliferation of personal computing, Jim Levine, along with several team members, recognized the opportunity to build a business around end-of-life services related to IT equipment and consumer electronics, which resulted in the formation of Regency Technologies.
After five years of independent growth and a rapidly changing landscape, Regency merged with RMG, a fully integrated recycling business headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, that had been primarily focused on processing ferrous and nonferrous metals.
The combined entity grew together from 2005 until Regency was sold to Iron Mountain in 2024. During its years of independent growth, Jim was the president and CEO of Regency, and the business grew from one location with 50 people to 10 locations in North America and more than 1,000 employees.
Jim is currently working with Iron Mountain’s corporate development team to identify and develop opportunities for acquisitions within the ALM division.
Jason Linnell, Executive Director, National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER)
Jason Linnell is executive director of the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER), where he leads activities such as research on electronics recycling data and policy, and management of the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (ERCC). Under Jason’s direction, 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.
Prior to forming the NCER in 2005, Jason worked in the Environmental Affairs Department for the Electronic Industries Alliance, where he led industry negotiations on electronics recycling policy efforts and helped develop the industry’s first comprehensive consumer education initiative on electronics recycling options. Jason holds bachelor’s degrees from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree from Georgetown University.
Erin McCoy, International Trade Policy Analyst, ReMA
Erin McCoy is an international trade policy analyst at the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), where she supports the association’s international trade portfolio. Her work includes monitoring and analyzing global trade policies affecting recycled materials, advising member companies on trade regulations and engaging the U.S. and foreign governments on behalf of the industry.
Previously, McCoy was a trade policy analyst at the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, where she supported U.S. exporters in trade remedy cases, contributed to the interagency process for bilateral trade negotiations and participated in Rules Week meetings at the World Trade Organization.
She holds a Master of Arts in international relations and economics from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs from American University's School of International Service.
Ellen Meyer, Senior Scientist, U.S. EPA
Ellen Meyer is a senior scientist at the EPA who leads the development of voluntary battery labeling guidelines and battery collection best practices that are intended to promote battery recycling, activities tasked to the EPA by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Steven Napoli, President & CEO, TERRA (The Electronics Reuse & Recycling Alliance)
As founder and CEO of TERRA (The Electronics Reuse & Recycling Alliance), Steven Napoli leads the largest certified e-waste and IT asset solutions provider network in the world, with 120-plus facilities in 12 countries.
With a focus on sustainability, transparency and innovation, he has driven partnerships with global brands like FedEx, Stanley Tools and Walmart to promote environmental responsibility and economic inclusion.
Under his leadership, the organization has built a reputation as a champion for the responsible reuse and recycling of electronics by adhering to rigorous standards such as e-Stewards and R2 certification.
Steven’s efforts have helped raise awareness about the importance of sustainable e-scrap management, a critical issue as electronics increasingly dominate global waste streams. He has been instrumental in developing initiatives that promote environmental sustainability as well as foster inclusive economic opportunities. He has positioned TERRA—and himself—as established thought leaders in the electronics reuse and recycling industry.
Ikenna Nlebedim, Deputy Division Director, Critical Materials Innovation Hub, Ames National Laboratory
Ikenna C. Nlebedim, Ph.D., is a scientist and group leader at Ames National Laboratory, where he serves as deputy director of the Division of Critical Materials and deputy lead for the “Developing Substitutes” focus area in the DOE Critical Materials Innovation Hub. He is also an adjunct associate professor at Iowa State University. Ikenna leads research at the intersection of materials innovation, supply chain resilience and sustainability. His work spans the development, modeling and recycling of critical materials, including rare-earth permanent magnets. He led the first successful U.S. production of rare-earth magnets in more than two decades using fully domestic sources. He co-invented the acid-free dissolution recycling technology, now commercially deployed, and the REMAFS process, which eliminates hydrofluoric acid from rare earth metal production. His contributions have been published in high-impact journals and earned multiple honors, including U.S. patents, R&D 100 Awards and national recognition for innovation and impact.
Patrick O'Hara, Business Development Director, COM2 Recycling Solutions
Patrick O’Hara brings a deep passion for environmental sustainability and more than 18 years of experience in IT asset disposition (ITAD) and electronics recycling. He has led business development efforts across a range of services, including secure onsite data destruction, e-waste scrap management and OEM take-back programs.
Patrick’s earlier career includes 10 years in the office equipment industry, where he held roles as strategic account executive, sales manager and color product specialist. He also spent four years in equipment leasing and two years in the steel processing industry. In addition, he founded a green consulting business focused on helping organizations responsibly manage end-of-life IT equipment and adopt energy-efficient office technologies.
Throughout his career, Patrick has successfully led sales and marketing organizations through periods of transformational change. He is a visionary leader who takes a holistic approach to sales and marketing, leveraging human capital to build a competitive edge.
Neil Peters-Michaud, President, Cascade Asset Management a Sage Sustainable Electronics Company
Neil Peters-Michaud founded Cascade Asset Management in 1999 with his wife, Jessica, and grew it into one of the most respected ITAD companies in the United States. The company operates facilities in Madison, Wisconsin; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Orlando, Florida. Cascade has processed more than 5 million assets for large enterprises and regional businesses since its inception and employs about 115 people. In January 2025, Neil and Jessica sold Cascade to Sage Sustainable Electronics and the Closed Loop Partners private-equity impact investment firm. Neil continues to maintain an active leadership role in the company and is spearheading the integration efforts with Sage and its portfolio businesses. He has an MBA and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin, serves on the Executive Leadership Team of the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling, and has worked internationally on electronics reuse and recycling projects.
Tony Perrotta, CEO, Greentec
Tony Perrotta is the founder and CEO of Greentec, a driving force in IT asset disposition and e-waste management for 30 years. Under Tony’s leadership, Greentec is NAID AAA certified and has become the trusted provider of secure IT asset disposal, certified data erasure and sustainable electronics recycling. He is most notably renowned for zero data breaches and zero environmental violations, balancing data security, environmental responsibility and asset value recovery.
Tony holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo and is passionate about giving back to his local community and his partnership with Makhos Inc., supporting Indigenous communities throughout Ontario by donating refurbished technology to Indigenous-led enterprises, schools and individuals.
Tony continues to drive innovation while protecting your business and saving our planet.
Jerry Powell, Founder and Former Owner, E-Scrap Conference
Jerry Powell is the founder and former owner of the E-Scrap Conference and newsletter. In that role, Jerry researched and wrote hundreds of articles on electronics recycling, as well as gave numerous speeches on the topic. He was also involved in many industry and government initiatives to grow the industry to assure practices were environmentally sound.
Daniel Puckett, Director of Business Development, e-Stewards
Daniel Puckett is the director of business development at e-Stewards, where he leads initiatives to expand the program’s global reach and strengthen partnerships across the IT asset disposition and electronics recycling industries. Born into the field, Daniel began attending the E-Scrap Conference at a young age alongside his father, Jim Puckett, founder of the Basel Action Network and e-Stewards.
With a lifelong connection to the industry, Daniel brings a passion for solving big problems at the intersection of sustainability, technology and business.
Jim Puckett, Founder/Chief of Strategic Direction, Basel Action Network (BAN)
Jim Puckett has been a hazardous waste and environmental justice activist for 39 years. His work, first with Greenpeace and then with BAN, to prevent the export and dumping of hazardous wastes from developed to developing countries led to the adoption of the Basel Ban Amendment. Jim was the first to call out the toxic waste dumping from North to South as “toxic colonialism” and has attended every meeting of the Basel Convention, where he has advocated for preventing pollution, safeguarding human health and ecosystems from toxic wastes, while promoting safe recycling and reuse of products to conserve the Earth’s resources.
BAN’s research first exposed the e-waste dumping crisis in China in 2002 with the documentary Exporting Harm. Achievements at Basel aided by BAN’s work include the plastics amendments of 2019 and the 2021 e-waste amendments. In 2008, BAN created the e-Stewards certification to steer responsible customers to the most ethical recyclers.
Katie Reilly, Vice President, Environmental Affairs and Industry Sustainability, Consumer Technology Association
As vice president of environmental affairs and industry sustainability at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), Katie Reilly represents the consumer technology industry on environmental and sustainability issues including electronic waste, packaging, chemicals, energy efficiency, repair and extended producer responsibility.
Katie has more than 15 years of experience in environmental issues impacting the consumer technology industry, including roles as a state regulator for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, implementing and managing EPR programs at electronics recycler ERI and leading a team of environmental compliance professionals at Dell.
She holds a master of public affairs in environmental policy and natural resource management and a bachelor’s degree in public affairs from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Wayne Rifer, Founder, EPEAT/Green Electronics Council
From a career developing municipal recycling systems, Wayne Rifer participated in NEPSI, a stakeholder negotiation to develop a national electronics recycling system. In 2005, he founded EPEAT (the Electronics Product Environmental Assessment Tool), a marketplace incentive for sustainable design of electronic products. EPEAT is based on American National Standards, and Wayne’s focus was to build industry standards that incentivize electronics manufacturers to incorporate design for recycling and to provide responsible recycling of their products.
Retired from EPEAT, Wayne serves on the board of the National Center for Electronics Recycling (NCER).
Daniel Rowe, Executive Director of Recycling, RecycleForce
Daniel Rowe has over 20 years of experience in the e-waste industry. He has worked in many different positions at RecycleForce and has been on staff now for over five years and has worked with the organization since 2007. Daniel oversees the day-to-day operations of their e-waste recycling, which processed just under 8 million pounds in 2024. Since moving into their new facility in 2023, RecycleForce has seen significant growth in both its volume and the type of material they are recycling. RecycleForce is an employment social enterprise (ESE) that helps men and women who are returning from incarceration re-enter society. It is unique in its field in that it has both an environmental and social mission.
Grayson Rutherford, Territory Manager, STEINERT
Grayson Rutherford is the territory manager – metals at STEINERT US, specializing in XRT, XRF and LIBS sorting technologies for aluminum and heavy metal applications. A third-generation recycler, he comes from a family rooted in the plastics, lead and scrap metal recycling industries. He holds a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama.
Adam Shine, President, Sunnking Sustainable Solutions
Adam Shine has been a prominent figure in the recycling industry since 2008, leading Manitoba Corporation, a nonferrous metal recycling facility, as its president and representing the fourth generation of leadership. In addition to his role at Manitoba, Adam is also the president of Sunnking Sustainable Solutions, where he focuses on IT asset disposition (ITAD) and electronics recycling. His expertise lies in harnessing technology solutions and effective leadership.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Adam has held significant roles in the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), serving as the previous chair of the Electronics Division and co-chair of both the Membership Committee and the Education and Training Committee. Additionally, he is an active member of the governance board and the Strategic Advisory Committee for the REMADE Institute.
In his free time, Adam enjoys coaching hockey and baseball, traveling and spending quality time with his wife and three children.
Antoinette Smith, Senior Reporter, Resource Recycling, Inc.
Antoinette Smith started working at Resource Recycling in June 2024 after spending several years covering commodity plastics and supply chains, with a special focus on economic impacts.
Douglas Smith, Consultant, Advanced United Refining
Douglas Smith directed corporate environmental affairs for Sony’s North American operations for many years, where he established policies and corporate guidelines covering environmental, safety and health, and ran the internal audit and ISO 14001 program for Sony’s North American facilities. He also managed Sony’s takeback and recycling compliance programs.
Douglas has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC/Call2Recycle), where he helped develop North America’s recycling solution for the major lithium-ion battery recall in 2007; the Portable Rechargeable Battery Association; the EPA’s Good Neighbor Environmental Board; the Sustainable Electronics Recycling Industries (SERI/R2) Technical Advisory Committee; the E-Stewards Leadership Committee; the City of San Diego Sustainability and Climate Change Task Force; the California Integrated Waste Management Board (advisor); and the National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative.
Douglas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from California State University, Long Beach.
Scott Snowden, Reporter, Resource Recycling, Inc.
Scott Snowden has been a reporter for more than 25 years, covering a diverse range of subjects from sub-atomic cold fusion physics to scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef. He is now deeply invested in the world of recycling, green tech and environmental innovation.
John Spagnuolo, President, IQ Reseller
John Spagnuolo is president of IQ Reseller, a leading cloud-based ERP system designed for the IT asset disposition industry. With more than 15 years in the ITAD space, he has helped hundreds of companies scale and automate their processes within the ITAD and IT reseller sectors, drawing on his experience managing and operating in ITAD.
John has a strong passion for the industry and looks forward to seeing what the next 15 years will hold.
David Thompson, Former Director Corporate Environmental Affairs, Panasonic
Prior to retiring, David Thonpson worked for Panasonic for 37 years in several different job responsibilities. Since 1995, he has led Panasonic’s Corporate Environmental Department, where he oversaw environmental compliance for facilities and products, state and federal government policy issues, and developing recycling programs for Panasonic products.
David was also a recognized leader in the electronic and battery industries’ product stewardship initiatives. In 1992, he led the formation of the Portable Rechargeable Battery Association. Two years later, he spearheaded the effort to form Call2Recycle, one of the world’s first manufacturer-led product stewardship programs.
In 2007, David led the effort to form MRM, serving as the organization’s president until his retirement in 2022. MRM is now the nation’s largest manufacturer-managed electronics product stewardship program.
David holds an M.A. in Japanese studies from Washington University and an M.A. in international relations from the University of Tsukuba in Japan.
Shane Thompson, EVP Strategy & Business Development, Cirba Solutions
Shane Thompson is a seasoned leader with more than 25 years of experience driving innovation across the battery recycling and circular economy landscape. Beginning his career in mining and metals with Inco (now Vale Base Metals), he has since built deep industry networks spanning battery manufacturing, materials supply and OEMs. He has led transformative growth initiatives, including the formation of Heritage Battery Recycling and its evolution into Cirba Solutions through strategic acquisitions.
A recognized thought leader, he has spoken at premier industry events such as CAR MBS, AABC, Benchmark and Fastmarkets, and contributed to key publications and workshops. His expertise in extended producer responsibility (EPR), recovery-value economics and rare earth recycling positions him as a pivotal voice in shaping sustainable supply chains.
Derek Trott, Vice President, Private Equity, Closed Loop
Derek Trott is vice president with Closed Loop Private Equity, the firm’s buyout private equity strategy. He brings a background in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions execution, supporting the investment team in all aspects of the deal process. Prior to joining Closed Loop Partners, he spent four years at J.P. Morgan, most recently as an investment banking associate on the Diversified Industries team in New York.
At Closed Loop Partners, Derek led Sage Sustainable Electronics’ acquisitions of Relectro and Cascade Asset Management. He serves as a board member of Sage and is a member of SERI’s ESG Technical Advisory Committee. Derek holds a BBA in finance from The College of William & Mary, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Selena Turnock, Certification Director, e-Stewards
Selena Turnock is the e-Stewards certification director at e-Stewards, where she manages the interactions between certified processors, certifying bodies, accreditation bodies and the e-Stewards certification program. She is an environmental, health, safety and compliance professional with more than 12 years of experience in the e-scrap and recycling industry.
Matthew Young, President, Electronics Value Recovery, Inc.
Matthew Young is a recycling, reuse and sustainability entrepreneur, who has spent his entire professional career in e-recycling and refurbishing. Matthew graduated from the University of Maryland in 2010, after having already spent two years working at an electronics recycling company. Matthew then worked at electronics recyclers and refurbishers of different sizes before starting his own e-scrap and refurbishing business in 2016. Matthew has also spent five years processing mattresses as a mattress recycler. Finally, Matthew has served in a variety of roles in ReMA's electronics division, and actively worked developing ReMA specifications for electronics reuse for several years.
Todd Zegers, CEO, CXtec
Todd Zegers is the CEO of CXtec, bringing over two decades of expertise in ITAD and reverse logistics. He co-founded GreenAssetDisposal in 2003, serving Fortune 1000 clients, and helped lead its acquisition by CloudBlue in 2009. Todd then led sales and marketing at CloudBlue until its acquisition by Ingram Micro in 2013. From 2015 to 2022, he was Ingram Micro's global leader for ITAD and reverse logistics, pioneering industry standards.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Todd is committed to education, environmental stewardship and philanthropy. He has participated in executive programs at Stanford and Columbia and served on the e-Stewards Leadership Council and Coalition for American Electronics Recycling. Todd is also an active community leader, serving as a board member of United Way of Central New York and vice president of the Super Charlie Foundation.
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