The awards honor the next generation of leaders who are shaping the future of the waste and recycling industry

/EIN News/ -- NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Waste360 announces the winners of its fifth annual 40 Under 40 awards program, which honors the next generation of leaders who are shaping the future of the waste and recycling industry. Over the past five years, Waste360 has honored some of the industry’s brightest and most talented leaders, and it looks forward to recognizing the waste, recycling and organics leaders of the future for years to come.

“The young professionals in the waste, recycling and organics industry never cease to amaze us. This year’s class is remarkable, and they’ve accomplished a great deal so early on in their careers,” says Waste360 Vice President Mark Hickey. “You’ll be inspired, impressed and proud of what they’ve done and what it means for the industry and our planet now and into the future. Congrats to the 2020 class of Waste360 40 Under 40 award winners! We look forward to celebrating you at WasteExpo in May.”

The Waste360 40 Under 40 awards program recognizes inspiring and innovative professionals under the age of 40 whose work in waste, recycling and organics has made a significant contribution to the industry. The winners are involved in every part of the waste and recycling industry, including haulers, municipalities, composters, recycling professionals, policymakers and product suppliers.

The 2020 40 Under 40 award winners:

• Frank M. Antonacci, Chief Operating Officer, USA Hauling & Recycling
• Michelle Balz, Solid Waste Manager, Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District
• Blake Brannon, President, Brannon Industrial Group
• Jonathan Thomas Brooks, Director of Technology and Product Development, Bulk Handling Systems
• Alex Cano, President, Pro Disposal
• Alexandria Coari, Director, Capital and Innovation, ReFED
• Domenic Di Mondo, Vice President of Technology, GreenMantra Technologies
• Randy Everett Jr., O&M Director of Operations, Tetra Tech
• Felipe Garcia, Vice President, Sales, Republic Services
• Richie Getter, Vice President of Strategy and Commodities, Balcones Resources Inc.
• William Brent Howard, Vice President of Recycling, Waste Pro USA
• Andrea Ivanovs, Advisor, Waste Collection, Region of Peel
• Danielle Elizabeth Joseph, Executive Director, Closed Loop Partners
• Chris Kaasmann, Product Stewardship Manager, Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
• Rich Kang, Area President, Republic Services
• Debra Lee Kantner, Sustainability Director, Environmental Research & Education Foundation
• Madeline Keating, City Strategist, Healthy People and Thriving Communities Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
• Tyler Kennedy, Region Controller, Waste Connections
• David Krasnow, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer, Used Cardboard Boxes, Inc.
• Stormy Lewis, Division Manager, Waste Pro of Mississippi
• Steve Linehan, Senior Project Manager, SCS Engineers
• Amanda Mancuso-Laird, President, Waste Equipment Rentals & Sales
• Joshua Mann, Public Sector Solutions Manager, Waste Management
• James F. Mazza, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, Mazza Recycling Services
• Jason Mead, Director of Finance, Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
• Vu Nguyen, Senior Manager, Corporate Development and Innovation, Waste Management
• Beau Peck, Director of Sales and Marketing, Interwest Paper, Inc./The Pro Recycling Group
• Jordan Rechenmacher, Sanitation Superintendent, City of Idaho Falls
• James Regan, Director, Corporate Communications, Covanta
• Conor Riffle, Vice President of Smart Cities, Rubicon Global
• Paul M. Ross, Vice President, American Waste Control, Inc.
• Marissa Segundo, Communications Consultant and Managing Consultant, the Glass Recycling Coalition, Resource Recycling Systems
• Michael Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Whitetail Disposal Inc.
• Ashish Sharma, Senior Manager, Digital, Waste Management
• Rody Taylor, Owner, KC Dumpster Company
• Hana Uman, Program Director, Special Programs and Projects, 412 Food Rescue
• Rebecca M. Walkinshaw, Sustainability Coordinator, Gallegos Sanitation, Inc.
• Brian Walls, Senior Vice President of Operations, Keter Environmental Services
• Amanda Weeks, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ambrosia
• Turner Wyatt, Chief Executive Officer, Upcycled Food Association

Additionally, Michael R. Schmidt, executive vice president of strategic growth and development at BioHiTech Global, has been honored with the Waste360 Innovator Award, which recognizes innovators and forward thinkers who often use technology to better the industry. Schmidt has used a technology-based system to manage food waste consumption, and he’s been hands-on with the operations of the first high-efficiency biological treatment (HEBioT) mechanical biological treatment (MBT) facility in North America—Entsorga West Virginia.

New to the Waste360 40 Under 40 awards program this year is the Waste360 Changemaker Award, which recognizes leaders who are creating real, meaningful, positive change for the waste, recycling and organics industry. Ryan James Hickman, president of Ryan’s Recycling Company, has been honored with the first-ever Waste360 Changemaker Award. At just 10 years old, Ryan has recycled more than half a million cans and bottles, led cleanups across the nation, inspired others to recycle and reduce waste, donated about $9,000 to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, Calif., won a number of awards and so much more.

A panel of expert judges from Waste360 evaluated the nominations and consulted with an external advisor to select the finalists and winners.

The winners will be honored during an awards ceremony at WasteExpo, North America's largest solid waste, recycling and organics industry event, May 4-7, in New Orleans.  

View past classes of Waste360 40 Under 40 awards winners:

2019

2018

2017

2016

About WasteExpo
Targeted to private and public sector waste management companies, organics management, food waste management companies and manufacturers/suppliers from the U.S. and abroad, WasteExpo offers an interactive conference program that dives deep into vital industry topics such as recycling/landfills, fleet management/collections, organics, safety and food recovery over four days. WasteExpo also boasts a robust Exhibit Hall showcasing more than 600 exhibitors showcasing the latest industry solutions. WasteExpo is co-located with the Waste360 Investor Summit, the Waste360 Healthcare Waste Conference and the Waste360 Business Growth Forum.  

About the Waste360 Group
The Waste360 Group harnesses the power of its many properties to serve the solid waste and recycling industry. The industry widely consumes this content in the form of websites, live events, online learning and digital opportunities and more and includes: Waste360.com, WasteExpo, The Global Waste Management Symposium and topical and timely eNewsletters including Waste360 Daily Wire. Waste360’s newly created NothingWasted! Podcast features the rockstars of the waste, recycling and organics industry weekly for the latest news and insights and the people behind the industry. For more information, visit www.waste360.com.  

ABOUT INFORMA MARKETS
Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organiser, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

Media Contact
Liz Bothwell
Marketing Director
WasteExpo
E: Liz.Bothwell@informa.com  

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b829ff2b-d76d-4b60-a1d5-19ffd32dfa25