NC SWANA 2026 Fall Conference Speakers
Thank you, incredible speakers, for your time, energy, and expertise!
You made the NC SWANA 2026 Fall Conference a successful event.
Opening Remarks
Michael Plummer-NC SWANA President/HDR, Inc.; [email protected]
Michael has served on the North Carolina Chapter of SWANA Board since 2018 and is currently the Chapter President.
Beat the Heat
Alonzo Frink-City of Greensboro; [email protected]
Alonzo Frink has been in the solid waste industry for nearly 14 years. He currently serves as the Collections Manager, overseeing all Solid Waste Services for the City of Greensboro.
Key Note
Senator Bob Brinson; [email protected]
Bob Brinson is a New Bern Native who graduated from New Bern Senior High School, where he was Senior Class President, and he attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served as his company’s Honor Representative for two years, and after graduating with a B.S. in Political Science, he became an Aviation officer in the United States Army. After 28 years, and at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Bob left the military and moved back home to New Bern. In 2022, he was elected as a City of New Bern Alderman, and in 2023 he was elected to serve as the Mayor Pro Tempe.
Adrian Sykes-City of Raleigh; [email protected]
Adrian Sykes is the Assistant Director of Solid Waste Operations for the City of Raleigh. He has more than 21 years of experience in the solid waste industry, including work as a driver and in field supervision, operations planning, and management. He brings both field and leadership experience to his role, with a focus on supporting employees, improving operations, and providing reliable service to the Raleigh community.
Ellen has more than 30 years of experience in local government finance, budgeting, and solid waste management. She began her career with the City of Fayetteville and joined the City of Charlotte’s Solid Waste Services (SWS) Department in 1997. She currently serves as Deputy Director for Administration, overseeing the department’s budget, finance, procurement, and solid waste collection and container contracts. Throughout her career with SWS, Ellen has played a key role in advancing the department’s business and financial models.
She currently serves as Treasurer of NC SWANA.
Different Perspectives from Different Communities Implementing RNG
Jack Chandler-Catawba County; [email protected]
Jack is a Christian who loves Jesus. Jack has worked in County Government for 33 years. 30 of those years have been in Solid Waste Management and Water & Sewer Utilities.
Rodney Hamby began his career in 1989 as a Wastewater Plant Operator for the City of Hickory, where he obtained a Grade 4 Operator’s license. While he was there, he operated and maintained an In-Vessel sewer sludge composting facility for 5 years. In 1998 he accepted a job with Catawba County as a Co-Generation Superintendent to operate and maintain the landfill gas to energy plant. In 2002, Rodney was promoted to Landfill Superintendent, which expanded his responsibility for all solid waste Operations and maintenance. Rodney has been a Director on the NCSWANA Board since 2013 and is currently certified as a NCSWANA Trainer for Landfill and Transfer Station Operations. Rodney is scheduled to retire at the end of January 2027.
Emily Melton-Gaston County; [email protected]
Emily is the Assistant Director of Environmental Services for Gaston County. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Statistics from NC State University and a M.S. in Environmental Science from UNC Charlotte. She has worked with Gaston County Solid Waste and Recycling for 17 years, beginning her career as an Environmental Analyst. Since joining the County, Emily has been involved with the landfill gas system and has spent many years managing its operations.
Craig Powers-Rowan County; [email protected]
Craig Powers began his career in local government in 2004 with the City of Salisbury as a Civil Engineer later becoming the Public Works Director. Craig holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and in 2008, obtained his professional engineer license (P.E.). He is a graduate of the Leadership Excellence and Development (L.E.A.D.) Program at the University of Virginia, the Municipal and County Administration Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the ICMA Emerging Leaders Program. In addition, he is a past winner of the Robert S. Hopson Leadership Service Award from the American Public Works Association and was named an International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) Life, Well Run Community Hero.
Craig resides in Rowan County along with his wife and two children. Craig is a lifelong resident of Rowan County, is a member and past president of the Rowan Rotary Club, and a member and current chair of Shelter Ministries. In his free time, Craig enjoys volunteering and coaching his kids' various sports teams along with spending time with his family and friends.
Joel has more than 27 years of engineering experience and currently leads HDR’s landfill gas practice. He has managed and provided technical expertise to a variety of landfill gas, solid waste and alternative energy projects in the United States and abroad. Expertise includes landfill gas collection and control system design, landfill gas construction oversight, landfill gas monitoring and reporting, solid waste cell design, and solid waste cell closure. He is also well-versed in air and waste facility permitting, including Title V, NSPS/EG, NESHAP, GHG Reporting and other regulatory requirements. Joel has also worked on numerous projects from the perspective of a landfill gas to energy developer; however, current focus is as owner’s engineer for landfill gas to energy projects. Joel’s experience outside of the solid waste industry includes water, wastewater, and stormwater design and regulation, as well as groundwater monitoring and compliance; including five years of public sector employment with the State of Texas.
Beyond the South Wake Landfill Study
Roy Baldwin-Wake County; [email protected]
Roy Baldwin is a Program Manager for the Wake County Solid Waste Management Division in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he oversees landfill operations, transfer station management, landfill gas systems, post-closure care, and long-range solid waste planning. With over 21 years of experience in the environmental and public service sectors, Roy has managed major capital improvement projects, regulatory compliance initiatives, landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas programs, and strategic planning efforts that help shape the future of waste management in Wake County.
Roy holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Prior to joining Wake County, he served in law enforcement as a patrol officer and crime scene investigator. Outside of work, Roy is a published author, a licensed private investigator, and an avid traveler.
Cumberland County Mining for Airspace
Amanda Lee-Cumberland County; [email protected]
Amanda Lee has more than 25 years of experience, including engineering consulting and 15 years as a Solid Waste Director for Harnett County and now Cumberland County, NC. At Cumberland County she is responsible for the operations of a municipal solid waste landfill and construction and demolition debris landfill, 16 convenience center sites, compost facility, and recycling and waste reduction program. She is leading current efforts to permit and construct horizontal and vertical expansions of the County’s municipal landfill, including mining of an unlined landfill and implementation of communication and outreach efforts with the Environmental Justice communities around the landfill site. Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, from N.C. State University. Amanda is also the Vice President for the NC Chapter of SWANA.
Joe Suleyman-New Hanover County; [email protected]
Joe Suleyman has served as the director of New Hanover County’s Recycling and Solid Waste Department since June 2012. Prior to his work with the county, Joe worked in the private sector managing landfills and hauling companies for Waste Management, Allied Waste, and Republic Services. He began his career in waste management as an operations supervisor at Alcoa’s TSDF facility in Gum Springs, AR.
Jeffrey Warren-University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; [email protected]
Formally trained as a marine geologist and geophysicist, Jeff Warren has been a practitioner of state-level science policymaking since 2004 including: the coastal hazards policy specialist for the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Division of Coastal Management (2004 to 2010), the science advisor for the North Carolina Senate leader (2011 to 2017), and the research director (2017 to 2020) and now executive director (2020 to present) for the North Carolina Collaboratory, a legislative think-tank and funding agency headquartered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since its inception in 2016, the Collaboratory has managed a robust and diverse academic research portfolio including broad environmental and public health issues that includes/has included more than 800 research grant awards to all 17 campuses in the UNC System as well as numerous private universities across the state.
Warren earned his BSc in geological sciences from the University of Arizona (1994), his MSc in geology from Auburn University (1997), and his PhD in geological sciences from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2006). Warren’s academic research included field sites in the southeastern US, northern Mexico, the East and South China Seas, and the Ross Sea for which he received the Antarctica Service Medal from the National Science Foundation. In addition to his primary duties at UNC Chapel Hill with the Collaboratory, Warren has an adjunct faculty Professor of Practice appointment with the School of Civic Life and Leadership.
PFAS Landfill Minimization and Challenges
Jeff Murray-HDR, Inc.; [email protected]
Jeff has 30+ years of solid waste experience. He specializes in landfill planning, design, permitting, closures, and reuse, and is a frequent presenter on emerging waste management and sustainability topics.
PFAS Removal and Destruction Solution for Landfill Leachate
Samantha Brown-E2Metrix; [email protected]
Samantha Brown is an Application Engineer at E2METRIX, an Ovivo Company. With about four years in water treatment, she holds a bachelor’s degree in biomolecular engineering and a minor in chemistry from Milwaukee School of Engineering. She started her career in the wastewater industry working on biosolids and biological treatment. In early 2026, she joined E2METRIX USA, which has successfully deployed Olift™ Ozone Foam Fractionation and Obreak™ Electro-Oxidation for PFAS removal, concentration and destruction.
Waste Characterization
Sherry Yarkosky-RRS; [email protected]
Sherry joined RRS as an Associate Senior Consultant in 2018. She has over 30 years of diverse and deep experience in research, economic modeling, sustainable materials management, recycling market development, grants and proposal writing and review, and solid waste and recycling program management. She lives with her husband and daughter and a variety of critters on a micro-farm in Pittsboro, NC.
Convenience Center
Luke Griner-Garrett & Moore, Inc.; [email protected]
Mr. Griner began his career in land development and worked on varying types of projects including commercial, residential, and industrial. His main focuses have been erosion and sediment control permitting, stormwater permitting, zoning, and DOT encroachment permitting in the Carolinas and nationwide. His expertise includes master planning multiphase development projects with astute awareness for future phase grading and stormwater design. Since joining Garrett & Moore and stepping into the solid waste discipline, Mr. Griner has designed borrow areas, landfill cells, scale house facility layouts, and solid waste convenience centers.
Zach Trees-Southeastern Public Service Authority of Virginia; [email protected]
Zach Trees is a Public Relations Manager with extensive experience in strategic communications and public education. He has worked closely with community organizations to manage outreach initiatives and build public trust. In his role at SPSA, Zach focuses on translating complex issues into clear, accessible information for southern Hampton Roads.
Extended Producer Responsibility
Jessica Lally-HDR, Inc.; [email protected]
Jessica is HDR’s technical leader in extended producer responsibility (EPR), specializing in recycling needs assessments and program planning as part of her expertise in materials management and a circular economy.
EPR, particularly for packaging products, has expanded to several states, shifting waste management responsibility and costs to producers. Jessica has worked in many states that have passed EPR, including Colorado, Maryland, California, Washington and Hawaii, to develop program costs, measure performance and more. With over a decade of experience in solid waste planning, Jessica has also led multistakeholder efforts to implement major policies and programs that improve operational efficiency and increase waste diversion at both the local, regional and state levels across the United States.
Getting it Started with the Right Curbside Program and Training the Customer
David Caviness-City of Greensboro; [email protected]
David Caviness is a dedicated public service professional with 10 years of experience with the City of Greensboro's Solid Waste and Recycling Department. He began his career as a rear-loader operator, where he developed a strong foundation in daily operations, safety, teamwork, and serving the Greensboro community.
Through hard work, commitment, and continued professional growth, he progressed to Heavy Equipment Operator and later advanced into leadership as a Route Supervisor after five years. After eight years with the department, David was promoted to Section Supervisor, where he continues to lead teams, oversee operations, and help ensure the department provides efficient, reliable, and high-quality services to the community.
Enhanced Yard Waste Service and Outreach
Shikha Gupta-City of Raleigh; [email protected]
Shikha Gupta is the Director of Solid Waste Services for the City of Raleigh, bringing 20 years of experience in public-sector environmental and solid waste management. A seasoned municipal leader, she has led complex operations, multi-million-dollar programs, regulatory initiatives, strategic planning, and high-performing teams.
Shikha is passionate about building strong teams, modernizing municipal services, and developing practical, innovative strategies that improve service delivery and advance the future of the solid waste and resource recovery industry.
Amanda Lee-Cumberland County; [email protected]
Amanda Lee has more than 25 years of experience, including engineering consulting and 15 years as a Solid Waste Director for Harnett County and now Cumberland County, NC. At Cumberland County she is responsible for the operations of a municipal solid waste landfill and construction and demolition debris landfill, 16 convenience center sites, compost facility, and recycling and waste reduction program. She is leading current efforts to permit and construct horizontal and vertical expansions of the County’s municipal landfill, including mining of an unlined landfill and implementation of communication and outreach efforts with the Environmental Justice communities around the landfill site. Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering, from N.C. State University. Amanda is also the Vice President for the NC Chapter of SWANA.
Getting the Most Out of Enforcement
Caleb Sinclair-Union County; [email protected]
Caleb Sinclair is a solid waste management professional with nearly two decades of local government experience. His career encompasses a broad range of solid waste operations, including recycling collection, processing and materials marketing, MSW and C&D landfill operations; MSW transfer station operations; project management; and community outreach and education.
Caleb currently serves as Director of the Department of Solid Waste for Union County, where he provides leadership and oversight for the County’s solid waste programs and operations.
An active member of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and the Carolina Recycling Association (CRA), Caleb has also been instrumental in the success of the North Carolina Solid Waste Enforcement Officers Association (NCSWEOA). Through his professional involvement and public service, he remains committed to advancing education, collaboration, and effective solid waste management and environmental enforcement throughout North Carolina.
How to Develop a Modernized Solid Waste Ordinance
Roy Baldwin-Wake County; [email protected]
Roy Baldwin is a Program Manager for the Wake County Solid Waste Management Division in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he oversees landfill operations, transfer station management, landfill gas systems, post-closure care, and long-range solid waste planning. With over 21 years of experience in the environmental and public service sectors, Roy has managed major capital improvement projects, regulatory compliance initiatives, landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas programs, and strategic planning efforts that help shape the future of waste management in Wake County.
Roy holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Prior to joining Wake County, he served in law enforcement as a patrol officer and crime scene investigator. Outside of work, Roy is a published author, a licensed private investigator, and an avid traveler.
Rachel is an award-winning solid waste planner focused on zero waste, recycling, and organics programs. She helps communities implement practical, sustainable waste reduction solutions.
Tracy Nestor-Liberty Waste Solutions; [email protected]
Tracy Nestor is the Director of Government Sales with Liberty Waste Solutions and serves as an Advisory Delegate for SWANA’s Transfer and Collection Technical Division. She has more than 18 years of experience in the waste and recycling industry with a focus on municipal partnerships, collection operations, and practical approaches to waste diversion. Throughout her career, Tracy has worked with communities to connect sustainability goals with services that can deliver measurable results.
Leonard Huggins-City of Charlotte; [email protected]
Dr. Leonard Huggins serves as a GIS Coordinator for the Solid Waste Services Department in the City of Charlotte. He is responsible for developing and maintaining optimized routes for municipal waste collection programs ranging from curbside collection programs to street sweeping and litter picking programs. He accounts for address verification and plans for growth adjustments from annexations and inbuilding. Leonard also performs enterprise mapping, data analytics and visualization, benchmarking and route performance evaluations for the department. Dr. Huggins earned his PhD in Public and International Development from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007 with key concentration on GIS, Disaster Management and Solid Waste Engineering. He is a RouteSmart Certified Routing Professional and a Certified Recycling Professional (PA).
Adaptive Planning
Melinda King-City of High Point; [email protected]
Melinda King graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Civil Engineering with an Environmental Engineering concentration in 2000. Ms. King graduated with her MS from NC State in Environmental Engineering in 2002. She relocated to High Point, NC in 2002 and worked briefly in the private sector. Ms. King was with the City of Greensboro for 17 years and has been with the City of High Point since August 2022. She is the Assistant Public Services Director over the typical public works divisions which includes, streets, stormwater, landfill, MRF and environmental services. She has two children, Emmett (19) and Molly (16) and a sweet chocolate poodle named Otto.
Vita Quinn joined Bowman’s finance and economic services group as director, strategy advisor & practice development. She will leverage 20 years of public-sector financial experience delivering financial sustainability solutions, capital planning, fiscal and cost-benefit analyses, bond feasibility, impact fee development and utility rate design. She will work to expand Bowman’s solid waste practice and support growth across other strategic markets and throughout the U.S.
Professional Ethics
Ian Jewell-Freese & Nichols, Inc.; [email protected]
Ian Jewell is an Associate with Freese and Nichols, Inc. He is a technical expert and project manager in regulatory compliance and permitting, stormwater, natural resources projects, natural channel stability analysis and stormwater and ecological restoration design projects. He has over 20 years’ experience providing management, analysis and assisting with design solutions for a variety of project types including municipal and industrial stormwater, solid waste regulatory compliance, wetlands and stream permitting and ecological restoration projects. With a background and experience in both the technical and legal worlds, Ian enjoys teaching others about the confluence of engineering, science and law and best practices for completing projects to conform with regulatory guidelines and minimize liability.
2026 Legislative Update, what we’re hearing about the November elections, what it might mean for 2027
Isabella DeVivo-The DeVivo Group
Isabella DeVivo joined the family business in 2024 after her graduation from UNCW. Despite being pretty new to lobbying she was a successful force behind reallocation the Scrap Tire disposal fee back to scrap tire disposal.
Laura DeVivo, owner of The DeVivo Group LLC, has been working in and around the NC General Assembly for 29 years and 10 months. She worked in Legislative Affairs for the former agency Crime Control and Public Safety, the former Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a House Majority Leader and a House Speaker before becoming a registered lobbyist.
Sandy Skolochenko-NCDEACs; [email protected]
Sandy Skolochenko works in the recycling section within DEQ’s Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service (DEACS). She has been with the state since 2015 and works with local governments and businesses to improve recycling across North Carolina.
John Nguyen-NCDEQ; [email protected]
John Nguyen is a Project Engineering Manager with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Solid Waste Section in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has over 8 years of experience in civil engineering and solid waste management, including 3 years reviewing permit applications for solid waste facilities throughout central North Carolina. John earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and previously worked for Garrett & Moore, Inc.
NCDEQ State of the State
Perry Sugg-NCDEQ; [email protected]
Sherri Stanley is the Permitting Branch Head for NC DEQ’s Division of Waste Management – Solid Waste Section. Sherri has been involved in the environmental regulatory field for close to 30 years, with a primary focus on non-hazardous solid waste management.
