SWANA Announces 2018 Technical Division Award Winners
Awards Presented to Collection and Transfer and Landfill Gas and Biogas Divisions at SWANApalooza
Silver Spring, MD – The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is proud to announce the winners of the 2018 Technical Division Awards, presented to SWANA members for outstanding professional achievements in solid waste industry sectors. Awards were presented on March 6, 2018 at the Opening Ceremony of SWANApalooza in Denver, Colorado.
“SWANA’s Technical Division Awards showcase the innovative and important contributions these individuals have made to their field, and the solid waste industry as a whole,” said David Biderman, SWANA’s Executive Director and CEO. “From adopting new technologies, to developing unique planning strategies, to creating advanced program awareness, these professionals have demonstrated truly admirable work.”
Marc Rogoff received the first Distinguished Individual Achievement Award (DIAA) from SWANA’s Collection and Transfer Technical Division. Rogoff has been involved with SWANA since its early origins and was recognized for his support of integrated solid waste management planning, specifically his rate study work helping communities understand the financial requirements of maintaining their solid waste systems.
Tom Bilgri received the Landfill Gas and Biogas (LGB) Technical Division DIAA Award for overseeing the technical approaches and methodologies associated with the evaluation and design of some of the most complex landfill gas collection and control systems and beneficial-use facilities across North America.
“The DIAA is the most prestigious award offered by the LGB Division, and Tom Bilgri is a very deserving winner,” said Patrick Sullivan, Past Division Director of SWANA’s LGB Technical Division. “Tom’s career reflects a strong commitment to the solid waste industry as a consulting engineer originally with EMCON, and now with Cornerstone; at the same time, Tom has been a major contributor to SWANA, specifically through the LGB Division where Tom has had a long tenure and served in various leadership roles, which continue today.”
The Landfill Gas and Biogas Technical Division recognized two Hall of Flame inductees, this year adding Jim Bier and David Penoyer to the list of honorees. Bier worked to increase the knowledge base of the landfill gas and biogas industry, expand the opportunities for renewable fuels and electrical production, and educate the public on the benefits of landfill gas utilization, bringing gas treatment and renewable natural gas development to the forefront of the industry. Penoyer has been recognized as a landfill gas expert for years and has used this expertise to standardize, develop, and revolutionize system metrics, design, quality, and implementation on a wide-scale during his time at both SCS Engineers and Republic Services.
Finally, the Landfill Gas and Biogas Technical Division offered an In Memoriam recognition called the Eternal Flame Award to an industry member who has passed away. The 2018 Eternal Flame Award honors the career of Tudor Williams for his work developing landfill gas engine technology in the 1970s and engaging in transformational landfill gas-to-energy development from the 1980s through his death on December 7, 2016.
For more information on SWANA’s Technical Division Awards, visit swana.org/membership/technicaldivisions.
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About SWANA:
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is an organization of more than 9,500 public and private sector professionals committed to advancing from solid waste management to resource management through their shared emphasis on education, advocacy and research. For more than 50 years, SWANA has been the leading association in the solid waste management field. SWANA serves industry professionals through technical conferences, certifications, publications, and a large offering of technical training courses. For more information, visit swana.org.