Meet the Inaugural Class of 2022 for SWANA’s YP Leadership Academy

The SWANA Young Professionals Steering Committee is excited to introduce you to the first YP Leadership Academy Class of 2022!

• Emily Tucker - Solid Waste Designer with HDR (North Carolina)
• Bently Higgs - Caribbean Operations Manager with Sperling Hansen Associates, Inc. (Bahamas)
• Allie Omens - Construction and Demolition Recycling Coordinator with Metro Gov. of Nashville & Davidson County (Tennessee)
• Naret Treviño - Consultant & Project Manager with ISFPE, PSC (Puerto Rico)
• Rana Mandour - Project Engineer-in-Training with Tetra Tech Canada (Alberta)
• Prabhjot Kaur - Environmental Services Specialist with City of San Jose (California)
• Ashley Schaaf - Operations Specialist with Rogue Waste, Inc. (Oregon)
• John Holmes Jr. - Assistant Transfer Station Manager with South Central Solid Waste Authority (New Mexico)

Read Bios Here

This year-long program is designed to help young professionals increase their awareness of solid waste issues, learn specific skills necessary to handle industry issues, and discover their personal leadership qualities and potential. Participants will learn from SWANA program instructors and invited speakers during the academy’s two-day retreat followed by monthly conference calls, assignments and a group project.

Instructors and Taskforce members include:

• Joanne Brasch – Special Project Manager with California Product Stewardship Council
• John Andel - Corporate Director of Health, Safety and Compliance with Leck Waste Services
• Michael Hoffman – Managing Director with Stifel
• Carlo Lebron - Southeast Business Unit Director with SCS Engineers
• Barry Shanoff – Attorney and SWANA General Counsel
• Lee Daigle - Senior Project Manager with Tetra Tech
• Ramana Kari – Chief Engineer with Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County, FL
• Tim Flanagan – General Manager with Monterey Regional Waste Management District and SWANA Vice President

Led By:

• Ashley Evans - Market Area Engineer with Waste Management
• Karam Singh – Project Manager with HDR, Inc.
• Sonia Samir – Civil Engineer IV with Parkhill Smith and Cooper & SWANA YPBOD Rep
• Nicole Burkhardt – Landfill Gas Engineer with Delaware Solid Waste Authority
• Shelby Truxon – SWANA Staff, Membership Program Manager & YP Group Liaison

Relevant industry topics will also be discussed including collaboration & team building, disaster response, advocacy, professional development, and enhancing their online presence to name a few. Then at the end of the year participants and SWANA leaders will meet the class and see final presentations during the first academy graduation ceremony.

For More Information:

Stay tuned for updates on open applications later this year or email Shelby Truxon at struxon@swana.org.

Not a YP? Share with your YP employees and colleagues to help prepare the future leaders of our industry!