CEO Column

Transitions.

I’ve been thinking a lot about transitions lately. When I departed Washington, DC for the ISWA World Congress in late September, the weather on the East Coast was transitioning from summer to fall. I am writing this column while flying over the Pacific Ocean, heading east, as I transition from vacation back to work.

The transitions I’ve been thinking about the most are at the chapter and individual levels. Nearly every week, SWANA receives an email from a long-time member letting us know that they are retiring or moving to another high-level position. Some of SWANA’s leaders, on the Board of Directors, in the Chapters, and in the Technical Divisions, have been SWANA members for decades, and they are retiring. I wish them only the best and hope they will continue to be SWANA members, mentor Young Professionals (YPs), and have long, happy, and healthy retirements.

Who replaces them? How do we manage the transition of information, knowledge, network, and process to the next generation of leaders? What are you doing—right now—to foster and prepare the next generation of SWANA chapter officers and board members? This is a major challenge, and we have to meet it head on.

I’ve attended several Chapter Board meetings this year. At some meetings, the Board is combination of grey-haired SWANA veterans and more youthful newly appointed or elected members. At others, there is often no more than a single YP at the meeting.

Which do you think is best for your Chapter’s future?

At WASTECON^®, we are holding a very special event called Chapter Connect. It’s an opportunity for chapter leaders to get together and learn from each other, but also, importantly, for SWANA to provide valuable training and connections to the next group of Chapter Leaders. The new SWANA Strategic Plan Forward, Together directs us to strengthen SWANA’s connection between HQ and the chapters (and technical divisions). Chapter Connect is one of several steps we are taking to implement this component of the plan. If you are a current bhapter board member or leader, you should participate in the Chapter Connect sessions at WASTECON^® in San Diego. If you are someone who wants to be a chapter leader, I have no doubt that your chapter would welcome your active participation and, yes, leadership.

SWANA staff is hard at work preparing for WASTECON^®. With COVID clearly in the rear-view mirror, December 5–8 is the time to be in San Diego. The program is filled with terrific speakers and sessions for current and future solid waste industry leaders just like you. We have a fantastic Safety Summit planned. There are more than 120 exhibitors (and counting) eager to show you their solutions to some of your biggest challenges. The California chapters are excited to host WASTECON^® and have a superb networking event planned for Wednesday evening. Did I mention it’s going to be in San Diego, where the average high temperature in early December is nearly 70 degrees?

Transitions are not easy. But together, we can help our association and its Chapters transition to a new level of greatness. Please register for WASTECON^® and help us celebrate its 60^th anniversary. I look forward to seeing you in San Diego.