SWANA Announces New Hires and Promotions

Four new hires bring fresh perspective; two promotions reflect growth in the organization

Silver Spring, MD - The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is excited to announce four new hires on the team: Natalie Garcia as Technical Division Manager, Amanda Suntag as Marketing & Communications Program Manager, Kimberly Pittmon as Database Specialist, and Monique Hyatte as Membership Services Coordinator. SWANA is also pleased to announce that Estela Martinez has been promoted to Senior Membership Manager, and that André Owens has been promoted to Membership Manager.

”We are very excited to onboard these new and talented employees to TeamSWANA,” stated David Biderman, SWANA’s Executive Director and President. “I am very pleased to promote Estela and André in the Membership Department. These promotions reflect the terrific work that they have been doing at SWANA and for our members,” Biderman added.

Garcia becomes a member of the team after a prior position as an Environmental Health Specialist with the City of Garland, TX. Garcia will be working closely with SWANA’s seven technical divisions, which keep track of hot topics, connect experts, and shape the future of the solid waste industry. Members of the technical divisions use the groups as an opportunity to share experiences and knowledge in their respected areas as well as network with others across the United States and Canada. Garcia’s background in communication and stakeholder engagement will be valuable as she assumes the role. Garcia has a Bachelor of Science in Bioenvironmental Sciences.

Suntag joins SWANA’s marketing team after six years of experience in marketing, communication, branding, and events. Suntag has worked for three associations and was most recently employed as Marketing and Events Specialist at the Center for Vein Restoration.

Pittmon is an enthusiastic member service professional with 19 years of experience maintaining database integrity, reporting KPIs, writing database queries, and providing member service. She formerly worked at the National Ready Mix Concrete Association.

Hyatte brings years of association experience to her new role. Hyatte first started with association work in 1992. Since then, she has worked for multiple associations, accruing the customer service and database experience which is essential to her role. Most recently she served as a Membership & Database Manager for the National Club Association.

Martinez’s new responsibilities will include management of SWANA’s Young Professionals program including—but not limited to—developing and overseeing YP recruitment, retention, and engagement. She will also oversee the YP Leadership Academy (the first class took place in March 2022) and provide guidance to the YP Steering Committee. Martinez will continue to be the main point of contact with SWANA’s 47 Chapters.

Owens joined SWANA in November 2018 as the Membership Services Coordinator and has been a solid, dependable, and trustworthy member of the membership team. Among the responsibilities that Owens will take on include management of MentorMatch, staff liaison for the YP program, and managing the new member welcome program.

Darryl Walter, SWANA’s Director of Membership, is thrilled about having the membership team fully staffed. Walter said, “SWANA membership is back over 11,000 members, we haven’t reached this level since the pandemic in early 2020.” With record new membership for the last three months, Walter is confident with a fully staffed membership team, SWANA will continue to experience accelerating membership growth.