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SWANA Announces Winners of 2024 Awards for Professional Achievement, Safety, and Young Professionals
August 21, 2024 – The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 SWANA Awards for Professional Achievement, Safety, and Young Professionals, celebrating innovation, dedication, and leadership in the solid waste and resource management industry. They are among the industry’s most prestigious awards honoring excellence and fostering sustainable solutions to propel its communities forward.
“These accolades showcase the remarkable achievements of individuals and organizations shaping the future of solid waste and resource management,” said SWANA Executive Director and CEO Amy Lestition Burke, MA, FASAE, CAE.
The winners will be recognized at SWANA’s upcoming annual conference, WASTECON 2024, Oct. 21–24 in Grapevine, Texas.
“We are excited to recognize these outstanding award recipients at WASTECON,” said SWANA President Tammy Hayes. “We invite solid waste and resource management professionals across North America to join us at the conference to learn industry best practices and to showcase our award winners.”
Congratulations to the 2024 SWANA Award winners:
SWANA recognizes individuals for going above and beyond in serving the solid waste and resource management industry and their outstanding contributions to SWANA.
The Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award is the highest accolade from SWANA in recognition of service to the industry, employer, and general public.
- Robert L. Lawrence Distinguished Service Award: Robert Gardner, Senior Vice President, SCS Engineers
- Professional Achievement Award for a Public Sector Member: Chuck Magee, Public Works Manager, Kern County Public Works
- Professional Achievement Award for a Private Sector Member: Colleen Foster, Senior Associate, HF&H Consultants
The SWANA Safety awards recognize organizations that have implemented safety programs that demonstrate continuous improvement, employee buy-in, and measurable results for employee health and safety.
- Best Safety Training Program: City of Goodyear, AZ, Public Works Department
- Biggest Safety Improvement: City of Austin, TX, Austin Resource Recovery Department
- Best Safety Innovation: Atlantic County, NJ, Utilities Authority
- Workplace Wellness Program: City of Mesa, AZ, Solid Waste Department
YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
The Young Professional of the Year Award formally acknowledges the hard work, performance and dedication of three young professionals annually in the solid waste and resource management industry, encouraging the next generation
- Young Professional of the Year Award: Kelli Farmer, Sustainable Materials Management Professional, SCS Engineers
- Young Professional of the Year Award: Erin Oulton, Consultant, RRS (Resource Recycling Systems)
- Young Professional of the Year Award: Melissa Pennett, Environmental Sustainability Specialist, City of Fairfax, VA
For more information on the award recipients, visit the SWANA Awards and Scholarships webpage.
About SWANA
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is an organization of more than 10,000 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 60 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.
Media Contact
Kristyn OldendorfDirector of Public Policy
(240) 494-2237
marketing@swana.org
