List any previous leadership positions held with the National Recycling Coalition or state recycling organizations and describe what you accomplished in these positions.
- Established performance-based local grants program for recycling infrastructure.
- Initiated a “Pay-to-Throw” program to increase recycling.
- Sponsor of the national ReMix program – increased consumer awareness that coated papers (magazines and catalogs) can be recycled
- Launched partnership with NRC and National Parks Foundation to advance “zero waste” goal in national parks.
If you currently serve in a volunteer leadership position with another organization, please explain your role and accomplishments.
- National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (“NACEPT”) – Advisory Board member to NACEPT, which provides independent advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental policy, technology and management issues.
- Founding member/adviser to Wharton School of Business’ Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership
- Environmental Council of States (ECOS)
- National Parks Foundation – Advisor
- Director, Memphis Botanic Garden
What special abilities would you bring to NRC’s leadership?
Perspective and relationships from 23 years in environmental management and policy; experience with large scale resource collection, brokering and recycling business; experience in commodity manufacturing industry; experience as state environmental commissioner and secretary; federal experience at EPA and CEQ; and experience developing successful public-private environmental partnerships.
What do you think are the most important recycling issues facing the NRC or recycling on the national level?
- Collection infrastructure
- Funding for state and local programs
- Consumer understanding of and confidence in recycling
- Life-cycle analysis
- Beneficial Re-use (e.g., composting)
- Energy costs and opportunities
What steps should the NRC take to strengthen its role and relationships with our affiliated state organizations?
Look for additional regional opportunity to match up partners to fill the gaps and meet the needs other areas may have – one state may be stronger in an area than another. Continue to look for business partners to move recycling forward.
What individual or group in the field of recycling has had the most influence on you?
Trudy Coxe, as the Secretary of Massachusetts’ Environmental Affairs, development an annual report card to publicize performance of municipal governments to determine levels of financial support; this focused leadership dramatically improved recycling rates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Robin Ingenthron, at the Massachusetts’ DEP, provided the intellectual and strategic support to impose a ban on land filling electronics equipment in the Commonwealth.
How would you “sell” the importance of an NRC membership to a person who is unfamiliar with the NRC?
NRC’s members, partners and affiliations create channels through which recycling progress can be enhanced and real progress is realized in communities where the most help is needed. The coalition allows the new member to be a part of a larger organization that makes a meaningful and significant contribution to recycling. As the “national voice on recycling,” the NRC creates opportunities for increased resource reclamation and adds incentives for change.
How is the work you do as a professional compatible with NRC’s mission?
As a paper packaging, distribution and materials recycling company, International Paper has long been involved in issues of sustainable forestry and environmental stewardship. The company’s success is driven by the efficiency with which handle and manage one of the Earth’s most renewable resources.
The NRC’s Board of Directors is comprised of individuals with a concern for the common good of the Coalition. Discuss how you would help the Board reach consensus among a group of peers with varied interests and/or positions on a specific issue.
Meaningful and lasting collaborations takes root where there is clear understanding and appreciation of different motivations and clear communication of intentions.
What would be your personal goals as a member of the NRC Board of Directors?
- Build lasting personal and professional relationships with my fellow board members and coalition affiliates.
- Grow existing programs and enhance the resources available to them.
- Create new opportunities for the NRC that support the NRC “brand” and enable a greater exposure to recyclers and non-recyclers.