Welcome

Kimberly Carroll Steward, 2026 Congress Chair

Opening Keynote

Ruth Abbe, Zero Waste USA

Moderator: Teresa Bradley, NRC Board President

SRO Fireside Chat: Leadership Development Pathways

Featuring Tracie Bills, Executive Director of the California Resource Recovery Association, and Melissa Young, NYSAR3 Vice President and Director for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University.

This facilitated discussion among Affiliate leaders will explore common priorities, opportunities, challenges, leadership pathways, and ideas for future collaboration. Panelists will share practical examples, successes, and lessons learned.

Moderator: Martie Solomon, NRC Board of Directors

Women in Circularity: Advancing EPR

Featuring MaryEllen Etienne, NRC Board member and Director of Market Transformation & Development at the U.S. Green Building Council and a member of the Association of Ohio Recyclers, and Andriana Kontovrakis, Director of EPR Solutions at Reverse Logistics Group and a member of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers.

This hybrid presentation and fireside chat will cover key trends in Extended Producer Responsibility, women’s leadership in the circular economy, career pathways, stakeholder engagement, industry best practices, and emerging trends.

Keynote: Environmental Justice and Native Communities Perspectives

Jordan Harvill

Moderator: Lisa Puckett, NRC Board of Directors

NRC Member Meeting

• Charles Kamenides, Executive Director: NRC 2.0
• Teresa Bradley, President: NRC action, value statement and purpose work; membership growth; and strategic partnerships
• Martie Solomon: Treasurer’s Report
• Pete Adrian, Slate Committee Chair: Election nomination presentations and launch of the 2027–2030 Board of Directors election process

The member meeting will recess after the nomination presentations and reconvene on a date to be announced when election results are complete.

Moderator: Jay Bassett, Board Chair

SRO Fireside Chat: Communications & Outreach

Featuring Bobbi Barnowski, Executive Director of TSWAN, and Mary McClellan, Executive Director of the Carolina Recycling Association.

This facilitated Affiliate leadership discussion will focus on shared communications priorities, outreach opportunities, challenges, successful approaches, and future collaboration.

Moderator: Delaney Demro

Closing Panel Presentation with Q&A: Battery EPR and Collection Safety

Marta Keane, The Battery Network (Call2Recycle), will discuss findings from the Illinois battery EPR study, developments in other states, embedded batteries, and collection safety.

Moderator: Tony Rios

Welcome

Martie Solomon, 2026 Congress Chair

Keynote: Empowering Fundraisers

Kiersten Hill presents A Practical Guide to Gain Confidence and Knowledge to Make the Ask!

This session will equip fundraisers at every stage with practical strategies, expert insight, and confidence. Topics include donor relationships, branding and marketing, sponsorship development, overcoming barriers to giving, and ethical fundraising practices that inspire trust and support.

Moderator: Lisa Puckett, NRC Board of Directors

NRC Plastics Committee Report

Committee findings, mass balance, and recycling definitions that may affect your work.

Moderator: Sue Momberger

EPR in the Heartland

Featuring Kent E. Holm, Director of Douglas County Environmental Services, and Matthew Howe, Legislative Aide to Senator Jana Hughes.

This session explores growing momentum behind Extended Producer Responsibility policies across the Midwest, including recent legislative developments, implementation challenges, and collaboration opportunities among producers, policymakers, recyclers, haulers, and local governments.

Moderator: Kimberly Carroll Steward

SRO Fireside Chat: Membership & Engagement

Featuring Brandy Moe of Recycle Colorado and Patty Overman, President of the Missouri Recycling Association.

This facilitated Affiliate leadership discussion will address common priorities, member engagement opportunities, challenges, successful practices, and future collaboration.

Moderator: Gena McKinley

Food Waste Reduction and Recovery

Featuring Angel Veza, ReFED, and a speaker to be announced from Copia.

Moderators: Sarah Shea and Delaney Demro

NRC Awards Presentation

Moderators: Christine Kiourtsis and Mehreen Chowdhury

SRO Fireside Chat: Policy & Advocacy

Featuring Adrian Hernandez, Executive Director of the State of Texas Association for Recycling (STAR), and Tony Rios of Puerto Rico.

This facilitated Affiliate leadership discussion will focus on common policy priorities, advocacy opportunities, challenges, successful approaches, and future collaboration.

Moderator: Stacy Savage