Rob Taylor is the Vice President of Grants and Community Development for The Recycling Partnership. At The Partnership Rob leads a team responsible for building grant projects with a focus on growing residential recycling across the United States. This work includes supporting communities across the country as they implement and enhance public recycling efforts. Rob’s work also includes supporting The Partnership’s efforts to advance primary and secondary materials processing capacity in the U.S., ensuring the national recycling system has the ability to effectively handle and process residential recyclables and deliver recovered materials into a circular economy. Rob joined The Recycling Partnership in 2018. Prior to that, Rob served for 8 years at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, working on recycling programs for the state and leading efforts to support local government recycling systems and North Carolina’s recycling economy. Before working for NC DEQ, Rob worked for 12 years in Orange County, NC managing public recycling programs for a community of 145,000 people.
Carson Potter is the head of product for AMP, where he focuses on automated facility development and applications of artificial intelligence. He graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in computer science, and brings to AMP a background in machine learning and large scale data systems. Before joining AMP, he led a product team and the machine learning and data strategy for a company in the home services industry. At AMP, he works to understand market conditions and develop processing solutions for single-stream, municipal solid waste, and secondary materials. He has helped develop industry-leading systems and technologies, including work across multiple Department of Energy awards focused on characterization and chemical control of waste feedstocks for novel production of biofuels, pyrolysis oil, and low-carbon products.
Brian joined Van Dyk in 2010 with a specific focus on researching new technologies and growing new markets, such as mixed waste (MSW) processing, waste to fuels, C&D, glass recycling, compost refining, etc. With a focus in the power generation industry, Mr. Schellati has over 24 years of experience in successful business development and sales for several industrial equipment suppliers. He received an MBA and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Process Engineering from Lehigh University. Mr. Schellati was born, raised and still resides just outside New York City in Westchester County.
Jennifer joined Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics Division in 2018. In her role she collaborates with the entire value chain to end marine debris and improve plastic circularity. Her work includes serving on the board of AMERIPEN and as Chair of the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Sustainability Committee. Before joining Dow, Jennifer was a Senior Research Scientist for HARC, a sustainability research hub, where she led the Environmental Science and Energy Efficiency Programs. Prior to joining HARC, she served as the Deputy Director for the Renewable Energy and International Law (REIL) Network, a DC-based international think tank for clean energy and climate change law and policy. Prior to REIL Jennifer was the Vice-President of Applied Environmental Solutions, a consulting firm focusing on addressing soil and groundwater contamination. Jennifer earned her Master of Environmental Management Degree from Yale University.
Dr. Ganesh Nagarajan is the Senior Director of Plastics at WM. He leads WM initiatives towards increasing recycling and recovery of plastic materials. He is additionally responsible for value creation and stakeholder engagement. Prior to WM, Dr. Nagarajan worked at LyondellBasell for over two decades in multiple roles including Application Development, Sales, Marketing & Business Management. He also supported the development of numerous recycling projects as a thematic expert for the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, as well as an Executive Advisory Board Member of Cyclyx. His international assignments include roles as Marketing and Sales Manager for Northeast Asia and Australia at Basell Asia Pacific Limited and as Managing Director for Basell Polyolefins India Limited.
Coming soon!
Brian Anderson is the Vice President of the Polymer Industry Cluster for the Greater Akron Chamber. Brian leads the Polymer Industry Cluster Initiative in Northeast Ohio, as well as the data and regional economic analysis functions of the organization. Prior to the Chamber, Brian worked as Chief Financial Officer of a wearable technology start-up, and at a Fortune 500 company. He decided to make a move because he wanted to contribute to an organization that he felt could improve the region and the lives of its residents. Brian received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Emmanuel College in Boston where he was also a three-sport collegiate athlete. From there, he attended The University of Akron for his MBA, and University of Texas – San Antonio for his master’s degree in finance. Brian and his wife Casey like to travel, cook, and are dedicated fans and season ticket holders of the nationally ranked University of Akron men’s soccer team.
Brendan B. Adams joined The Kraft Heinz Company in March 2019 and currently serves as Associate Director, Government Affairs. Mr. Adams is a liaison to government officials and trade associations on various issues that impact the company and its employees. As the lead on sustainable packaging policy, Mr. Adams works with internal and external stakeholders to develop policy positions that align with the company’s ESG goals. Prior to working at Kraft Heinz, Mr. Adams served as Political Affairs Manager at Corning Incorporated, Special Assistant to the President & CEO at the Transportation Intermediaries Association, and Special Assistant for Legislative & Intergovernmental Affairs at the United States Mint, Department of the Treasury. Mr. Adams received a Bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College with a major in Political Science and minor in Communication Arts. He also received a Master’s degree from the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University.
Bob Render is the president and CEO of Lakeside 360 Partners, a sustainability and recycling consulting firm that develops strategies and programs for companies to reduce their carbon impact. This includes incorporating recycled and renewable content in products, feed stock development and preprocessing strategy for advanced recycling, and measuring carbon impacts. Bob was recently selected as a Notable Leader in Sustainability by Plastics News for his over 40 years in plastics recycling and sustainability. Bob was the chair of the Plastics Industry Association Recycling Committee and is a former national board member. He serves on the advisory board of REMADE, is a member of the board of Recycling Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers and serves on the Executive Committee of HPRC (Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council). He serves on his local community sustainability advisory commission in Skokie, Illinois
Carlos graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City. He worked in industry before moving to the United Kingdom, to do his Ph.D at the University of Cambridge. During his doctoral research and subsequently as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate, he developed the basis of the Enval process to recycle plastic aluminium laminate pouches, sachets, tubes, etc. As a result, Carlos founded Enval where he is CEO. The Company now has a commercial plant recycling laminates in the UK and is in the process of installing further units in other locations. Enval has also started to develop recycling processes for other materials, creating a link between the packaging world and the waste handling sector.
Jon is currently Director, BD Advanced Recycling and Bio-based Feedstocks Americas at LyondellBasell. He currently leads the business development activities in North America for advanced recycling and bio-based feedstocks as well as the transition of the Houston Refinery into a part of LYB’s Houton hub for sustainability. Jon has held various roles within LyondellBasell for the past 15 years spanning across Manufacturing, Optimization and Planning, Strategy & M&A, and Commercial business units. Jon holds a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and a MBA from Rice University.
Jesus Atias is the North America Sustainability manager for Packaging & Specialty Plastics. Jesus is responsible for expanding the Hefty® EnergyBag® program, which represents a collaboration with strategic customer Reynolds Consumer Products and participating communities, diverting more plastics from landfill by converting them to valuable energy resources. He focuses on program growth and identifying partners across the value chain, including new end markets and applications. He is managing Dow’s responsibilities as the first Hefty® EnergyBag® program launches in Canada.