Motivated by the urgent need to address wasted food and hunger, Erin Ash joined the Spoonfuls team in 2025, bringing with her a background in environmental justice and public health. She began her nonprofit career in Addiction Medicine at Boston Medical Center, later earning a Master’s in Public Health from Boston University. Before transitioning to … Read more
Connor Hoemann is a Toward Zero Waste Program Assistant at Sustainable Connections in Bellingham, WA. He holds a degree in Environmental Science from Whittier College and is committed to waste reduction, resource recovery, and community-driven sustainability. In his role, Connor provides technical assistance and outreach to local businesses, helping them comply with Bellingham’s single-use plastic … Read more
Brandi Hutton is the Toward Zero Waste Program Manager at Sustainable Connections. She has been there for 5 plus years helping build programs such as the Food Recovery Program, Community Freedges, and technical support for businesses transitioning away single-use plastics as part of the City of Bellingham’s Single-Use Plastics Ban. Originally from the Mid-West, Brandi … Read more
Michael Wasserman is a Senior Consultant at Eunomia Research & Consulting, a B Corp certified firm specializing in waste and resource management. Michael collaborates with public and private sector clients to deliver strategic, data-driven solutions that facilitate the transition to a circular economy. His diverse project experience spans key areas such as Extended Producer Responsibility … Read more
Clare Miflin envisions a future without garbage, where urban systems are woven into ecosystems. In 2017 she led the development of the Zero Waste Design Guidelines, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, to show how to design the built environment to help cities achieve zero waste goals. An architect, systems thinker and biomimicry certified professional, … Read more
Elizabeth Balkan has extensive expertise in zero waste policy and implementation. She most recently served as Executive Director of Reloop North America. There, she built a circularity in packaging program comprised of leading decision-makers across the value chain and the most influential government and non-profit stakeholders, delivering tangible, data-oriented solutions. She previously led the Food … Read more
Lily is a Senior Associate in Communications and Engagement at Cascadia Consulting Group. She leads Bay Area project teams covering a broad range of topics including zero waste, food recovery, and circularity. She has worked in the sustainability field as a business strategist, change manager, project manager, facilitator and community engagement lead. Organization:Cascadia Consulting GroupTitle:Senior … Read more
Angela Ober is the senior sustainability specialist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). She has been working in the environmental field since 2015 and in higher ed sustainability since 2018. Her work includes data collection, analysis, and communication. She is passionate about ensuring data is both transparent and accessible to the public and enjoys … Read more
Leana Houser is the Sustainability Manager for Zero Waste in the Johns Hopkins University Office of Climate & Sustainability (OCS). In this role, she develops policies and best practices to support the university’s Climate Action and Sustainability Plan’s Responsible Consumption goals. Her favorite part of the job is supporting the divisions to find creative solutions … Read more
Sue Beets-Atkinson is the Global VP of Sustainability for SBM Management Services, LP. With more than 30 years of resource management and recycling experience, she has successfully designed and implemented many large and complex recycling programs for a multitude of Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States. Beets-Atkinson regularly reinvents systems for improved efficiency and is … Read more