Yadira Diaz

Macro shot of a vibrant pink dahlia flower in full bloom with detailed petals.

Yadira Diaz is the Founder and CEO of Gradible, a groundbreaking platform being referred to as the “Amazon of Sustainability.” Under her leadership, Gradible connects businesses of all sizes to proven solutions that reduce waste, energy, and water use—while unlocking financial incentives like rebates, subsidies, and tax benefits to make implementation easier and more profitable. … Read more

Sue Beets-Atkinson

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

Ashley Koller

Ashley Koller is the Sustainability Program Manager for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, CA. She is focused on developing and managing initiatives that further integrate Sustainability into Sierra Nevada’s culture and operations. Through collaboration and employee education, Ashley is dedicated to lowering Sierra Nevada’s environmental footprint.Outside of the brewery, Ashley sits on the Board … Read more

Maddy Gawler

Maddy Gawler is the Senior Specialist, Sustainability & Continuous Improvement at The J.M. Smucker Company. She joined the Company through the Hostess acquisition in 2023 and in her current role she is focused on overseeing operations strategy relating to water, natural gas and electricity utilization. In this role she works with operations sites across the … Read more

Bob Gedert

Bob Gedert has 45 years of experience in building local economic development practices with zero-waste goals through private-public partnerships that utilize local markets for recyclables through innovative entrepreneurship and collaborative business networks. In his retirement, he is teaching climate change classes at Xavier University in Cincinnati and publishing his first book on the relationship of … Read more

Deconstruction Dave Bennink

Dave Bennink is Director of the Building Deconstruction Network and owns Re-Use Consulting. He trains groups focusing on reusable materials and embodied carbon, and has salvaged/deconstructed over 5000 projects in North America, existing within the circular economy since 1993. Significant to the City, Dave has formed the NYC Circular Construction Network whose goal is to … Read more

Marilee Movius

As Senior Community Engagement Manager for the League to Save Lake Tahoe, Marilee fosters an informed and engaged community of residents and visitors to protect Lake Tahoe. She oversees the League’s volunteer and citizen science programs, cultivates local partnerships, organizes the League’s community events, and leads the design for a wide range of educational materials. … Read more

Alex Freid

Alex is determined that zero waste is possible, and loves working with students and staff on college campuses to envision what it will take to get them there. He has been involved in zero waste programs since 2010, when he and his friends started the UNH Trash 2 Treasure program. At PLAN, Alex enjoys training … Read more

Julie Wedge

Julie has spent the last 30 years at the intersection of human health and the environment. Prior to working at Clean Water Action she consulted on numerous candidate and issue campaigns throughout the country, as well as served in leadership positions on federal races. Over the last decade, Julie served as Chief of Staff and … Read more

Daniela Ochoa González

Daniela is a trilingual inspiring purpose-driven leader. She has over 14 years of expertise in advancing systemic change for the circular economy through innovative cross-sector partnerships to advance zero waste policy, programs, and solutions locally throughout North America and Latin America. Her expertise has been in food waste reduction, composting, and soil regeneration as key … Read more