2023

10th Annual Zero Waste Symposium Speaker Detail Emily Creegan, Ph.D. City of San Diego Dr. Emily Creegan completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Sciences, her master’s degree in Soil Science, and her PhD in Biomass Utilization and Regenerative Agriculture. She has been working in the organic waste recycling field for around 20 years. Dr. Creegan…

10th Annual Zero Waste Symposium Speaker Detail Mary Matava Agri Service Mary Matava is an agronomist and the owner of Agri Service, which operates compost facilities in Southern California. With more than 35 years of experience assessing the agronomic suitability of Southern California soils and over 20 years of experience recycling organics, Mary is a…

10th Annual Zero Waste Symposium Speaker Detail Manuel Medrano City of Chula Vista Manuel Medrano has worked in the sustainability field for 20 years focused on issues such as recycling, hazardous waste management, business development and public education. Manuel belongs to several multi-agency committees and environmental health cross-border working groups. Manuel holds a Bachelor’s degree…

10th Annual Zero Waste Symposium Speaker Detail Bob Hill EDCO Waste & Recycling Bob Hill was born and raised in Pittsburgh PA, and shortly after joining the Navy in 1982 he was stationed in San Diego, and remained stationed in San Diego throughout his entire Navy career. After serving in the Navy for 22 years…

10th Annual Zero Waste Symposium Speaker Detail Jamie Wood City of Carlsbad Jamie is the Environmental Sustainability Director at the City of Carlsbad.  He has been with the City for 17 years, beginning as an Environmental Specialist I.  Currently he oversees the Climate Action Plan, Habitat Management, Watershed Protection and Sustainability Materials Management and is…

10th Annual Zero Waste Symposium Speaker Detail Avecita Jones City of Carlsbad Avecita Jones is the Senior Program Manager for the City of Carlsbad Environmental Management Department. Avecita joined the Carlsbad in 2015 as a Management Analyst. In that role, she was assigned to a solid waste program that the city really hadn’t established or…

10th Annual Zero Waste Symposium Speaker Detail Sonia Mendoza Mother Earth Foundation Philippines Mendoza joined the Concerned Citizens Against Pollution (COCAP) in 1995. At that time, COCAP was campaigning for clean air, as there was a plan to put up an incinerator plant in the country. This was her first involvement in environmental issues. She…

10th Annual Zero Waste Symposium Speaker Detail Jack McQuibban Zero Waste Europe Jack is a young professional leader working in the field of environmental campaigning and movement building. Jack is currently the Zero Waste Cities Programme Coordinator at Zero Waste Europe (ZWE), responsible for supporting local municipalities across Europe, via the network of ZWE’s members,…

10th Annual Zero Waste Symposium Speaker Detail Nicole Kurian Californians Against Waste Nicole received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning at the University of California, Davis. As an undergraduate student, she directed waste diversion and sustainability programs as Unit Director of the Campus Center for the Environment. Before joining Californians Against…