Peggy Macenas

The Women’s Council of the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) fosters the professional development of women in the waste industry while striving to increase their business, financial and leadership skills. There are various outlets for members to interact with one another on both a professional and personal level. In recent months, the Women’s Council has had a number of notable activities.

Electing New Leadership
The Women’s Council membership and board met at the Executive Roundtable Conference, the premier association meeting for National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC) members. The Women’s Council membership elected the 2012 board. The officers are President: Kirsti Nelson of Otto Environmental Systems; Vice-President: Jeanie Dubinski of Waste Pro USA; and Treasurer: Jean Bredbenner of Republic Services Inc.

The chairs of the committees are Membership/Secretary Chair: Brenda Beck of Waste Pro; Education Chair: M.J. Schmidt of Otto; Marketing Chair: Melissa Gauger of International Truck; and Scholarship Chair: Mary Margaret Cowhey of Land & Lakes. Peggy Macenas serves as the staff manager.

 In addition to the annual board meeting, the Women’s Council presented a Sunset Seminar for all attendees featuring the history and heritage of Naples, Fla., by the Naples Historical Society. The golf clinic presented by the Women’s Council is always an annual favorite and was not hampered by rain.

Recent Activities
In August 2011 a members-only networking event, the 2011 President’s Conference, was held in Charlotte, N.C. Members participated in a tour of Otto Environmental Systems, saw first-hand the Carolina Panther Tailgate recycling program, and heard a presentation by Volvo’s Todd Gothberg on “Leading with Passion.” Members also participated in two team-building events; a whitewater rafting adventure and southern gourmet cooking class.

In May 2011, the Women’s Council held the very successful Carts on Parade and Women’s Council Boutique at WasteExpo. These fundraising programs, as well as sales of the very popular coloring book “Where Does My Garbage Go?” help support the council’s various programs. Be sure to plan your order of coloring books for your Earth Day activities in April.

Upcoming Activities
The Women’s Council develops educational programs for the industry. Notable among these is the EIA Women’s Council Scholarships program. In 2012, this scholarship program will award three $5,000 scholarships to member company employees or their dependents, assisting qualified individuals in their pursuit of education that will lead to careers in the environmental industry. The application for these scholarships is now available. All WASTEC member employees and their dependents are eligible to apply. The submission deadline is Feb. 15, 2012, and decisions will be announced on or about March 1, 2012. Winners will be featured in publications for WasteExpo 2012.

In addition, the Women’s Council is pleased to announce the EIA Women’s Council Living Legends Box Lunch to be held at WasteExpo in Las Vegas from April 30 to May 3, 2012. Scheduled to speak at the event are John Jennings, president and CEO of Waste Pro; Bob Gregory, chairman and CEO of Texas Disposal; and Jim Wimberly, president of Texas Disposal and former chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines.

Visit www.eiawomenscouncil.org for more information on the EIA Women's Council.