National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) President Darrell Smith announced the promotion of four staff members: Steve Changaris, LaWanda Jones, Peggy Macenas and Brandon Wright.

Changaris was promoted to vice president, Northeast Region; Jones was promoted to director, internal operations; Macenas was promoted to vice president, Midwest Region; and Wright was promoted to vice president, communications and media relations.

“We have a talented staff that works hard for our members and the industry every day. It gives me great pleasure to reward their hard work and talent,” said Smith in a statement. “Steve and Peggy do a terrific job representing the industry and working with our members in their regions. LaWanda does a remarkable job supporting our members and ensuring the team has the tools and resources we need. Through Brandon’s efforts, NWRA continues to be the voice of industry and a leader on issues facing the waste and recycling industry.”

Changaris has worked for more than 25 years at NWRA. He covers the northeastern states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. He works with the region's NWRA recycling, organics and waste companies and interacts on their behalf at the state, local, regional, special authority and county levels. He works with elected and legislative officials as well as administrative and regulatory officials in all solid waste and recycling areas.

Since 1998, Jones has worked for NWRA. In her role as director, internal operations, she is in charge of all information technology and database-related issues/inquiries. Prior to her employment with NWRA, Jones was enlisted in United States Army Reserves. She attended Strayer University and has received multiple certifications from COMPTIA.

Since 1993, Macenas has served the member companies for NWRA, initially as national membership director providing education programs and membership development. In 1998, she was named the manager, Midwest Region with the responsibility of managing the legislative and regulatory affairs on behalf of the NWRA State Chapters in the Midwest.

Macenas also serves as director of the NWRA Women's Council. Prior to joining the association, she worked on the production side and in the regulatory arena of the cable television industry and has served as the executive director for several nonprofit associations before joining NWRA.

Wright, who serves as NWRA’s vice president, communications and media relations, joined NWRA in October 2017. Before joining NWRA, he was chief of staff at the Maryland Department of Planning and served in a senior leadership role at the Maryland Department of Health. He also served as communications director at the Petroleum Marketers Association of America and led communications efforts on several advocacy initiatives in Annapolis, Md.