Board Members
Board seats are up for election annually. The terms are three years and the Board of Directors meets on a monthly basis - usually in the morning on the first Thursday of the month. Board Members may attend the meeting in person or by phone. Each Board Member must be a dues-paying member of the Minnesota Composting Council one year prior to being elected to the Board, and must be a member of the USCC throughout the Board term.
Nominations are accepted in early October each year. MNCC members vote on the nominees in mid-October, and new and/or returning Board Members are announced in November each year.
Contact the Board or Board Members directly by visiting the Contact Us page.
Nominations are accepted in early October each year. MNCC members vote on the nominees in mid-October, and new and/or returning Board Members are announced in November each year.
Contact the Board or Board Members directly by visiting the Contact Us page.
Executive Committee |
|
Ginny Black - Chairperson
Ginny is a retired Organics Recycling Specialist who used to work at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. In her job, Ginny provided technical assistance to compost facility operators and promoted markets for finished compost. She provided education to citizens to help them make informed decisions and take actions that conserve resources and prevent pollution to benefit the environment, economy, and society. Marcus Zbinden, Carver County - Vice Chair Marcus has worked in the Solid Waste industry for the past 20 years. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point with a degree in Resource Management he began working as a Recycling Coordinator for Gallagher's Service, an independent hauler in the Twin Cities. In 1992 he took a position with Carver County as an Environmental Specialist where he continues to work with recycling, composting and other solid waste programs. In 1999, he received a Masters of Liberal Studies degree from the University of Minnesota and he is currently Vice Chair of the Minnesota Composting Council and Chair of the Recycling Association of Minnesota. |
Mia Thomton, Natur-Tec - Treasurer
Mia is the Treasurer for MNCC and a Manager of Customer Relations and Operations for Natur-Tec®, a compostable product manufacturer here in Minnesota. In her role, she engages with all stakeholders in the organics recycling industry – generators, haulers, and processors and is excited to bring her passion and experience to the MNCC board. Mia is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Twins Cities where she received a BA in Global Studies with an emphasis in Environmental Sustainability. Kellie Kish, City of Minneapolis - Secretary
Kellie is the Secretary of the Minnesota Composting Council. She worked for Carver and Anoka Counties as well as the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) prior to joining the City of Minneapolis in April 2013. Her BA degree is from the University of Minnesota in Global Studies, Environmental Science, Natural Resources and Policy Management. She has played a major role in planning, studying and collecting data on composting Source Separated Organics at the Carver County Compost Project and in the City of Minneapolis' organics recycling program roll-out. Board Members |
Tim Farnan, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Tim works in the Sustainable Materials Management Unit at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Tim’s work focuses on waste prevention and recycling with an emphasis on Organics Recycling. Tim has been a member of the board of the Minnesota Composting Council since 2014. Tim has been with the MPCA for since 2007, prior to working for the agency he was the customer service manager for Eureka Recycling. Kala Fisher, City of St. Louis Park
Kala is the Solid Waste Manager for the City of St. Louis Park. Kala coordinates residential recycling and organics recycling programs for the city. She has also served in similar roles at the county and regional level in both Florida and Minnesota. Her career experiences includes working with commercial composters, haulers, educators, businesses, schools, and residents to expand organics recycling and promote the use of compost. Kala has worked with stakeholders on issues surrounding certified compostable foodservice packaging during the development of the cIty's Zero Waste Packaging Ordinance. Kala is a graduate of St. Cloud State University where she received a BS in Environmental Studies. |
Dustin Montey, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Organics Recycling Facility (SMSC ORF) Dustin is the Assistant Manager at the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility in Shakopee, one of the largest composting facilities in the state of Minnesota. Dustin has worked with SMSC for the past 7 years, managing compost operations, colored mulch production, off-site wood grinding, sales, and delivery of products. In his position, Dustin has coordinated the production and sale of hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of compost to residential and commercial customers. Prior to working with SMSC, Dustin served for 5 years in the United States Marine Corps.
Chuck Joswiak, Specialized Environmental Technologies Chuck directs Sales & Market Development while helping oversee site operations at SET, a compost processing company with facilities around the Twin Cities. He has 26+ years in the landscape and horticultural industry and is a member of MNLA. He has worked with contractors, landscape architects, engineers and municipalities designing projects and utilized hundreds of thousands cubic yards of compost. Jon Klapperich, Minnesota Waste Wise Jon is the Program Manager at Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s Waste Wise Foundation where he and the Waste Wise team work directly with Minnesota businesses to implement and improve their recycling programs. Jon and Waste Wise have been instrumental in getting hundreds of businesses the start-up funding that they need to implement organics recycling activities. Jon has his master’s degree in sustainable forestry and when he’s not trying to get more people to recycle he enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and playing baseball. Tim Lundell, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District Tim is the Senior Solid Waste Operator at the WLSSD in Duluth, MN. Since 2002, Tim has worked in household hazardous waste, assisted with the operation and supervision of a materials recovery center, yard waste collection site, and WLSSD's source separated organics composting facility. Tim earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at Bemidji State University and has previous work experience with the National Park Service and the MN Department of Natural Resources. Nathan Reinbold, Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management Nathan is the Environmental Coordinator for Pope/Douglas Solid Waste Management – a 7 county regional Waste-to-Energy and Materials Recovery system. He coordinates and oversees waste reduction/reuse, recycling, household hazardous waste, industrial solid waste program, stormwater plan, organics management, events recycling, plate to garden events, business recycling grants, facility planning, ordinances, waste designation, hauler engagement, and community outreach. He has been involved with the Recycling Assoc of MN, hosting MN GreenCorps members, REC (Recycling Education) Steering Committee, MN Products Stewardship Council, and youth Groundwater/Conservation Days. Pope/Douglas started their organics recycling collection program in 2016 and Glacial Ridge Compost Facility in 2020. Reinbold earned his degree in Environmental Studies/Geography from the University of MN – Duluth. Nathan has 20 years’ experience working for tribal and county environmental programs. |
|