Schedule at a Glance

9:00 – 10:15

Welcome & Keynote

Moderator: Jeff Galad
Senator David Koehler
Dr. Anne-Marie Hanson, Hei-Chi Chan, Dr. Neetu Singh – Circular Economy Startup Simulator

10:15 – 10:30

Exhibit Hall Opening Remarks & Conference Planning Committee Welcome

Nathan Mihelich

10:30 – 11:00

☕ Break / Exhibit Hall

11:00 – 12:00

Diversion & Education

Effective Outreach and Education Tactics

Moderator: Jeff Galad
Marissa Michalkiewicz
Becca Cottrell
JoAnn Gemenden

Technical

MRFs and Markets - Their Circular Story

Moderator: Javier Erazo
Steven Schilling
Antoinette E. Smith

Policy & Enforcement

Launching Producer Responsibility - Navigating the Process as a Delegated County

Moderator: Pete Adrian
Jacob Saffert
Ann Hughes
Roxane Peggs

12:00 – 1:00

🍽️ Lunch and Awards

1:00 – 2:00

Diversion & Education

Food Scrap and Organics - Their Circular Story

Moderator: Walter Willis
Susannah Sun
Spencer LaBelle
Mike DiMucci
Stephanie Katsaros

Technical

Circularity's Softer Side: Textiles & Mattresses

Moderator: Clair Ryan
Andrew C. Proctor
Dan McGowan

Policy & Enforcement

Wild Dispatches from the Field

Moderators: Paul Cooney & Aaron Kelley

2:00 – 2:45

Plenary: Protecting Illinois

James Jennings

2:45 – 3:45

Diversion & Education

Reuse and Repair - Their Circular Story

Moderator: Barb Day
Ashley N. Klinder & Maria Anna Rafac
Loren R. Williams
Nicholas Amdor

Technical

Getting Heated Over Fire Risks and Response

Moderator: Joe Martino
Jeff Phillips
Chief Bobby Zimmerman

Policy & Enforcement

Advancing Recycling and Food Recovery

Moderator: Stephanie Katsaros
Andrew Nowak
Brandon Suchomel
Walter Willis

3:45 – 4:15

☕ Break / Exhibit Hall

4:15 – 5:30

Diversion & Education

Workshop: The Sustainability Compass – Get Oriented!

Theresa Greinig

Technical

Landfill Gas Management

Moderator: Lawrence Olawoore
Zack Christ
Bryan Johnson
Richard Southorn
Dr. Nazib Siddique

Policy & Enforcement

Administrative Citations and Violations – Navigating the Process as a Delegated County

Moderator: Becky Tracy
Michelle Gibson
Dustin Burger
Adam Poe

5:30 – 6:30

🍹 Networking Happy Hour

6:30 – 8:00

🍽️ Dinner

8:00 – 9:30

🎧 Silent Disco & Games

Time	Main Events	Diversion & Education	Technical	Policy & Enforcement
9:00 – 10:15	Welcome & Keynote Moderator: Jeff Galad Senator David Koehler Dr. Anne-Marie Hanson, Hei-Chi Chan, Dr. Neetu Singh – Circular Economy Startup Simulator
10:15 – 10:30	Exhibit Hall Opening Remarks & Conference Planning Committee Welcome Nathan Mihelich (Illinois Recycling Foundation & Illinois Recycling Association)
10:30 – 11:00	Exhibit Hall Open / Break
11:00 – 12:00		Effective Outreach and Education Tactics Moderator: Jeff Galad (Recycle Coach) Marissa Michalkiewicz (Foth) Becca Cottrell (Peoria County) JoAnn Gemenden (New Jersey Clean Communities Council)	MRFs and Markets - Their Circular Story Moderator: Javier Erazo (Groot Industries) Steven Schilling (GBB) Antoinette E. Smith (Resource Recycling)	Launching Producer Responsibility - Navigating the Process as a Delegated County Moderator: Pete Adrian (SWALCO) Jacob Saffert (PaintCare) Ann Hughes (MRK Group) Roxane Peggs (Call2Recycle)
12:00 – 1:00	Lunch and Awards
1:00 – 2:00		Food Scrap and Organics - Their Circular Story Moderator: Walter Willis (SWALCO) Susannah Sun (Green Era) Spencer LaBelle (SCS) Mike DiMucci (Garden Prairie Organics) Stephanie Katsaros (BrightBeat)	Circularity's Softer Side: Textiles & Mattresses Moderator: Clair Ryan (Kane County, IRF President) Andrew C. Proctor (USAgain) Dan McGowan (Mattress Recycling Council)	Wild Dispatches from the Field Moderators: Paul Cooney (Ogle County) Aaron Kelley (Jackson County Health Department) County inspectors share unusual stories
2:00 – 2:45	Plenary: Protecting Illinois James Jennings (Illinois EPA)
2:45 – 3:45		Reuse and Repair - Their Circular Story Moderator: Barb Day (IRF Board Member) Ashley N. Klinder & Maria Anna Rafac (JJC) Loren R. Williams (PCs for People) Nicholas Amdor (Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach)	Getting Heated Over Fire Risks and Response Moderator: Joe Martino (SWALCO) Jeff Phillips (SCS) Chief Bobby Zimmerman (East Peoria Fire Dept.)	Advancing Recycling and Food Recovery Moderator: Stephanie Katsaros (Bright Beat) Andrew Nowak (Cook County) Brandon Suchomel (SCS) Walter Willis (SWALCO)
3:45 – 4:15	Exhibit Hall Open / 30-Minute Break
4:15 – 5:30		Workshop: The Sustainability Compass – Get Oriented! Theresa Greinig (SWANCC)	Landfill Gas Management Moderator: Lawrence Olawoore (BEL Environmental Engineering) Zack Christ (SCS) Bryan Johnson (Waga Energy) Richard Southorn (SCS) Dr. Nazib Siddique (Argonne NL)	Administrative Citations and Violations – Navigating the Process as a Delegated County Moderator: Becky Tracy (Perry County) Michelle Gibson (IPCB) Dustin Burger (IEPA) Adam Poe (IEPA)
5:30 – 6:30	Networking Happy Hour
6:30 – 8:00	Dinner
8:00 – 9:30	Silent Disco & Games

9:00 – 10:00

Diversion & Education

Circularity in Small Businesses and Industrial Settings

Moderator: Gina Peshek
Zach Samaras / Cassie Carroll
Elaine Wagener
Elisa Seltzer

Technical

PFAS and Leachate Management - Where "Away" and "Forever" Meet

Moderator: Steve Schilling
Nick Backman
Dr. Meng Wang

Policy & Enforcement

Is There a Path to Packaging EPR in Illinois?

Moderator: Cassandra Clark
Kaitlin Reese
Christina Seibert

10:15 – 11:45

Plenary: Building the Path to Circularity - Let's Get to Work!

Moderated Panel Discussion with Professionals in Diverse Roles and Career Stages

Moderator: Juliet Mathey
Alyssa Knowlton
Kyung Kho
Marta Keane
Vishnu Srinivasaraghavan

11:45 – 12:00

Closing Remarks

12:30 – 3:00

🌱 Better Earth Composting Tour
(Pre-registration Required)

Time	Main Events	Diversion & Education	Technical	Policy & Enforcement
9:00 – 10:00		Circularity in Small Businesses and Industrial Settings Moderator: Gina Peshek (Helping Hands, IRF Vice President) Zach Samaras (ISTC) / Cassie Carroll (EnergySense) Elaine Wagener (Casella Waste Systems) Elisa Seltzer (RRS)	PFAS and Leachate Management - Where "Away" and "Forever" Meet Moderator: Steve Schilling (GBB) Nick Backman (ECT2) Dr. Meng Wang (Enspired Solutions)	Is There a Path to Packaging EPR in Illinois? Moderator: Cassandra Clark (IEPA) Kaitlin Reese (Eunomia) Christina Seibert (SWANCC)
10:15 – 11:45	Plenary: Building the Path to Circularity - Let's Get to Work! Moderated Panel Discussion with Professionals in Diverse Roles and Career Stages Moderator: Juliet Mathey (Metropolitan Mayors Caucus) Alyssa Knowlton (Environmental Research & Education Foundation) Kyung Kho (BEL Environmental Engineering) Marta Keane (Will County Land Use) Vishnu Srinivasaraghavan (IEPA)
11:45 – 12:00	Closing Remarks
12:30 – 3:00	Better Earth Composting Tour (Pre-registration Required)

Speaker Name

ILLINOIS CIRCULARITY CONFERENCE

Schedule at a Glance