Terri Graham
Baldwin County, Solid Waste Director

Terri is currently the Director of The Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County, Alabama. Previously, Terri served as the Development Environmental Director for the Solid Waste Department of the Baldwin County Commission since 2013. She has been employed with the Department since 2007. Terri led all aspects of the Solid Waste Department, including the new innovative Material Recovery Facility that will be opening in 2024. She serves on many different boards, including SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America). Terri received her BSBA in Finance from Auburn University. She is the wife of John Graham, and the mom to three beautiful daughters: Taylor, Maddie and Jordyn.

Stephanie Baker
KW Plastics Recycling Division Troy, AL

As the Director of Advocacy for KW Plastics, Stephanie advocates for not only pro-recycling policies but for healthy plastics recycling initiatives within the recycling system and supply chain. Her role includes overseeing government relations, community engagement, marketing and public relations. A hometown girl from KW Plastics’ headquarter operations in Troy, Alabama, Stephanie previously served as the Director of Market Development and led Polypropylene Procurement for KW. Stephanie represents the world’s largest plastics recycler of HDPE and PP in projects surrounding sustainability, packaging design and increasing quality supply throughout North America. Stephanie’s experience includes establishing closed loop recycling programs, beyond bottle expansion initiatives, policy, communications, economic development, strategic planning and community affairs. Professionally, Stephanie serves on Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) Communications and Public Affairs Committee, is a Board Member for the Alabama Recycling Coalition, is a member of ReMA (Recycled Materials Association of Alabama) and active with the Scrap Recycling Association of Alabama. Previously, she served as Chairman of the Southeast Recycling Development Council (SERDC) Board of Directors and SERDC 120: a voluntary initiative to explore public-private partnerships and strategic investments to boost recovery in the Southeast, which resulted in The Recycling Partnership. In 2020, Plastics News recognized Stephanie as a “Woman Breaking the Mold.” She is a member of the Alabama Leadership Initiative Class II and was named a “Mover and Shaper” by Business Alabama magazine. Stephanie and her husband, Matt, have two daughters. She is serving in her second term on the Troy City Council and is the current President Pro Tempore.

Byron Geiger
Head of Operations, Indorama Ventures Sustainable Solutions

Byron Geiger has been in the PET recycling/processing industry for more than 37 years. Throughout Byron’s career, he has worked closely with industry groups to advance the recycling industry and has been a leader in advocating for recycling as a whole. Byron is currently Head of Operations with Indorama Ventures Sustainable Solutions and is responsible for the recycling operations in the Americas. He is based in Athens, Alabama and has been with the company for 5 years. In his current role, Byron oversees and is responsible for Indorama’s 3 recycling plants in the US, 1 in Mexico, as well as 1 in Brazil.

Randy James
Operations Director for Williamson County Recycling

Working in close partnership with Mac Nolen, Randy James has helped lead the development of Tennessee’s first cardboard-free landfill initiative. Under his leadership, the city has become the
first municipality in Tennessee to provide free cardboard collection for every local business, while also offering one of the nation’s few complimentary document shredding programs.
Through a collaborative effort with the Solid Waste Department, Randy continues to advance strategic waste diversion initiatives, achieving a 50% landfill diversion rate excluding brush materials. His work reflects a strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence in municipal solid waste management.

Charmayne N. Watson
ARC Treasurer
Account Manager, Greif

Charmayne N. Watson is the current treasurer of the Alabama Recycling Coalition and a 1993 graduate of Troy State University with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing. With over 30 years’ experience in the recycling industry; she is employed with Greif- Recycling, as an account manager in Mobile Alabama. Her territory includes all areas of the United States with a primary focus in the Southern Region. Charmayne is very active in her community and volunteers within Greif. She currently serves as treasurer of Keep Mobile Beautiful, and Secretary of BEE @ Greif a Colleague Resource Group. She is an active member with Mobile Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, where she has a lifetime commitment to serve in the community.

David Koonce
Public Works Director, City of Florence

David Koonce serves as the City of Florence Public Works Director. A graduate of the University of North Alabama, he previously worked with TVA and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. He is a former president of the Alabama SWANA Chapter and has been recognized for his contributions to the solid waste management profession. Outside of work, his favorite title is “Bepaw” to his five grandchildren.

Catrina Cook
Environmental Services Director, City of Auburn

Catrina holds both master and bachelor degrees from Auburn University in Public
Administration. Catrina received executive education certificates of completion from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the University of Virginia’s Leading, Education, and Developing Program (LEAD) through the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Catrina is the Environmental Services Director for the City of Auburn. A lifelong Auburn resident, Catrina began her career as an intern in the City’s Environmental Services Department. Catrina’s interest in serving her hometown was sparked during a class at Auburn University. As she began Auburn’s graduate program in public administration, she took the first step in her now 26-year stint with the City by signing up to educate Auburn City Schools students about the City’s recycling and sustainability program. A year later, she was promoted to the department’s administrative assistant and realized the breadth of impact Environmental Services has. During her tenure with the City of Auburn, she has served as Environmental Services Assistant Director, Division Manager Right of Way Maintenance and as the Environmental Services Assistant. Cook’s leadership within City of Auburn has ushered many changes most recently she is acknowledged for implementing a new fleet management solution that allows the department to track City vehicles, monitor engine diagnostics and help optimize collection routes all to increase efficiencies and save taxpayer dollars. Catrina is married to Royrickers and has two adult children, Olivia and Preston.

Blake Pruitt
Chief of Materials Management Section, Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Blake Pruitt began her career at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management in 2004 in Land Division in the scrap tire program. In 2009 she transferred to the recycling group where she handled registrations, along with the Alabama Recycling Fund grant program. In 2014 she transferred to waste approvals, handling approvals for special waste and hazardous waste disposal. In 2019 she was promoted to Chief of the Special Services Unit in ADEM’s water division, handling NPDES permits and compliance for small sand and gravel borrow pits and the pesticide permit, along with managing complaints for the Water Division. In 2024 she was named Chief of the Materials Management Sections, where she now oversees the scrap tire, recycling, and beneficial use programs.

Sara Nichols
Senior Consultant, Resource Recycling Systems

Sara is a senior consultant at RRS, bringing more than 10 years of nonprofit leadership and materials management experience to the company. She has worked on state and federal solid waste contracts, has a background in community organizing and stakeholder engagement, and brings a solutions-oriented attitude to projects. Sara serves on SWANA’s Sustainable Material Management Technical Division’s Executive Committee and is actively involved in the Texas Chapter of SWANA.

Virginia Bear Bannister
ARC President
President, Alabama Beverage Association

Virginia currently serves as President of The Alabama Beverage Association, working on her 14th year in this role. She leads the association’s governmental and public affairs efforts, serving as the association’s chief lobbyist as well as the primary contact with the media and other external governmental and non-governmental entities. The Alabama Beverage Association is the trade association for Alabama’s non-alcoholic beverage industry whose membership includes all of the Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Dr. Pepper Keurig bottlers in the state of Alabama. Virginia has 30 years of public affairs experience. She started her public policy career in Washington, D.C. where she worked for three years and then moved back to Alabama in 1997 as a reporter and producer covering politics and business for Alabama Public Television. Virginia went on to work for the Business Council of Alabama as manager of governmental affairs and later served as vice-president for governmental affairs at AmSouth Bank and then Regions Financial Corporation (following a merger). Virginia has also worked as a consultant for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, the advocacy arm of the American Cancer Society. A native of Montgomery, Virginia earned a B.A. in Public Policy Studies from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and a M.A. in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University in Washington, D.C. Virginia currently serves as a board member and officer for the Alabama Council of Association Executives (ACAE) and as the current chair of the Alabama Recycling Coalition. She is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery, Class XXII. She previously served on the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Montgomery. She is a former member of the Junior League of Montgomery and formerly served on the board of directors for Montgomery Landmarks Foundation. Virginia has also served on the board of directors for the Montgomery chapter of Kid One and continues to serve as a volunteer for MACOA’s meals on wheels program. Virginia and her husband Porter live in Montgomery with their doodle dog, Bonnie.

Edward F. Poolos
Director, Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)

Edward F. Poolos, a lifelong Jasper resident, was appointed Director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) in August 2025. With more than 30 years of experience in environmental management and conservation, Poolos brings a deep knowledge of Alabama’s environmental challenges and a proven record of leadership in both state government and field operations. Poolos previously served as Deputy Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (2017–2025), where he oversaw major initiatives to enhance the state’s natural resources, recreational opportunities, and conservation efforts. Before that, he spent 25 years with ADEM, including 17 years as manager of the North Alabama Field Office in Decatur, where he supervised programs related to air and water quality, solid waste, stormwater management, underground storage tanks, and environmental emergency response. In addition to his state leadership roles, Poolos chaired the Restitution Fund Oversight Committee following the 2019 River Valley Ingredients spill. Under his leadership, the committee directed a $3 million settlement toward community restoration projects, including new recreational facilities and environmental enhancements in the Black Warrior River watershed. A graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Poolos is also a Certified Public Manager. He is known for his hands-on approach, working directly with communities on projects such as renovations at Walker County Lake and improvements at the Forks of the River in Sipsey.

Adam Rhodes
Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Adam Rhodes is a Senior Environmental Scientist with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), working in the Materials Management Section. With more than eight years of experience in the Marketing Program, he manages grants for both the Scrap Tire Marketing Program and the End-Use Marketing Program. In addition, he oversees the Alabama Scrap Tire Commission and works with the National Center for Technology and the Alabama Department of Transportation to advance the use of rubber-modified asphalt in Alabama roadways.  

Lydia Williams
Alabama Department of Environmental Management

Lydia Williams is an Environmental Scientist in the Materials Management Section at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), where she works in the Recycling Compliance and Grants Program. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with honors from Alabama A&M University, where she was active in student leadership and served as President of the Environmental Science Club. Lydia began her career as a contractor with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, specializing in groundwater collection, before joining ADEM. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and serves on the Policy Committee of the Mayor’s Young Professional Council in Montgomery. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, reading, and playing piano.

Jason Woodmansee

Jason Woodmansee serves as Division Safety Manager for Greif’s Recycle and Corrugated Division. He brings 24 years of experience in safety, health, and quality within the manufacturing and distribution industries, including 14 years in the pulp and paper industry.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Science from Missouri Southern State University and is a Certified Safety and Health Specialist and Six Sigma Black Belt. He lives in southwest Missouri and serves on the Webb City R-VII School Board. Outside of work, he enjoys duck hunting during the winter and spending time on the golf course in the summer and fall.

Clara Romine
RC&D Grants Director

Sa’de McClaney-Hammond
Keep Birmingham Beautiful Coordinator, City of Montgomery

Gary Dunn
Sales Manager, Greif