The VRA Board of Directors is comprised of up to 12 members elected to serve three-year terms. VRA members elect Directors at the annual conference in May, and Directors serve staggered three-year terms beginning in June. Board members must be VRA members in good standing throughout their term and may serve two consecutive terms. The current board is composed of the following representatives:
540-998-5707
tsweeney@mrswa.com
Teresa Sweeney is the Education and Training Coordinator for Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority in Christiansburg, VA, and has been with the authority for 21 years. She works with the jurisdictions within the New River Valley to provide accurate and consistent information regarding solid waste and recycling efforts for the schools, businesses and local industries. This is accomplished by conducting programs and tours for numerous schools, various civic groups and other organizations. Teresa is a graduate of Radford University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. She is currently a member of the Virginia Recycling Association, serving as president, member of SWANA, president of the Southwest Virginia Solid Waste Management Association and a member of the Carolina Recycling Association.
(703) 257-8256
(703) 853-6094
mboehringer@manassasva.gov
Monica Boehringer is the Refuse and Recycling Coordinator for the City of Manassas.
For over 30 years, Monica conceptualized and orchestrated programs, campaigns and projects that effectively engage target audiences to communicate information provide direction and inspire action.
Monica started working with the City of Manassas in 2014. For the past four years, she has been developing new programs and strategies to improve recycling participation leading to a 5.2% increase in the City’s recycling rate. Average attendance at HHW drop-off days increased from 80 to 500 cars. HOAs are supporting engagement and participation through a new community recycling grant, and the City has reduced annual waste disposal costs by over $130,000.
Working in partnership with American Disposal Services, recycling has also been integrated into the history and culture of the community in unexpected ways. “Recycling and the Civil War”, is an exhibition that explores the importance of recycling in our nation’s history. “Project Recycle Runway” teaches 9-13 year old Boys & Girls Club members about textile recycling through fashion. Last year, the City’s “Recycled Art Competition” launched a new artist with winning high school student Litzy Morales.
The City of Manassas also been recognized by the Virginia Recycling Association receiving an Award for Excellence in 2017 and Outstanding City/County Program in 2016.
Monica is currently studying Public Administration and Community Engagement at George Mason University concentrating on Game Theory and applied mathematics in relation to recycling participation.
757-641-7825
joebenedetto@rds-virginia.com
Joe is a third-generation member of the recycling and solid waste industry and has worked in and around recycling facilities his entire life. Joe’s earliest work was at his family’s Recycling Plant in Chesapeake, VA where he was a general laborer and equipment operator. From there Joe obtained at BSBA in Finance from American University and went on to work for the largest manufacturer and consumer of corrugated containers in the world, Stone Container Corporation. At Stone Container, Joe oversaw managing and marketing of over $85 million dollars’ worth of recycled fiber annually. After Stone Container, Joe accepted a position with Paper Recycling International (PRI) where he became Procurement Manager and provided recycled fiber analysis and procurement strategies for 12 paper mills along the East Coast of the US and Canada. When PRI split up in 1999 Joe decided to return to Hampton Roads and work for his family’s recycling company. After a few years as Vice President of his family’s company, overseeing the operation and management of 3 facilities, Joe left to join Cellmark, a multibillion-dollar recycling and paper sales company. Joe was responsible for management of their four recycling facilities. After a year Joe was asked to move, this time to the Cellmark East Coast Corporate headquarters. Having established roots in the Hampton Roads area, Joe declined the opportunity to move and opened RDS in Portsmouth VA. Starting from nothing but raw land in 2005, Joe has built RDS into a world-class recycling company with operations in both Portsmouth, VA and Roanoke, VA. Today, RDS continues to expand and offer new recycling services to commercial, industrial, residential and municipal customers. As a result, Joe is kept busy with the daily corporate management of the organization and well as long-term strategic planning.
Stephanie Hicks is employed by Trex Company in Winchester, VA since 2006 and has been in the role of Film Recycling Promotions since 2010. This position entails public education and promotion of bag and film recycling. Stephanie is a Virginia native and a graduate of Longwood University with a bachelor’s in Business Administration and Marketing. Stephanie Hicks has been a member of VRA since 2011 and is also on the board member for Keep Virginia Beautiful.
(703) 324-5313
(571) 279-4172
erica.carter@fairfaxcounty.gov
Erica Carter is the Fairfax County Recycling Coordinator and the current Vice President of the Virginia Recycling Association. She got her start in the environmental field at the San Diego Association of Governments and then at the City of San Jose. There she worked with a team to introduce Recycle Plus, a pay-as-you-throw system that fundamentally changed the way we looked at recycling. Erica holds a BS in Public Administration from GMU and a Master’s in Urban and Environmental Planning from UVA. She has a strong commitment to public service and is a big fan of life-long learning. You will often find her speaking to groups of all sizes about the importance of protecting our environment, with an emphasis on meeting people where they are.
(757) 543-2006 X-2763
(201) 739-9687
Fred.Cornell@simsmm.com
Fred Cornell has been with Sims Metal Management (SMM) for 13 years, where he currently serves as the Southeast Region’s Business Partner. Prior to 2012, Mr Cornell was the East Coast Director of Safety, Health Environment and Community relations for SMM. Fred is currently a Board Member for the Virginia Recycling Association and the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association. Over the years, he served as Chair of the Recycling Research Foundation, President of the New York and New Jersey Chapters of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and as a board member of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers. Prior to joining SMM, Mr. Cornell was president of a privately-held non-ferrous metal recycling company, a corporate EHS director, environmental consultant, regional sewer commissioner and state environmental regulator. In these positions, he has directed and managed projects in 24 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Mr. Cornell is a recognized recycling industry leader and has worked on a variety of legislative and regulatory initiatives, including participating teams that accomplished passage of (i) a law instituting a waste tax to fund state recycling programs, and (ii) scrap theft prevention legislation. He also led the passage on local ordinances and led a multi-stakeholder team that succeeded in passing New Jersey’s mercury switch recycling law.
(540) 667-1815 ext.1452
michael.neese@winchesterva.gov
Mike was born in Woodstock VA moved to Lumberton NC at 13, then traveled a bit after high school and college. He has an Associate’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Lord Fairfax Community College, Bachelors in Sustainable Enterprise Management from the University of Phoenix, has completed Virginia Natural Resource Leadership Institute program in 2012, completed the Climate Academy program through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). He has served as a Director from Winchester for the Lord Fairfax Soil and Water Conservation District. Mike has started many community gardens in the Winchester area, is an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts, St. Andrews gleaning project, and Habitat for Humanity, and is a freemason. He is married to a very supportive wife, Jocelyn, and has 2 wonderful children. In his free time, Mike gardens, hikes, and camps.
Mike has received the Governors Environmental Excellence Award for an urban tree/waste wood recycling project; and has earned the Green Government award from VML multiple times.
He is the recycling Coordinator for the City of Winchester, and has been employed with the City since 2004.
Kristi Rines is the Recycling Coordinator for the City of Virginia Beach and is a Certified Manager of Zero Waste Principals and Practices.
Kristi’s diverse background includes waste and recycling programs, commodity markets, public sector marketing, consumer habits, compost, and zero waste.
In addition to serving as the Recycling Coordinator, Kristi is also the Executive Director of Keep Virginia Beach Beautiful, the Public Works Liaison for the Virginia Beach Clean Community Commission and serves on the Board for the Virginia Recycling Association.
(804) 698-4159
prina.chudasama@deq.virginia.gov
Prina Chudasama is the Litter and Recycling Coordinator for the Department of Environmental Quality in Richmond VA. She has been with DEQ for a little over 4 years. She started her career with DEQ in 2014 as the coordinator for the SARA Title III/EPCRA program which deals with the reporting of hazardous chemicals to the state and local governments. Prina currently handles the SWIA, recycling rate, recycling tax credits, and litter grant programs. She works closely with local governments and solid waste planning units to provide information and guidance on litter prevention and recycling topics and promote environmental awareness. Prina has a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.
(804) 302-4231
(571) 232-2939
margaret@vrarecycles.org
Margaret has been in the recycling industry since the early 1990s, getting her start in college as a volunteer collecting recyclables and helping with her college town’s recycling public education program. Prior to joining VRA in 2016 as executive director, Margaret has worked as a municipal recycling coordinator, university solid waste manager, and solid waste consultant. She enjoys gardening, exercising, reading, cooking and has just become a novice beekeeper.
(703) 642-4631
(571) 217-1951
dspilio@novaregion.org
Debbie Spiliotopoulos has worked as a senior environmental planner at Northern Virginia Regional Commission since 2006. As staff for the Northern Virginia Waste Management Board (NVWMB), Debbie produces the biennial regional waste report for the Washington Metropolitan Region, and oversees the Know Toxics program to educate and provide outreach on the proper management and diversion of fluorescent lamps, rechargeable batteries, and e waste from commercial and MSW waste streams (www.knowtoxics.com). Debbie also supports NVWMB policy evaluations and other special projects. Debbie has participated in the VRA, MWCOG recycling and waste management, and SWANA Old Dominion. She has served on the VRA board in a number of positions, currently serving as President. If re-elected, Debbie looks forward to (not being president and) supporting VRA ties with SWANA, the 2018 conference, membership, and policy initiatives. She is committed to the waste hierarchy, sustainable materials management, product stewardship, and strong local and state recycling programs. Debbie’s favorite part of the VRA is all that she learns from fellow VRA members and their many perspectives on recycling in Virginia. Prior to NVRC, Debbie worked on waste issues at the National Governors’ Association and ICF International. She has a MS in Water Resources Science and Environmental Engineering from U Michigan, and a BA in Biology from UVA.
