As Director of the IWRC, Joe leads a team of passionate professionals, overseeing the day-to-day operations, staff supervision, and strategic partnerships with organizations across the state and country. 
 

Christine Collier is a Project Manager with SCS Engineers. She joined the SCS team in 2016 with 18 years of experience in the Iowa solid waste industry. She has BS and MS degrees from Iowa State University in Civil Engineering with an Environmental emphasis and is a licensed Iowa PE. Christine is proficient in solid waste regulations and compliance and keenly focused on working with clients to develop solutions to meet their needs.

Jen Jordan is the Resource Management Superintendent for the City of Iowa City and oversees the City’s trash, recycling and composting operations at the landfill and curbside. Jen has a BS in Geography and MA in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa. She served as the City’s Recycling Coordinator for over a decade and has been Superintendent for eight years. 

Ms. Ketchum has worked on solid waste issues for over 30 years. In her role as Director of Government Affairs for Waste Management she monitors rules and regulations, engages in community relations and internal and external communications. Her past experience includes 13 years as a Supervisor of Policy and Rule Development at the MPCA and Supervisor of Recycling Market Development at the Office of Environmental Assistance.  She also served in various senior level positions including solid waste policy and infectious waste rule development. She has served on a variety of Environmental Boards and currently chairs the Minnesota Chamber Environmental Sustainability Board and the WI DNR Materials and Waste Managemetn Board.  She has served as the Minnesota Chapter Chair of the National Wastes and Recycling Association and is currently the Board of Governors representative for the Iowa Chapter of NWRA.

As a keynote speaker, consultant and executive coach, Paul Krismer teaches the practical application of positive emotions to achieve corporate and personal excellence.

Paul’s authentic and passionate commitment to his subject matter shines through his work. His playful and captivating storytelling complements his accessible presentation of the science of success. His teaching is powerful and persuasive. At the same time, Paul is exceptionally practical, providing tools that audiences and entire workforces can immediately use.

Paul has a proven track record as an inspirational leader and keynote speaker. For twenty years, he has served in senior management roles—overseeing hundreds of employees, multi-million dollar projects, leading organizational keynotes and cheerfully growing future leaders. Now, he has made a name for himself as a decorated keynote speaker and Certified Executive Coach. Paul is appreciated for his kind-hearted pursuit of his client’s best life. Helping people to reach greater happiness and success is his trademark promise.

In addition to his speaking, coaching and consulting, Paul is the best-selling author of Whole Person Happiness: How to be Well in Body, Mind and Spirit. As a teacher of cutting edge positive psychology, he is truly the “Happiness Expert”.

Leslie serves as Metro Waste Authority’s Chief Operating Officer, where she leads the execution of strategic initiatives, drives operational excellence, and strengthens the agency’s regional impact. Her leadership approach is shaped by experience in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, as well as expertise in strategic communications, landfill operations, and team development. Leslie is a Certified Life Coach, Landfill Operator, and Transfer Station Operator, and serves on the Advisory Board for Iowa’s Certified Public Manager Program. She has also held board positions with the Iowa Recycling Association and the Iowa Society of Solid Waste Operations. Leslie earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and a Master of Business Administration from Drake University.

Kristyn Oldendorf is Senior Director of Public Policy and Communications for the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), leading advocacy, public affairs, safety initiatives, and communications for the organization. Kristyn spearheads the SWANA Core Advocacy Group, the Safety Ambassadors, and the Lithium-Ion Battery Workgroup, among other projects.

Prior to joining SWANA, Kristyn spent over ten years working for the City of Baltimore, first in policy and legislation and later in supporting waste and resource management operations and leading the Office of Waste Diversion. In addition, Kristyn worked in international waste and resource recovery consulting, supporting major companies and organizations with establishing and pursuing their waste reduction and diversion goals. 

Garrett Prestegard is a professional engineer with over 14 years of experience in the solid waste industry. He currently serves as an Environmental Engineer for the Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency, where he manages environmental compliance requirements, oversees the operation and maintenance of facility infrastructure, and plans and develops capital projects. Before working for the Cedar Rapids Linn County Solid Waste Agency, Garrett lived in Missouri where he worked as a consultant specializing in the design, permitting, and compliance of MSW landfills. Garrett received a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and has been a licensed professional engineer since 2012. Garrett has served on the ISOSWO Board of Directors since 2018 and is ISOSWO's current President.

Emily is a Solid Waste Planner in HDR's Omaha, Nebraska Solid Waste Group with 13 years of experience. Emily has worked with a wide variety of clients on waste planning projects. Her experience includes waste characterization studies; solid waste master planning efforts; preparation of zero waste plans; extended producer responsibility (EPR) needs assessments; greenhouse gas (GHG) calculations and reporting; and grant design. As part of Emily’s planning work, she analyzes current waste collection and management systems and assists clients in evaluating options to promote diversion, including recycling, composting, and special collections programs. She is adept at analyzing datasets and developing clear and cohesive data summaries, including costing modeling. She also brings experience in grant writing for federal grants and is TRUE certified. Emily develops strong partnerships with clients to identify their goals and communicate those goals and plans to stakeholders.

Mike Sullivan is the Supervisor for the Solid Waste and Contaminated Sites Section in the Land Quality Bureau at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He has over 18 years of experience in solid waste, hazardous waste, drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and air pollution in state government, local government, research, and environmental consulting. Mike lives in Ames, IA with his wife and four children and enjoys hiking, volunteering, and attending his kids' sporting events.

Bruce Teague is Mayor for the City of Iowa City. He was elected to the city council on Oct. 2, 2018.  January 2020, he was appointed a 2-year term as mayor.  He’s now serving his 3rd, two-year term as mayor, from 2024-2026. He moved to Iowa City from Chicago when he was 17 years old and graduated from West High. He graduated in 2002 from Kirkwood Community College with an associate degree in applied science in Nursing. Mayor Teague is also a 2001 graduate of The University of Iowa, where he holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Certificate of Aging Studies. For the past 21 years, he’s owned Caring Hands & More LLC, which serves seniors and individuals with disabilities. 

Mayor Teague has been consistently active in the community with his commitment to serving humankind and has been involved with agencies focused on aging and disability services, LGBTQ+ issues, and small business support.  In what little free time he has, Mayor Teague enjoys singing, playing volleyball, boating, camping, spending time with his husband Colton, their two foster kids, their dog Maggie and family and friends. 

Gina Wilming is a project manager and lead hydrogeologist for Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC. She has 19 years of environmental consulting experience primarily for public solid waste facilities, municipalities, and industrial facilities. Her technical experience includes hydrogeologic investigation and reporting, data management, statistics, sampling optimization and plume stability modeling, evaluating and managing the implementation of remedial alternatives, permitting, construction administration, and public engagement. Gina currently serves as the chair for the ISOSWO PFAS Receivers Group and co-chairs the Spring Conference Committee. Outside of business hours, Gina enjoys camping, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.