Joe Williams
Common Sense Consulting
Principal
Joe Williams enters a fourth decade of solid waste management energized by his newest challenge as founder of Common Sense Consulting of Franklin, LLC in Franklin, TN. Experienced in both the private and public side of MSW, Mr. Williams spent nearly ten years with the former Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) before taking the reins as Solid Waste Director for the City of Franklin, TN in 1998. His responsibilities have included hiring, training, safety and compliance, operations, financing and administrative requirements for all sections of solid waste management, including residential, commercial, medical, and special wastes.

Mr. James Nathaniel Ridley
City of Franklin
Assistant Director
Nate Ridley currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Sanitation and Environmental Services Department for the City of Franklin, Tennessee. A SWANA member since 2008, Mr. Ridley has more than 20 years of experience in the Solid Waste industry and equipment operation. He is SWANA-certified in two disciplines: Managing Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Collection Systems and Managing Integrated Collection Systems. Mr. Ridley has been a SWANA-certified instructor since 2013 for the Managing MSW Collection Systems course and he also serves as Safety Ambassador for the SWANA Tennessee Chapter. He is married with five children. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, football, grilling, and motorcycles. His favorite quote is “Leave it better it… better than you found it.”

Johnnie Taylor
City of Winston-Salem
Sanitation Director
Taylor joined the city in 1992. He previously served as traffic maintenance supervisor, sanitation director, and operations director. He has an associate degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in engineering management, both from Salem University. He also is a graduate of the Public Executive Leadership Academy and the Municipal Administration Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government.
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Johnnie is a member of the International City/County Management Association, American Public Works Association, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, National Fleet Management Association and is a certified instructor for the Solid Waste Association of North America.

Mr James A Skora
Ashland County Solid Waste Management District
District Coordinator
Jim Skora is the District Coordinator for Ashland County Solid Waste Management District. Jim has thirty years of hazardous and solid waste management experience in the private and public sectors. Jim has successfully provided technical and project management support to commercial and government clients in Ohio and throughout the country. His experience includes Ohio EPA Solid Waste Management and Planning, Solid Waste Management Training, Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) compliance, Department of Transportation (DOT) compliance and Property Transfer Environmental Site Assessments (PTSA). Jim is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science.

Jim began his career as an environmental specialist with a large hazardous waste management company. During his private sector career, Jim was responsible for developing and operating Ohio’s first permanent Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Facility, the development of a nationwide on-site environmental consulting program, and management of a regional technical services group with responsibilities including oversight of various lab packing operations and HHW collection events. Jim then moved into the public sector as the Executive Director of the Summit/Akron Solid Waste Management Authority where he was responsible for the implementation and management of Summit County’s Solid Waste Management Plan. Jim also worked with Ohio’s Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections developing a statewide Electronics Recycling Program.

Jim currently manages the Lorain County Collection Center for the District and is the Program Manager for the NCO Solid Waste District for Champagn, Madison and Shelby counties.

Jim is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and is SWANA Certified in Municipal Solid Waste Collection Systems and Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems. Jim also is a faculty member of SWANA and teaches the Integrated Solid Waste Management and Collections courses and sits on SWANA’s International Advisory Board representing Ohio.

Robin Ennis
(Retired)
Robin Ennis retired from Montgomery County, MD in 2020, where she served as the Chief of Solid Waste and Recycling Collection for 13 years. Previously, she served as the Director of Collections, Customer Service, Recycling, and Media Arts for the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority, where she and her team earned an Emmy Award for their weekly television show, eTV. Ms. Ennis has been an active member of SWANA for 25 years, was elected Vice President and President of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter, and has earned six certifications. She is a SWANA-certified faculty member, who teaches five courses: Manager of Landfill Operations, Managing Municipal Solid Waste Collection Systems, Managing Integrated Solid Waste Management Systems, Managing Recycling Systems, and Zero Waste Principles and Practices.