Dr. Bently Hillory Higgs
Sperling Hansen Associates
Project Engineer/ Caribbean Operations Manager
------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Bently Higgs earned a Ph.D. from the Florida A&M University and Florida State University – College of Engineering. His studies focused on sustainable solid waste management with emphasis on explore solutions for mitigating landfill gas emissions from landfill cover systems and investigate the long-term performance of geosynthetics in landfill liner and cover systems.
During his tertiary and doctoral pursuits, he worked in the solid waste sector on research projects at both government and private landfill sites throughout the United States. More recently, he has served as the Senior Engineer Resident at the New Providence Ecology Park (NPEP) in Nassau and a Visiting Resident Engineer at the City of Vancouver Landfill in British Columbia, Canada.
Dr. Bently Higgs earned a Ph.D. from the Florida A&M University and Florida State University – College of Engineering. His studies focused on sustainable solid waste management with emphasis on explore solutions for mitigating landfill gas emissions from landfill cover systems and investigate the long-term performance of geosynthetics in landfill liner and cover systems.
During his tertiary and doctoral pursuits, he worked in the solid waste sector on research projects at both government and private landfill sites throughout the United States. More recently, he has served as the Senior Engineer Resident at the New Providence Ecology Park (NPEP) in Nassau and a Visiting Resident Engineer at the City of Vancouver Landfill in British Columbia, Canada.
Mr John Daniel Holmes Jr.
South Central Solid Waste Authority
Assistant Transfer Station Manager
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. John Holmes serves the Authority as the Assistant Transfer Station Manager for SCSWA at the largest Solid Waste Transfer Station in Dona Ana County, in Las Cruces, NM. He started his management training in 2011 outside the solid waste industry when he was a Lead Operator in the Alternative Energy Sector in solar work across New Mexico and Texas for over three years. His reliable performance as a Lead Operator elevated him to a quality control (QC) position for final installation inspection before going live with the solar products.
Mr. Holmes entered the municipal solid waste service industry with SCWSA in 2014. This is where he began developing the skills and trade knowledge for operating a transfer station efficiently and safely. He also gained technical experience in logistics of installation, maintenance and repair of a Harris TP-250 stationary compactor. He matured in his leadership abilities starting as a Transfer Station Attendant then quickly transitioning to a Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO), then promoted to Lead HEO, and ultimately to an Assistant Transfer Station Manager with State Certification by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) for Transfer Station Operator.
Mr. Holmes’ leadership philosophy is “Lead by example by making and keeping commitments with Integrity and character by setting goals with credibility.” He is incredibly humbled for being nominated as the first Young Professional (YP) to represent SCSWA. When John is selflessly striving for perfection, he loves to spend time with his three daughters and wife. He enjoys hiking, playing with his kids, and working on cars in his free time.
Mr. John Holmes serves the Authority as the Assistant Transfer Station Manager for SCSWA at the largest Solid Waste Transfer Station in Dona Ana County, in Las Cruces, NM. He started his management training in 2011 outside the solid waste industry when he was a Lead Operator in the Alternative Energy Sector in solar work across New Mexico and Texas for over three years. His reliable performance as a Lead Operator elevated him to a quality control (QC) position for final installation inspection before going live with the solar products.
Mr. Holmes entered the municipal solid waste service industry with SCWSA in 2014. This is where he began developing the skills and trade knowledge for operating a transfer station efficiently and safely. He also gained technical experience in logistics of installation, maintenance and repair of a Harris TP-250 stationary compactor. He matured in his leadership abilities starting as a Transfer Station Attendant then quickly transitioning to a Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO), then promoted to Lead HEO, and ultimately to an Assistant Transfer Station Manager with State Certification by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) for Transfer Station Operator.
Mr. Holmes’ leadership philosophy is “Lead by example by making and keeping commitments with Integrity and character by setting goals with credibility.” He is incredibly humbled for being nominated as the first Young Professional (YP) to represent SCSWA. When John is selflessly striving for perfection, he loves to spend time with his three daughters and wife. He enjoys hiking, playing with his kids, and working on cars in his free time.
Prabhjot Kaur
City of San Jose - San Jose, CA
Environmental Services Specialist
------------------------------------------------------------------
My name is Prabhjot Kaur and I currently work for the City of San Jose, Division of Integrated Waste Management as an Environmental Services Specialist. My family and I immigrated from Punjab, India and relocated to the Central Valley region of California where I spent most of my youth, sparking my interest in environmental and sustainability issues related to resource management. I graduated from Syracuse University in 2018 with degrees in International Relations and Energy & Its Impacts. While there I began my career interest in recycling and diversion as an intern. After several years in solid waste related programs, I’m excited to expand my knowledge and experience with the SWANA Young Professionals Leadership Academy. In my spare time I enjoy putting my cat in ridiculous costumes, cooking, gardening and powerlifting.
My name is Prabhjot Kaur and I currently work for the City of San Jose, Division of Integrated Waste Management as an Environmental Services Specialist. My family and I immigrated from Punjab, India and relocated to the Central Valley region of California where I spent most of my youth, sparking my interest in environmental and sustainability issues related to resource management. I graduated from Syracuse University in 2018 with degrees in International Relations and Energy & Its Impacts. While there I began my career interest in recycling and diversion as an intern. After several years in solid waste related programs, I’m excited to expand my knowledge and experience with the SWANA Young Professionals Leadership Academy. In my spare time I enjoy putting my cat in ridiculous costumes, cooking, gardening and powerlifting.
Rana Mandour
Tetra Tech Canada Inc.
Project Engineer-in-Training
------------------------------------------------------------------
Rana is a Project Engineer-in-Training for the Solid Waste Management Practice within Tetra Tech in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She attained her B.Sc. in Civil Engineering with the Environmental Engineering option from the University of Alberta in 2018. During her studies, Rana specialised in solid waste management, air quality management and control, municipal systems and facilities, environmental geotechnics, and soil remediation. Rana has been working on landfill design, operations, and closure plans, transfer station designs, landfill infrastructure modelling and designs (surface water, leachate, landfill gas), environmental monitoring plans, regulatory reporting, and construction quality assurance services for Western Canada.
Rana is a Project Engineer-in-Training for the Solid Waste Management Practice within Tetra Tech in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She attained her B.Sc. in Civil Engineering with the Environmental Engineering option from the University of Alberta in 2018. During her studies, Rana specialised in solid waste management, air quality management and control, municipal systems and facilities, environmental geotechnics, and soil remediation. Rana has been working on landfill design, operations, and closure plans, transfer station designs, landfill infrastructure modelling and designs (surface water, leachate, landfill gas), environmental monitoring plans, regulatory reporting, and construction quality assurance services for Western Canada.
Allie Omens
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Construction and Demolition Recycling Coordinator
------------------------------------------------------------------
Allie Omens leads construction and demolition zero waste programming for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. As Construction and Demolition Recycling Coordinator, Allie advances efforts for reducing waste in construction and demolition projects city and county-wide, including connecting building permit applicants with reuse and recycling options for their jobsite debris. She manages a network of recyclers, contractors, architects, consultants, academics, and other industry professionals in Nashville to improve built environment programming and policy-making. Allie also serves as Advisory Board Member to Circular Triangle, a North Carolina-based organization that builds local capacity for a just circular economy transition.
Allie Omens leads construction and demolition zero waste programming for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. As Construction and Demolition Recycling Coordinator, Allie advances efforts for reducing waste in construction and demolition projects city and county-wide, including connecting building permit applicants with reuse and recycling options for their jobsite debris. She manages a network of recyclers, contractors, architects, consultants, academics, and other industry professionals in Nashville to improve built environment programming and policy-making. Allie also serves as Advisory Board Member to Circular Triangle, a North Carolina-based organization that builds local capacity for a just circular economy transition.
Ashley Schaaf
Rogue Waste Systems
Operations Specialist
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashley Schaaf is an Operations Specialist for Rogue Waste Systems in Southern Oregon. Although her original plan didn’t involve a career in the solid waste industry, she has always been a trashy girl at heart! She started working in the solid waste industry in 2008, beginning as a pay-attendant for the transfer station and moving up through dispatch, finally into operations. She is an excellent problem solver who is passionate about finding potential problems and sorting them out. Ashley takes pride in leading by example and cultivating lasting relationships. You can find Ashley enjoying nature with her two dogs or spending time with her friends and family outside of work.
Ashley Schaaf is an Operations Specialist for Rogue Waste Systems in Southern Oregon. Although her original plan didn’t involve a career in the solid waste industry, she has always been a trashy girl at heart! She started working in the solid waste industry in 2008, beginning as a pay-attendant for the transfer station and moving up through dispatch, finally into operations. She is an excellent problem solver who is passionate about finding potential problems and sorting them out. Ashley takes pride in leading by example and cultivating lasting relationships. You can find Ashley enjoying nature with her two dogs or spending time with her friends and family outside of work.
Naret Treviño
ISFPE, PSC
Consultant & Project Manager
------------------------------------------------------------------
Naret is a Professional Engineer with work experience in the Supply Chain and Environmental Consulting spaces. As a Supply Chain Management Consultant, she performed a variety of functional and management roles throughout the lifecycle of system integration projects that sought to enable business processes with technology. Naret now acts as Consultant and Project Manager for private, federal and local municipal clients within the Environmental Consulting space. Her latest endeavors are focused on developing and executing project plans to help her clients comply with federal and local regulations as it relates to stormwater discharges, industrial wastewater management and landfill closure plans/operations. In her free time, Naret enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and skating. She also serves as Secretary of the SWANA Caribbean-PR Chapter, where she seeks to contribute to and learn from the solid waste industry community.
Naret is a Professional Engineer with work experience in the Supply Chain and Environmental Consulting spaces. As a Supply Chain Management Consultant, she performed a variety of functional and management roles throughout the lifecycle of system integration projects that sought to enable business processes with technology. Naret now acts as Consultant and Project Manager for private, federal and local municipal clients within the Environmental Consulting space. Her latest endeavors are focused on developing and executing project plans to help her clients comply with federal and local regulations as it relates to stormwater discharges, industrial wastewater management and landfill closure plans/operations. In her free time, Naret enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and skating. She also serves as Secretary of the SWANA Caribbean-PR Chapter, where she seeks to contribute to and learn from the solid waste industry community.
Emily Tucker
HDR
Solid Waste Engineer
------------------------------------------------------------------
Emily has been a solid waste consultant with HDR Engineering, Inc. for the past four years. She provides multiple clients with engineering consulting services related to solid waste management strategies and compliance. Her area of expertise is in landfill and solid waste facility design and permitting, solid waste management planning, and environmental compliance through site inspections. She has worked on site layout and building designs for new transfer station sites and landfill facilities located throughout the country. In addition to design work, Emily is heavily involved in solid waste planning for municipalities and counties. She has been a key component in generating multiple Solid Waste Management Plans as well as Zero Waste Plans.
In addition to office work, Emily conducts in-field facility inspections and acts as a construction quality assurance representative to safeguard environmental compliance. Emily has been a SWANA member since 2017 and is currently serving on the technical committee for the South Carolina chapter. She received her thesis Master of Engineering degree in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida with a concentration in Solid and Hazardous Waste Management. Her thesis work led to two Journal publications.
She is passionate about community service and greatly enjoys volunteering. Her other hobbies include playing volleyball, hiking and watching football. She is extremely honored to have been chosen to be a part of the inaugural YP Leadership Academy class of 2022 and is excited to get started!
Emily has been a solid waste consultant with HDR Engineering, Inc. for the past four years. She provides multiple clients with engineering consulting services related to solid waste management strategies and compliance. Her area of expertise is in landfill and solid waste facility design and permitting, solid waste management planning, and environmental compliance through site inspections. She has worked on site layout and building designs for new transfer station sites and landfill facilities located throughout the country. In addition to design work, Emily is heavily involved in solid waste planning for municipalities and counties. She has been a key component in generating multiple Solid Waste Management Plans as well as Zero Waste Plans.
In addition to office work, Emily conducts in-field facility inspections and acts as a construction quality assurance representative to safeguard environmental compliance. Emily has been a SWANA member since 2017 and is currently serving on the technical committee for the South Carolina chapter. She received her thesis Master of Engineering degree in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida with a concentration in Solid and Hazardous Waste Management. Her thesis work led to two Journal publications.
She is passionate about community service and greatly enjoys volunteering. Her other hobbies include playing volleyball, hiking and watching football. She is extremely honored to have been chosen to be a part of the inaugural YP Leadership Academy class of 2022 and is excited to get started!