Alice P. Jacobsohn

THE ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY Associations (EIA) honored members of the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) for their good work. Watch for WASTEC honorees in July.

Special Governor's Awards:

Tom Hilbert has been involved in the waste industry since 1992. As the vice president of engineering for William Charles Waste Companies, he is responsible for new business opportunities, regulatory compliance, permits, overseeing construction projects, media relations and talking to local school groups. He has been an active player in NSWMA's Illinois chapter for more than 13 years, including serving as the chapter chair, legislative chair, and most recently, as the technical committee chair. He has worked with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to push through proposed changes to the municipal solid waste landfill framework and is currently working on groundwater quality issues.

Jimmie Jones learned the garbage business working with his family in the '60s and '70s. In 1977, when his business was sold to Container Corp. of Carolina (CCC), Jimmie stayed on as the operations manager, transitioning to sales manager in 1986 and general manager in 1994. In 1997, after Allied Waste Industries acquired CCC, he became the district manager and today is the marketplace general manager. At NSWMA, Jimmie has served as the North Carolina legislative committee chair, chapter chair and the Carolinas chapter vice chair.

Bruce Schmucker has been in the waste business since 1985, starting in resource recovery with Malcomb Pirnie. From 2001 to 2006, he worked as a senior project manager for Shaw Environmental, Inc., developing business in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. He joined Cornerstone Environmental Group in 2006 as a client manager. Bruce has served as vice chair for NSWMA's Ohio chapter for several years and currently is the golf committee chair for the Indiana chapter. He also serves as the chair for the Ohio Industry Task Force.

Distinguished Service Awards:

Ben Hoffman has played a key role on critical emerging issues, including the disposal of animal carcasses from avian influenza and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies; management of homeland security waste; removal of needles from the solid waste stream; and abandoned babies left in dumpsters. He has helped NSWMA build coalitions, improved the industry's relationship with federal and state agencies, and improved the industry's image with community groups. Ben is a licensed medical doctor, serving as vice president and chief medical officer at Waste Management, Inc.

Mike Lambert entered the waste business in 1981 as a mechanic's assistant. He has been a container delivery driver, route auditor, swing driver, dispatcher, environmental compliance manager and safety manager. Today, he is Republic Services, Inc.'s corporate director of safety, a position he has held since 2001. As a result of Mike's leadership and vision, Republic Services has partnered with NSWMA to develop four safety videos under the “Be Safe Be Proud” title. He also provides guidance on safety issues to NSWMA staff.

Thomas Winstead has worked for Waste Industries for 22 years and now serves as the company's east division vice president. Recently, he stepped into a vacancy as NSWMA's North Carolina Legislative Committee Chair. Faced with four significant pieces of 2006 legislation — a trash tax, a moratorium on landfill permit applications, increased permit costs and just compensation — he kept the chapter focused and educated the community, legislators and the industry.

Alice Jacobsohn is director of public affairs and education at the Environmental Industry Associations. Contact her at [email protected].