Sun, Surf and Sanitation

The national solid waste management Association (NSWMA) and the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC) will hold an Executive Roundtable Conference (ERT) on Oct. 8 - 11, 2007 at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Fla.

The ERT was developed a number of years ago to provide industry leaders with an opportunity to interact in a relaxing and fun atmosphere. Educational sessions focus on high-level business issues of interest to all waste industry players, including collection companies, landfill owners and operators, manufacturers and distributors of products and equipment, financial institutions, and engineering and legal firms.

The 2007 conference looks at workplaces of the future through today's youth in two educational sessions. In the first, “Generations, America and Millennial Youth,” guest speaker William Strauss will explain the progression of American generations and why that history is important as we try to understand how America is changing and is likely to change in the decades to come. He will describe today's young people (the “Millennial Generation”) and the impact they are having on schools, colleges, families and politics.

In the second session, “Millennials in the Work Place,” Strauss will describe what expectations Millennials have about the workplace, what impact the generation is already having on their employers, and what employers can do to attract and retain high-quality young people. He will then lead a discussion and answer questions about this and the other topics he addressed in his earlier presentation.

Strauss is an author, historian, playwright, theater director and lecturer. He is the co-founder of Capitol Steps, a professional satirical performance troupe. He is co-author of 10 books, including “Chance and Circumstance,” “Generations,” “The Fourth Turning,” and “Millennials and Pop Culture” (with Neil Howe).

The ERT annual dinner will feature a keynote by Jim O'Connor, chairman, CEO and a member of the board of directors of Republic Services, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. His presentation will offer perspective on the state of the solid waste industry gleaned during his time at Republic Services, his 26-year career with Waste Management and the four-year period during which he managed his own solid waste collection company. O'Connor joined Republic Services in 1998. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, Institutional Investor magazine named him as one of the best CEOs in corporate America.

The location for the event, the Ritz-Carlton Naples, is a beautiful resort located on Florida's Paradise Coast, where 80 percent of the land is preserved for parks and natural resources. Attendees will enjoy dazzling views of the Gulf of Mexico, warm tropical sunsets and three miles of pristine beach. Downtown Naples is an eclectic shopping and restaurant mecca with a variety of interesting shops and one-of-a kind art galleries. The Naples Pier is close by — a perfect place to catch those spectacular daily sunsets.

The ERT also includes several golfing opportunities, in addition to a golf clinic, which will provide instruction to beginning and intermediate golfers. The golfing events will be played at the hotel's sister property, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, just three miles away. There are five separate courses, all designed by Greg Norman, in a serene, natural setting.

For a complete brochure on the ERT 2007, visit either www.nswma.org or www.wastec.org and click on “upcoming events” in the left side bar and then scroll down to October.

The EIA Member Services Department can be reached by phone at 800-424-2869.