Waste360 Unveils the Inaugural Women Who Inspire Award Winners

Anne Germain, COO and SVP of Technical and Regulatory Affairs, National Waste & Recycling Association: Germain understands the inner workings of the waste and recycling industry. She knows both the public and private sectors, and her engineering background is one of the many tools in her professional toolkit. She has moved the needle on the local, state, and national advocacy levels. She also leads the Healthcare Waste Institute, the Recycling Committee, the Landfill Institute, and other working groups focused on sustainability and environmental justice. Germain is a true example of a leader. Her work is driving the industry forward and she actively mentors along the way. 

Joy Grahek, Executive Vice-President, Strategic Initiatives, GFL Environmental Inc.: Grahek has been in the waste and recycling industry for 20+ years, working on numerous acquisitions and divestitures. She has been instrumental in the massive growth of GFL Environmental and brings a wealth of knowledge and calm to every deal and transaction. Grahek is constantly advocating for women in waste and the next generation of industry leaders and she is at the forefront of today’s timely issues such as climate change.

Dana Gunders, Executive Director, ReFED: Gunders has been a passionate voice promoting a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system – one that optimizes environmental resources, minimizes climate impacts, and makes the best use of the food we grow. Under her leadership, ReFED has become a trusted partner for various stakeholders seeking to make an impact in the food waste space. Gunders believes that everyone has a role in fighting food waste, and this inclusive mindset has guided her work. Her path from scientist to author to consultant to executive director of ReFED has demonstrated multiple ways to approach a career in sustainability for women and others.

Michelle Leonard, Senior Vice President, SCS Engineers: Leonard has invested 35+ years into a career focused on solid waste management, working to lead communities in their efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste materials. She is well-known for helping businesses, educational institutions, and municipalities successfully adopt a sustainable materials management program as a systemic approach to using and reusing materials more productively over their entire life cycle. Her work finds new implementable opportunities to minimize environmental impacts, conserve resources and reduce costs. Leonard’s expertise in solid waste management regulations and practices has helped many city, county, and state regulators to manage successful and award-winning waste management and recycling projects. Leonard is currently driving the firm’s strategies and response to California Senate Bill 1383, the State’s Food Waste Reduction Act to meet the growing need for composting strategies, technologies, and facilities. Leonard is a mentor, guide, and influencer for the women and young professionals at SCS Engineers.

Ana Wood, Director, Waste & Recycling, Polk County Board of County Commissioners: Wood has been a trailblazer in the waste management industry for 25+ years. She is vital to the Florida waste management industry, especially the Polk County waste management system. Through her leadership, she has motivated other local government officials to set goals of innovating their landfill systems and recycling programs. She bridges funding from the county to Florida Polytechnic University and through these research projects, Polk County can evaluate the environmental impacts of its waste management system and forecast impacts when changing aspects of its recycling program. This research provides hands-on practical data on recycling programs and a chance for the County to understand the implications to the environment of their program. She also uses her own experience as an example to others of how to succeed in a male-dominated industry. She uses multiple forums to actively assist women in achieving their full potential and support for their personal and professional advancement.