About the Event
Introduction to Compostables - Learn the basics for certification, the history of compostables, and the current state of the Industry
This first workshop on compostables will be foundational. You won't want to skip this session as it lays the groundwork for the state of the industry. With speakers like: Rhodes Yepsen, Ramani Narayan, Norma McDonald, and Leslie Rogers. Join the USCC to kick off the Composters Conference on Compostable Products
Cost: Members - $45 / Non-Members - $95 / Non-Member Composters - $70
* Included Single 2 hour event, Live Q&A with panelists, Recordings Available
About the Speakers
Carry Oshins - USCC Associate Director
Cary Oshins
Cary Oshins is the Education Director for the Composting Council Research & Education Foundation, where he runs the Composter Training Program, including the highly regarded Composting Operations Training Course. He also oversees educational curriculum development and creating other training opportunities for the Foundation. Cary is also the Associate Director of the US Composting Council where his work focuses on member services, including the annual conference, developing the professional credential program, and industry advocacy at the state and national levels.
Rhodes Yepsen - Executive Director of the Biodegradable Products Institute
Norma McDonald
Norma McDonald is a University of Wisconsin graduate and 10-yr veteran of the US Marine Corps. Between 1985-2005, she held a variety of management positions at Procter & Gamble, including the development and commercialization of biodegradable/compostable polymers for a wide variety of disposable products and packages. Her team played a role in the founding and growth of the US Composting Council. In 2005 she established a company to build farm digesters to generate renewable energy from manure, and in 2009 merged the company with OWS, becoming their North American Sales Manager for both anaerobic digester projects and laboratory services.
Ramani Narayan - Professor Michigan Biotechnology Institute
Leslie Rodgers
Leslie Rodgers has grown with Atlas Organics since 2016. Beginning in education and engagement, Leslie gained solid skills to support organics diversion programs and compost utilization in all scales and environments.
Currently Vice President of Sales, Leslie leads the Sales Team for Atlas Organics. With five facilities and collections services in multiple markets, her team is versed in all aspects of organics recycling and end-product sales.
Invested in the expansion of composting infrastructure and establishing circular systems, Leslie is an active participant in the growth of the composting industry. She is a USCC Young Professional leader, a Don't Waste Food SC Ambassador, a trained Kiss the Ground Soil Advocate and most recently a member of the BPI Board of Directors leading the first Composter & Municipality Committee for BPI.
Leslie’s passion for sustainability stems from years of involvement with the movement through local organizations and community programs in Brooklyn, NY and continues with her work in the Southeast. She is a graduate of Hunter College and lives with her three sons in Spartanburg, SC.
Rhodes Yepsen
Rhodes Yepsen is Executive Director of the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), a non-profit advocating for the value of compostable products in diverting organic waste to composting. Yepsen is passionate about systems-based solutions, specifically the synergy in solving for food waste and packaging at the same time – to address climate change, ecosystem impacts, and regenerative agriculture. He has served on the Board of USCC, is an advisor to several sustainable packaging groups, and was an editor and writer at BioCycle magazine.
Norma McDonald - North America Sales Manager OWS, Inc (Organic Waste Systems)
Ramani Narayan
Dr. Ramani Narayan, is University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science. He has 200+ refereed publications in leading journals, 32 issued patents, and edited three books in the area of environmentally responsible biobased materials [h-index 51; i10-index 143, 12,248 citations Google Scholar]. He has graduated 22 Ph.D and 23 Master’s students at MSU.
Leslie Rodgers - Vice President of Sales, Atlas Organics
PLEASE NOTE: Attendee may receive USCC Certification Commission credit when they attend.
Want to learn more about the workshops and summit? Visit the USCC website for more information.