2012 / 2013 Recycling Council of Alberta Directors

Sharon Howland President	Sharon Howland is the Waste and Recycling Manager for the Town of Cochrane. Sharon completed a Bachelors of Environmental Studies and Political Science at the University of Northern British Columbia. During her years at university, Sharon's passion for waste and recycling issues was ignited through her work with the Edson & District Recycling Society and the Recycling Council of Alberta as a summer student and Recycling Ambassador.    Since returning to Alberta on a full-time basis, Sharon has continued to work with various municipal governments operating waste management facilities including recycling depots, transfer station, landfills and special waste programs. Sharon continues to focus her efforts on the important role that municipalities can play in developing strategic waste management plans and programming based on the waste hierarchy.
Ian Traquair Vice President	Ian brings 20 years of extensive retail and sales experience to his current position as Sales and Marketing Manager of ECCO CHIPS, a division of ECCO Waste Systems Group.    During Ian’s six years with ECCO Waste Systems, he has assisted with diverting Construction and Demolition waste from the landfill to recycling initiatives including; developing and expanding the market for recycled landscape material from the local market in Calgary to numerous locations in Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan, expanding ECCOs’ wood chipping operation to provide materials for new customers, such as animal bedding and boiler fuel, recycling electronics and diverting waste drywall to recycling facilities.    Ian has been meeting with various stakeholders and gathering information towards the desired 80/20 recycling versus landfill by 2020 objective within the City of Calgary. Ian has been working within the recycling community to develop markets and divert the various materials currently being landfilled in the C&D landfill operations at ECCO Waste to recycling initiatives.    Ian has continually sought out opportunities to further educate himself on recycling initiatives, issues and opportunities by attending and participating in conferences and courses. He has been an active and committed member of the RCA for five years, serving on both the Leadership & Advocacy Committee and the ICI Committee. He is currently a member of the RCA, UDI and Green Calgary. Ian is excited about the new developments and emerging opportunities in the recycling sector and committed to advancing the objectives of the RCA.
Anne Auriat Treasurer	Anne Auriat is currently manager of waste minimization programs for the Towns of Edson and Hinton. She has been directly involved with the recycling programs in these communities for the past 18 years, first as a County Councillor supporting construction of the original Edson facility and later as coordinator and manager, building the program from its very beginnings in newspaper and cardboard to its present multiple-material intake ranging from papers, plastics, waste oils, hazardous materials, and an extremely popular take-it-or-leave-it facility.    Anne was born and raised in Carrot Creek, Alberta, east of Edson, and attended the University of Alberta where she received a BSC in Agricultural Economics. In the early years of raising 4 children with her husband Curtis Brinker, she found time to be Yellowhead County Councillor for six years. In addition to her managing duties, Anne keeps the books for the family environmental consulting/managing business, Silkstone Environmental Ltd, along with numerous local non-profit groups. During her tenure as manager, the regional program has received recognition through nomination for an Emerald Award.    Anne is known locally and regionally for her fund-raising abilities, her involvement in community soccer and wrestling programs, and her willingness to say “yes” to anything! In her ample spare time, Anne would like to hike, garden and bicycle, and look after grandchildren, of which she currently has none.
Maegan Lukian Secretary	Maegan is the Senior Environmental Coordinator for Edmonton Public Schools, providing leadership in the development and implementation of programs and initiatives related to environmental management and stewardship throughout the District. Her duties also include managing the sustainability of 200 schools in the District, developing and maintaining partnerships with school communities, government and fundraising agencies as well as liaising with school principals and teachers on issues falling under the Energy & Environment branch of Facilities Services.    She has been working in the environmental industry for over 5 years, specializing in sustainable waste management and diversion strategies. Working specifically in the industrial & manufacturing sector to help companies maintain LEED goals and internal mandates with respect to waste reduction and recycling.    Prior to this, Maegan received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta, focusing on courses in organic chemistry, biology, environmental conservation and wildlife ecology. She has been a member of the Recycling Council of Alberta for 5 years, with a position on the Board for over 3 years and will continue to actively support the RCA mission to facilitate waste reduction, recycling, and resource conservation on both a personal and professional level.
Curran Chrunik Director	Curran Chrunik is the regional solid waste manager for the Rocky Mountain Regional Solid Waste Authority located in west central Alberta. After graduating from NAIT in 1996, Curran spent 3 years working for environmental consulting firms in Edmonton and Calgary. During that time he had the opportunity to work on hydrogeological and environmental projects throughout Alberta, northeastern BC, and as far northeast as Repulse Bay, Nunavut.    Because of this experience and through his travels, he developed a love for the rural communities in Alberta which then landed him in Rocky Mountain House in spring 2000. In February of 2001, Curran accepted the challenge of his current position as regional solid waste manager. He is currently a SWANA Certified Landfill Manager and Recycling Systems Manager, as well as a Certified Compost Operator under Alberta Environment.    Curran has been a member of the Recycling Council of Alberta for over a decade and continues to learn from its members. He is excited and honored to take a place on the Board of Directors.
Don Hughes Director	Don has been involved in the waste industry for 36 years. He managed Western Canadian business units for Canada’s largest waste management companies including hauling, landfill and transfer station operations. Don founded Hughes Environmental Services Ltd. in 2003.
Kevin Kernaghan Director	Kevin is a native Albertan, born and raised in the city of Calgary. Since 2009, he's been employed with Merlin Plastics, as a commercial and business development manager, responsible for procurement of recyclable feedstock, marketing reprocessed resin, and program development for recyclable plastics.    After completing a 2-year commerce program at Mount Royal College, he spent 7 years in various management positions with several plastic manufacturing companies. This included the following plastic manufacturing applications: extrusion laminating, blown film manufacturing, compounding, extrusion blow molding and injection molding.    Kevin owned and operated Plastic Resources International, a plastics processing company in Calgary, for nearly 10 years. Plastic Resources International was acquired by NexCycle Plastics Inc. in 2005, where he became the General Manager of the Red Deer plant, which was later acquired by Merlin Plastics in 2009.    Kevin is proud to be a Board member for APRA and AB CARE, as well as the RCA.
Tony Lake Director	Tony has been at NAIT for the last year and heads up the grounds and custodial operations at the polytechnic. Prior to that, Tony spent 6 years at the University of Alberta as Senior Manager of Facility Services. Additional experience working for the Cities of Calgary and Leduc plus operating his own recreation facilities consulting firm has provided Tony with a well rounded operational skill set where sustainability and recycling efforts are primary focuses. His interest in serving on the board of RCA is to ensure that NAIT is a contributor to the efforts of the RCA group in achieving the objectives of the organization. NAIT has offered institutional support for Tony to volunteer and encourages participation at the provincial level. Tony is a Leduc County resident living on a small acreage with his wife Karen and his daughter Jillian. He is personally motivated by all of the three R's, particularly reduce because he has to haul his own garbage to the landfill.
David Maplethorpe Director	David is the president and general manager of MCL Waste Systems and has 35 years of waste industry related experiences. Employing 55 associates, MCL works with 6 waste authorities, commissions and their member municipalities advising, developing, operating and managing waste material handling and diversion programs. MCL, and David, have a commitment and focus to work with municipal partners as well as commercial / industrial clientele to handle waste with a focus on environmental and sustainable out comings. Under David’s leadership, MCL has evolved into an integrated organization that provides collection of waste / recyclables, facility management, diversion programs and client services to its authorities, commissions and their member municipalities.    David is active with not-for-profit organizations and industry associations in the Wetaskiwin and Edmonton areas. These include the Wetaskiwin Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development, Huntington’s Society of Canada, and industry related associations ESAA, SWANA, EAA, and the Recycling Council of Alberta.    David has been a member of the Citizens to Citizens Ambassador Program since 1984 and co-chaired a delegation team with Senator Day to China to oversee the Three Gorge Hydro Project for the displaced villagers.    David holds his Alberta Landfill Operators Certification, CEI, CES and composting designations and was recognized by Cambridge International Centre for his work in Environmental Services in 2005.
Peter McDowell Director
Daniel Rochette Director
Leah Seabrook Director	Leah is the Manager of Waste Management and Community Energy Services with Strathcona County and has worked within the organization for over 15 years. During her time, she has launched the community’s Green Routine residential diversion program, which has been successful in diverting over 60% of residential waste from landfill. She also participates in the Capital Region Waste Minimization Advisory Committee as a municipal representative. Leah started her post secondary education at the University of Alberta, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Sciences. She then moved on to Royal Roads University where she recently completed her Master of Arts degree in Environment and Management. Leah has been an active member of the RCA for the last few years, and has participated in the Leadership & Advocacy and IC&I committees. She is enthusiastic about waste reduction, and continues working with the RCA to raise awareness and facilitate the organization’s goals.
Shawn Searle Director	Shawn Searle is a home-grown product of Alberta and has always had a passion for the outdoors, learning, and the environment. His enthusiasm provided him direction for his formal education at the University of Alberta to receive diplomas in Environmental Conservation Science and Education.    Shawn discovered the RCA in 2005 and applied as a summer Ambassador and enjoyed the experience so much, he worked as the Ambassador Coordinator position the following summer. That opened the door to his current service with eCycle Solutions, where he started off as the Edmonton Account Manager and over the last 5 years has seen his role expand to encompass all the prairie provinces as the Business Development Manager for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.    During that time, Shawn has also worked with various RCA committees, including Communications, Leadership & Advocacy and Small & Rural Communities. With a little help from his friends, he also designed the Recycling 102 presentation to help administration in smaller municipalities gain an understanding to start up and evolve successful municipal recycling programs for the public.
Dick Ebersohn City of Calgary Liaison	Dick Ebersohn is the Leader of Strategic Planning and Policy for Waste and Recycling Services with the City of Calgary, currently guiding several strategic plans and studies including 80/20 by 2020. He was responsible for developing The City’s 2020 Sustainability Direction, embedding sustainability into the Business Plans and appraising several plans. In the past 9 years, Dick played a key role in projects such as Plan It Calgary and imagineCALGARY, the Sustainable Suburbs Study, Ecological Footprint and developing policies for the Municipal Development Plan and Transportation Plan. Dick has Bachelors in Anthropology and Urban Geography as well as a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning. In the past 16 years he has worked and studied in the fields of Sustainability and Strategic Planning in South Africa, Sweden and Canada.
Jim Schubert City of Edmonton Liaison
Dave Schaaf City of Lethbridge Liaison	David Schaaf currently manages Waste & Recycling Services for the City of Lethbridge. He recieved his engineering degree from the University of Saskatchewan before moving to Alberta to work in the agricultural manufacturing sector. His employment started with the City of Lethbridge in 1990. During that time, he worked in the areas of Fleet Management, Facility Management and Information Technology before taking the lead role in Waste & Recycling Services in 2003.
Mary Grace Curtis City of Red Deer Liaison
Linda McDonald Alberta CARE Liaison	Linda McDonald is the Executive Director of Alberta CARE (Coordinated Action for Recycling Enterprises). Alberta CARE is a non-profit organization established to advance recycling and waste management in Alberta. Her current duties include coordinating and developing partnerships, bringing together diverse interests for the purpose of generating sustainable economic development opportunities for recycling in Alberta.    Linda holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Manitoba, and has a strong marketing background.  Linda has practical experience in the private sector, charities, and government in a wide range of waste and recycling initiatives in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  Linda is looking forward to promoting the importance of recycling and waste minimization in a cost effective manner.
Alberta Government Liaison	Members of Alberta Environment's Pollution Prevention and Conservation sections' Waste Reduction Team attend RCA's board meetings and provide input at the committee level as well.
Christina Seidel Executive Director	Christina holds a Masters degree in Environmental Design (Environmental Science), as well as a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering.  She operates sonnevera international corp., a waste reduction consulting firm, and is the current Executive Director of the Recycling Council of Alberta. Christina loves rural life, choosing to live on a farm near Bluffton, Alberta, where her and her family raise Warmblood horses, and enjoy many other outdoor activities.