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Southern California Waste Management Forum
SCWMF 2025 SPRING CONFERENCE & EXHIBIT
MARCH 19, 2025
DOUBLE TREE BY HILTON
222 VINEYARD AVE, ONTARIO CA 91764
2025 Spring Conference Speaker Bios
Ashlee Yee, Cal Recycle/JACE
Ashlee Yee has worked with CalRecycle since 2012. Ashlee oversees the Jurisdiction and Agency Compliance and Enforcement Branch (JACE), which evaluates jurisdictions’ and agencies’ compliance of our state laws including SB 1383. Previously, Ashlee worked in the Local Assistance and Market Development Branch, where she focused on the implementation of state laws such as mandatory commercial recycling, mandatory commercial organics recycling, short-lived climate pollutants, and state agency recycling as well as the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign. Ashlee is a graduate from UC Santa Cruz.
Ashley Brunier, EcoNomics
I grew up in Whittier, CA, but I have always felt deeply connected to Orange County. I transferred to Irvine Unified School District when I was in 6th grade, and later to Brea Unified School District where I finished high school. I then went to UC Santa Barbara where I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies. I had originally intended to obtain my degree in Biology, however I realized I was missing the social side of science. I learned that I had a passion for studying how the world worked on a scientific level, but also for how human behavior, economy, and social matters had impacts on the environment. Read more
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Colleen Foster is a Senior Associate with HF&H Consultants, bringing over 20 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. Her expertise spans zero waste, extended producer responsibility, environmental compliance, climate action, SB 1383 program development and compliance support, Franchise Agreement oversight and administration, outreach, marketing, and legislative advocacy. Throughout her career, Colleen has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability, civic duty, and stakeholder engagement, driving positive environmental change across diverse communities.
Colleen has been invited to present at numerous national and international conferences on topics such as Zero Waste, SB 1383, Circular Economies, and Sustainability. In 2017, she was honored with the "Top 40 Under 40 Award" by Waste 360, recognizing her achievements within the solid waste and recycling industry.
A former President of the California Resources and Recovery Association, Colleen continues to serve on the executive committee of the California Product Stewardship Council. She holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School, focusing on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis. Colleen is also a certified instructor for SWANA/CRRA’s joint Zero Waste Professional Certification Program and holds multiple professional certifications in environmental management and leadership.
Mark Ladney, City of Garden Grove
Mark has been working for Garden Grove for over 20 years (and was one of Konya's interns). Currently he is focusing on various aspects of solid waste, including SB 1383, managing the Exclusive Franchise Hauler Agreement, and overseeing two closed landfills. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors, spending time with friends and is always on the look out for a good place to eat.
Tara Tisopulos is the Deputy Director of Environmental Sustainability at OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR), in Orange County, California. She oversees and manages the County’s sustainability efforts, working closely with all 22 departments and the County Executive Office to develop and implement the County Climate Action Plan and supporting initiatives, secure related funding, and spearhead regional collaboration.
With more than three decades of direct experience in environmental programs and mandates, Tara previously served as Vice President/Senior Project Manager at Environmental Compliance Solutions in Santa Monica, where she concentrated on project management, air quality compliance, grant writing, and interagency coordination. Her responsibilities also included permitting, CEQA/NEPA documentation, and sustainability planning and mitigation. In addition, Tara handled marketing materials, presentations, conferences, and public meetings, serving as the interface with non-profits, government organizations, elected officials, and regulatory agencies.
Throughout her career, Tara has led environmental efforts/projects with clients throughout California, including the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), WM (formerly Waste Management), and Southern California Edison (SCE). She also holds years of experience working with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) as a technical writer and Air Quality Specialist, with additional experience in planning, CEQA documentation, and gaining valuable expertise in air quality issues and legislation.
She holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communications, with an Emphasis on Written Communications/Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton, and a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism and English from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Marc Rodabaugh, County of San Bernardino
I am a solid waste and environmental systems manager with over 32 years of professional experience, including 23 years in municipal environmental and waste system management. I hold a B.S. in Chemistry and am currently a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of California. My aggregate experience includes air quality monitoring and compliance, municipal stormwater program development and implementation, solid waste operations management, and landfill capital improvement project and environmental programs development and implementation.
Doug Kobold, CPSC
Doug has been “talking trash” for over 30 years. Since August 2018 he has, and continues to serve, as the Executive Director for the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC). Previously he spent over 18 years with Sacramento County managing contracts, procurement, new recycling programs development, HHW, and pending legislation. He spent nearly 3 years with Edgar & Associates providing solid waste consulting services statewide and over 5 years with Yolo County managing the County’s landfill. He holds a Civil Engineering degree from California State University, Chico.
Doug is currently an appointed member and Vice Chair of the California SB 54 Advisory Board, the Treasurer of the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA), the Past Chair and a Voting Member of the SWANA California Chapters Legislative Task Force (LTF), and a Board Member of the California Foundation for the Environment & Economy (CFEE). Additionally, he has served as the Vice President of CRRA, the Vice Chair of the CalRecycle Illegal Dumping Technical Advisory Committee (IDTAC), the Chair of CPSC, the Founder and Founding President of National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC), Chair of the California Mattress Advisory Committee, and a member of the California Carpet Recycling Advisory Committee.
Alex E. Helou, Ch.E., Assistant Director, Solid Resources Program Development
Alex heads the Solid Resources Group that is responsible for managing solid waste for the entire City of Los Angeles, including collection, transport, and processing of source separated recyclables, green materials, and municipal solid waste from 750,000 residential customers. Alex leads a workforce of over 1,300 employees in five Divisions, with an annual operating budget of over $180 million. He is in charge of implementing many key solid waste management strategies to help the City of Los Angeles achieve Zero Waste by 2025, including the Solid Waste Integrated Resources Plan and the Commercial Franchise System. The City has exceeded the 75% diversion rate and continues moving toward the zero waste goal. A 22-year veteran of the City of Los Angeles, Alex is a Board registered Professional Chemical Engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering.
Eric Zetz
Eric Zetz has been in the solid waste industry for several decades. In 2009 Eric served as the Solid Waste Manager for the City of Clovis (CA) where he oversaw the City's municipal landfill. Then in 2019 Eric served as the Director of the Merced County Regional Waste Management Authority where he oversaw two regional landfills: Billy Wright landfill in Los Banos, CA; and the Highway-59 landfill in Merced, CA. In 2023 Eric became the Environmental Resources Division Manager for the City of Oxnard where he oversees the City's collection services, street sweeping, Material Recycling Facility operations, scale house, transfer station and many contractual partnerships. Eric has served as the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Central CA Chapter President; SWANA-CA Legislative Task Force Chair; and President of the Stewardship Action Foundation (SAF). Eric has a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Fresno State. Eric also carries a CA Specific Manager of Landfill Operations (MOLO) certification from SWANA.
Kimberly Collins Nilsson, the current CEO and one of the founders of Solid Waste Solutions, founded the business in 1999. With a degree in engineering, she has built a consulting firm with a small team of employees that services cities throughout Southern California. Her background in Civil Engineering created an excellent platform for her areas of expertise. The business can help design, implement and track recycling programs for municipalities per Cal Recycle requirements.
Additionally, with her public works background, she has provided disaster recovery assistance as a city staff member and consultant to cities for Local, State & Federally declared disasters relative to fire and flooding occurrences. Disaster recovery and solid waste management issues are very intertwined.
Matt Bates, Republic Services
Matt has been with Republic Services since 2022, where he oversees the Environmental Solutions - California business unit, managing operations in California and parts of other states. With a strong background in both solid and hazardous waste management, Matt is committed to delivering innovative total waste solutions to his customers. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas – Austin.
Before joining Republic Services, Matt held various finance and accounting roles at publicly traded and privately held manufacturing companies. He finds fulfillment in understanding his customers' challenges, working collaboratively to devise effective solutions, and executing those plans with the support of his exceptional team.
In response to the Palisades and Eaton fires, Matt helped lead over 100 team members from California, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska in the Phase I cleanup efforts, along with other concurrent emergency response initiatives. Republic Services remains ready to support local communities, commercial customers, and government stakeholders in the Phase II cleanup efforts.
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