Our Board Members
The Board of Directors for the Recycling Association of Minnesota is filled with some of the finest members of Minnesota’s environmental community. Meet them below!
Paul Gardner
Board Chair
Paul Gardner
Board Chair
Paul Gardner is the former Administrator of the Clean Water Council at the State of Minnesota. From 1997 to 2006 he served as the Executive Director of RAM before serving two terms with Brita Sailer in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Paul worked with a major consumer brand to advocate for extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging in several states, leading industry to invest more than $100 million into recycling infrastructure. In recent years, he set up curbside textile collection in the Chicago and Twin Cities markets before coming to the State in early 2019. Paul is a volunteer Minnesota Water Steward and Water Conservation Adviser through the nonprofit organization Freshwater and his local watershed district.
Maggie Yauk
Anoka County - Vice Chair
Maggie Yauk
Anoka County - Vice Chair
Maggie Mattacola Yauk has nearly 20 years of experience in the solid waste and recycling industry. She is currently working for Anoka County in the Recycling & Resource Solutions Unit guiding solid waste, recycling and organics policy and plans for the County. Her previous roles include serving as the Executive Director of SWANA Land of Lakes Chapter, the Executive Director of Operations of RAM and Communications Director of RAM. Maggie has a BS in Political Science and Environmental Law and a Master’s degree in Public and Non-profit Administration.
Susan Heffron
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – Secretary
Susan Heffron
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency – Secretary
Susan Heffron is a 34-year veteran of the MPCA. She currently works in Recycling Market Development. Susan helps to create and maintain the demand for recyclable material by working with a various stakeholders – businesses, haulers, processors, end markets, universities and local governments. She connects people with resources to overcome barriers to using recycled material. Susan also administers the recycling market development grant program with funding from the legislature. Susan received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Minnesota. Her first professional job was for the MPCA and she never left! She has worked in Solid Waste, Air Quality, and Environmental Review. In her spare time, Susan likes to garden, hike in State Parks, and canoe the BWCA.
Marcus Thompson
Mower County - Treasurer
Marcus Thompson
Mower County - Treasurer
Marcus Thompson has been the Solid Waste Officer for Mower County since 2021. He currently supervises the Mower County Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Facilities. Through his leadership he has expanded upon what the County provides in terms of Recycling offerings, such as implementing an electronics recycling program, cardboard collection sites, and plastic film recycling.
Kristin Pierskalla
Hennepin County – Board Member at Large
Kristin Pierskalla
Hennepin County – Board Member at Large
Kristin has a B.S. from the University of Minnesota in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, and has been in the solid waste and recycling field since 1996. Kristin was a RAM Board member from 1998-2004, winning the Denise Kolar Award in 2000. Kristin served on RAM’s conference committee, America Recycles Day committee, as well as on the host committee for the 2005 NRC Congress and Exposition in Minneapolis. Kristin has worked for Hennepin County Environment & Energy since 2000, having various roles for the County in solid waste, recycling, reuse and waste reduction programs. In her free time Kristin currently volunteers for the Bloomington Crime Prevention Association in their annual Book’em Used Book Sale, one of the largest used book sale events in the Midwest, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for the University of Minnesota Band Alumni Society. Most people that know Kristin know she loves everything Star Wars, and loves attending Gopher music and sporting events.
Robert Craggs
Retired
Robert Craggs
Retired
Robert recently led the Solid Waste and Resource Recovery consulting group and is a National Market Sector Leader for Burns & McDonnell’s Environmental Services Global Practice. He has worked in the environmental consulting field for more than 28 years providing planning, financial, and technical consulting assistance to public and private clients throughout North America in the areas of solid waste, recycling, water resources, and renewable energy.
Robert has a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning and a Juris Doctorate of Law. He is presently SWANA’s International Board Director for the Planning and Management Technical Division. He resides in Lakeland, Minnesota where he previously served as both mayor and a City Council member.
John Curry
University of Minnesota
John Curry
University of Minnesota
John Curry is a Development Officer at the University of Minnesota’s College of Biological Sciences. He helped the College raise $27 million for scholarships, research and strategic initiatives in it’s recently completed ‘Driven’ Campaign. Prior to that, John worked for environmental and wildlife focused non-profit organizations including the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Audubon society. In addition, he spent over a decade working for the Minnesota House of Representatives, primarily for the committee overseeing the Judiciary and the Department of Corrections.
John has been active on a number of boards and community organizations. He is a Master Naturalist who loves the outdoors, especially hiking, biking, boating and xc skiing.
Apurupa Gorthi
RRS
Apurupa Gorthi
RRS
Apurupa is an analyst specializing in recycling policy and data-driven program design, with a focus on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and plastics recovery. She has worked across sectors—including public agencies, nonprofits, international funds, and development organizations—to advance zero-waste initiatives, enhance packaging system transparency, and support clients in navigating emerging regulatory frameworks.
Mark Hackbarth
Vonco
Mark Hackbarth
Vonco
Mark is the Business Development Representative at the Vonco Industrial Waste Campus in Becker. His introduction to the solid waste and recycling industry began in 2007 with Randy’s Environmental Services. His experience has led him through the progression of single-stream recycling, expansion of sophisticated material recovery facilities, the collection and processing of organics recycling, and profiling industrial material. Mark has a continued passion for the betterment of environmental processes, recycling solutions, and best practices to minimize waste.
Stephen Haugh
Central State Wire Products
Stephen Haugh
Central State Wire Products
Stephen is the Director of Sales & Marketing of Central States Wire Products. He has been in the recycling industry for over 18 years serving first as a Sourcing Manager with the Peltz Group out of Milwaukee, then the Director of Sourcing for Recycle American Alliance throughout the West and Midwest and now with CSWP in the Twin Cities. He is passionate about recycling and continues to work with the public and private sectors to stress the importance and benefits of recycling. He is also a standing member of the North and South Dakota Recycling Associations and a member of the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin (AROW).
Crystal McNally
Dem-Con Companies
Crystal McNally
Dem-Con Companies
Crystal McNally joined Dem-Con Companies as the Education and Marketing Director in July 2021. Crystal is responsible for the marketing efforts across the Dem-Con family of companies and manages the Green Grades Education Program. The Green Grades Program includes educational tours, virtual tours, online curriculum modules, community education events and in-person school education programs. In addition, Crystal works closely with local municipal and county governments as well as industry trade groups such as REC, RAM, MNCC, and others on recycling education and outreach. Crystal currently serves on the REC Steering Committee and MNCC’s Legislative Committee.
Prior to her position at Dem-Con, Crystal served as the Communications Specialist at Shakopee Public Schools for 9 years. She began her career in TV broadcast news. She served as an anchor and reporter at KTTC-TV in Rochester, MN and the evening anchor at 9&10 News in Northern Michigan. She graduated from the University of Minnesota, Morris with degrees in history and communications. She lives in Jordan now with her husband and three children.
Chelsea Moody
St. Paul Public Schools
Chelsea Moody
St. Paul Public Schools
Chelsea has been an environmental Specialist at Saint Paul Public Schools since 2016. She is responsible for managing the municipal solid waste, recycling and organics program for the school district’s 73 buildings totaling 7.7 million sq. ft. She provides educational outreach and training to staff and students and works across departments to reduce waste, promote recycling best practices, improve recycling efficiency and reduce contamination. She also focuses on health & safety compliance and implementing energy-related and other sustainability initiatives. Prior to working with SPPS, Chelsea worked at Minneapolis Parks & Rec focusing on natural resource management and coordinating the work of the MN Conservation Corps crew. She also served 2 service terms in AmeriCorps programs: MN Conservation Corps Youth Outdoors program leading youth crews and Minnesota GreenCorps promoting energy conservation initiatives. Chelsea received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Minnesota, Morris.
Joe Odendahl
American Dumpster Rental & Recycling
Joe Odendahl
American Dumpster Rental & Recycling
Joe started American Dumpster Rental and Recycling after more than 20 years in the construction industry. He has a passion for analyzing the “ways things are done” to see if there are better methods of reclaiming materials, for getting easily salvageable products out of the waste stream and asking questions of how to get us in a place that keeps us recycling and reusing more.
Joe also serves on the board for SWANA’s MN/ND chapter.
Steve Schiefelbein
Vanguard Renewables
Steve Schiefelbein
Vanguard Renewables
Steve Schiefelbein took on a new role in 2025 as a National Account Manager for Vanguard Renewables. He is responsible for providing comprehensive Waste Diversion Solutions for companies throughout the US. Steve has been in the Environmental Industry for over 15 years and has made a significant impact in Minnesota to further recycling. In 2018, he spearheaded a recycling campaign that resulted in over 200,000 lbs. of boat wrap from being diverted from area landfills and/or illegally burned. He also was instrumental in helping to develop a Statewide uniform curbside recycling acceptability list. Steve received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN.
Lewis Segl
Metropolitan Airports Commission
Lewis Segl
Metropolitan Airports Commission
Lewis is the Waste Management Specialist for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which operates the Minneapolis-Saint Paul international Airport and its six reliver airports in the Twin Cities. He works with many different partners and tenants in the Airports system to reduce waste and increase awareness and participation to divert material within the Airport’s Community. Prior to this he has worked for Anoka County and Dakota Valley Recycling by developing and implementing community programs focused on waste diversion. Lewis has a BA in Environmental Studies and Geography from the University of Saint Thomas.
E.J. Tso
aspectLED
E.J. Tso
aspectLED
E.J. is the Head of Sales and Business Development at aspectLED. As a Board Member of the Recycling Association of Minnesota, EJ brings expertise in strategic leadership, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration. With experience managing multi-million-dollar P&Ls, scaling startups, and optimizing operations at companies like Ridwell and Sylvania, he is passionate about sustainable, mission-driven initiatives. His background in sales, marketing, and community engagement—coupled with an MBA in Marketing—aligns with RAM’s goals of innovation and environmental stewardship. EJ also volunteers with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and previously served as Finance Chairman and board member for the Animal Humane Society.
Elizabeth Walsh
Ramsey County Environmental Health
Elizabeth Walsh
Ramsey County Environmental Health
Elizabeth works as an Environmental Health Specialist Senior at Ramsey County Environmental Health, where she is responsible for hauler licensing as well as overseeing the County Environmental Charge (CEC) program. In addition to her work with solid waste compliance, Elizabeth also inspects Ramsey County hazardous waste generators and assists with proper hazardous waste management. Prior to working for Ramsey County, Elizabeth worked as the Recycling Program Specialist for the City of Saint Paul, where she assisted with the management of the residential recycling program and provided recycling education and outreach to residents. In this role, Elizabeth was also responsible for the development and implementation of waste reduction programs and activities. Previously, Elizabeth worked as a Senior Sustainability Specialist at the Minnesota Waste Wise Foundation where she assisted businesses throughout Minnesota with waste management and waste reduction. She has a BS in Environmental Science from Creighton University.