The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF), Raleigh, North Carolina, has announced it will celebrate three current and emeritus board members at this year’s WasteExpo.
Mike Savage and Joe Ursuy will be inducted into the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes their outstanding contributions and enduring impact on the waste and recycling industry.
Tara Hemmer has been named one of Waste360’s Women Who Inspire. The program recognizes extraordinary women in materials management industry for their leadership and achievements, as well as for empowering others.
Michael Savage, president of PTR Baler and Compactor Company/Komar Industries, has dedicated over three decades to the industry, leaving an indelible mark on its evolution. He recently retired from EREF Board of Directors after 12 years of service, and was named a Board Member Emeritus. His contributions to EREF include his involvement with the Anne & Robert Riethmiller PTR Scholarship (formerly PTR Baler) out of that belief that it is critical to invest in scholars who will make a difference in the environment and their communities.
Joseph Ursuy, an executive vice president for Comerica Bank, has dedicated over 26 years to fueling the growth of the waste and recycling industry. His financial expertise has facilitated approximately $12 billion in credit facilities to over 270 businesses, including more than 20 current NWRA Hall of Fame member companies. Ursuy is currently the Secretary/Treasurer of EREF’s Board of Directors.
RELATED: Measured approach: An EREF-funded study highlights advances in measuring landfill methane emissions.
Tara Hemmer, chief sustainability officer for WM, has more than 25 years of operational experience, shaping the evolving role of sustainability leadership in the industry. She has demonstrated how companies like WM can grow their businesses by leaning into sustainability, meeting the needs of customers and communities, empowering employees and delivering substantial shareholder value. Hemmer is currently Vice Chair of the EREF’s Board of Directors.
EREF is a nonprofit organization that advances scientific research and creates educational pathways that enable innovation in sustainable waste management practices.
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