USCC announces changes to board of directors

The U.S. Composting Council (USCC), Raleigh, North Carolina, announced that Ryan Cerrato is filling a compost producer seat on the USCC Board of Directors. The seat was vacated by Michael Martinez, who became an affiliate member when he shifted from his role at compost producer LA Compost to a position at the 11th Hour Project.

Martinez moved over to occupy the affiliate seat of Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli of WA+TS, who has served on the USCC Board since she was first elected in 2021, and recently resigned to focus on her startup business.

As a result of the vacated compost manufacturer seat, the Board of Directors has appointed Ryan Cerrato of Denali to serve out the remaining term. Cerrato currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Product Sales for Denali, where he oversees Denali's national bulk product sales program, including compost, mulch and soils.

Cerrato has been in the bulk product business since 2014 and has spent the majority of his career with Denali, which acquired WeCare Organics in 2016. Cerrato is responsible for the development and deployment of marketing strategy, sales plans, and management activities as they pertain to Denali's many branded bulk products across the United States. Cerrato sits on the Professional Development Committee for USCC and was a founding board member of the New Jersey Composting Council.

Cerrato ran for a board seat in the last election and received the next highest number of compost producer votes. While he did not earn a seat at the time, USCC board policy allowed him to be eligible for the position.

“We are pleased to have Cerrato’s expertise on the board, and look forward to welcoming him to fill Michael’s term,” says USCC Board President Jennifer Trent.

Along with welcoming Cerrato, USCC thanks Danberg-Ficarelli for her time, service and leadership with the organization. Danberg-Ficarelli has been involved with the USCC since 2018 and was the winner of the inaugural Emerging Composter Challenge. In addition to her term on the board, she has served on the Finance Committee, the Compost for All Committee and the Young Professionals Committee.