YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR OF AWARD
The SWANA Young Professional of the Year Award formally acknowledges the hard work and dedication of Young Professionals (YP) in the solid waste industry.
The award, which is presented to three exemplary Young Professional members annually, recognizes YP’s for outstanding performance and dedication to the solid waste and resource management industry.
View the 2025 SWANA Award Recipients!
Awardees will be celebrated at RCon™, the premier conference hosted by SWANA from
November 12 – 15, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.
Eligibility
To be eligible for SWANA YP of the Year, candidates must be:
- A SWANA YP (35 year or younger) at the beginning of the calendar year of award
- An active SWANA YP member (Click here to join SWANA)
- Working in the solid waste/resource management industry for more than three years
YP of the Year Award Applications can be submitted by the nominee or on behalf of the nominee.
YP’s of the Year Receive
- One-year SWANA membership voucher (following the year of the award)
- RCon attendance voucher
- Physical award (to be presented at RCon)
- SWANA Press Releases acknowledging awards
- Member spotlights heading into following year’s RCon conference
Previous Award Winners
2024 Winners
Kelli Farmer
Sustainable Materials Management Professional
SCS Engineers
Erin Oulton
Consultant
RRS (Resource Recycling Systems)
Melissa Pennett
Environmental Sustainability Specialist
City of Fairfax, VA
2023 Winners
- David Henry, PE, Consulting Engineer, Harbin Engineering, Forsyth, GA
- Mateja Vidovic Klanac, Project Professional, SCS Engineers, Boca Raton, FL
- Allison Omens, Zero Waste Program Coordinator, Metro Nashville Waste Services, Nashville, TN
2022 Winners
- Haley Kunert, HF&H Consultants, Irvine, CA
- Sonia Samir, Parkhill, Friso, TX
- Emily Tucker, HDR, Charlotte, NC
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Contacts
Any question regarding the program and/or selection criteria must be directed to Hailey Tatum.
