Measuring Up: Steps to Strengthening Industry Data

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Terry Webber, VP of Industry Affairs, American Forest & Paper Association | John Culbertson, Principal, MSW Consultants | Jeff Galad, Chief Revenue Officer, Recycle Coach | Andriana Kontovrakis, Director of Compliance Services, Reverse Logistics Group | Moderator: Rick Penner, President, Re-TRAC

This session will cover:

  • Initiatives from a variety of recycling stakeholders to develop more accurate numbers on generation and recovery for different material types.

  • Best practices in harmonizing and sharing data across jurisdictions and the industry as a whole.

  • What local program leaders can do to develop better data sets on waste diversion and coordinate measurement methodology and results with partners through the value chain.

  • How technology and policy shifts are impacting the wider data discussion.

Speaker Bios

Terry Webber, Vice President of Industry Affairs, American Forest & Paper Association

Terry Webber, a member of the state bars associations of California and Oregon, serves as the American Forest & Paper Association’s vice president of industry affairs. Webber is responsible for maintaining synergy with government affairs, ensuring robust and integrated marketplace strategies across sectors and identifying new engagement opportunities for AF&PA Industry Statistics.

Terry Webber

Terry Webber


John Culbertson, Principal, MSW Consultants

John Culbertson is a principal of MSW Consultants, a data-centric waste and recycling advisor headquartered in Orlando, Fla. Culbertson has been measuring and characterizing material streams for almost 30 years and is the architect of his firm’s online analytics platform, WasteInsight.net.

John Culbertson

John Culbertson


Jeff Galad, Chief Revenue Officer, Recycle Coach

Jeff Galad is the chief revenue officer at Recycle Coach, where he leads revenue, customer success, technical support and marketing. While not originally from the solid waste and recycling space, Galad uses his years of experience to help transform the way cities, counties and state governments use Recycle Coach in their communities.

Jeff Galad

Jeff Galad


Andriana Kontovrakis, Director of Compliance Services, Reverse Logistics Group

Andriana Kontovrakis is the director of compliance services for Reverse Logistics Group. She manages a team responsible for ensuring manufacturer and retailer customer compliance with EPR laws for electronics, batteries, packaging and other consumer products across the U.S. and Canada. Prior to working with RLG, she was a policy analyst with the global electronics recycler Sims Lifecycle Solutions, where she managed legislative strategy and customer and supplier accounts for the U.S. OEM compliance unit. She has also served as the deputy director for waste prevention for the New York City Department of Sanitation.

Andriana Kontovrakis

Andriana Kontovrakis


Rick Penner, President, Re-TRAC

Rick Penner thrives on innovation and has a deep passion for developing solutions that address environmental and social challenges. Over the last 20 years, Penner has successfully guided the development of Re-TRAC Connect into a powerful data management and reporting platform tailored to the needs of the material management industry. Penner was also the founding general manager of the very first Habitat ReStore, a used building material thrift store, opened in 1991, that generates revenue in support of Habitat for Humanity housing projects.

Rick Penner

Rick Penner


Back to the full 2023 Detailed Schedule.