Category: Elections

2025 Board of Directors Election – Candidate Statements

Eight NCRA members – including five incumbents, have been nominated to serve on the 2026 – 2027 Board of Directors. There are seven two-year positions to fill.

The Meet the Candidates Night will be held November 20 at 5:30pm. Voting opens Monday, November 10 and ends Monday, December 1 at 11:59pm.

Early on November 10, custom voting links will be emailed to all current members. If you do not receive a SimplyVoting email that day, please confirm your membership is up-to-date using this simple 4-step system. If there is an issue, please contact the office.

Results will be presented to the board for ratification in early December, then to the candidates via email and later to the membership via the December newsletter.

NCRA BOARD OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES, 2025

Click each picture to access the associated candidate statement. Many include a LinkedIn link at the bottom of the page.

Emanuel Keim

I bring a frontline perspective to strengthen NCRA’s leadership in Zero Waste.

I have been an NCRA member since 2017 and am excited about the opportunity to serve on the Board. While I have only been able to attend a few meetings and events in recent years, I am eager to expand my involvement and contribute more actively to advancing NCRA’s mission.

I currently work at UC San Francisco Facilities Services as a Zero Waste Technician, where I support campus waste-reduction goals through audits, data tracking, and outreach. My 30-plus years in recycling and reuse include experience with Recology, providing the hauler’s perspective on collection and compliance, and with Urban Ore Ecopark, one of California’s pioneers in reuse. I hold professional credentials as a TRUE Zero Waste Advisor, LEED Green Associate, ESG Data Specialist (GBES), and as a ZWUSA Zero Waste Associate.

In addition to program and data experience, I bring the insight of a frontline recycling worker. I understand the challenges, creativity, and persistence required to make zero-waste goals a reality on the ground. I believe that voice is valuable on the NCRA Board, alongside policy and planning expertise.

As a Board Member, I would be committed to supporting NCRA’s leadership in zero-waste education, legislative engagement, and professional networking. I look forward to contributing my skills in outreach, program support, and data-driven analysis to strengthen the organization and serve the membership.

LinkedIn

Gwynn Mackellen

I have been a NCRA member since 2020 and am on our Advocacy Committee. Wanting NCRA to be more active politically, I launched NCRA’s Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in 2024 with Bailey Hall and other volunteers. We successfully lobbied our representatives to pass bills important to our members, something I presented on at this year’s Recycling Update. Advocacy Day has become an annual event, building our power at the state level, and creating connections with other members and elected officials.

Twenty-one years ago at the San Francisco Green Festival, I got messy sorting compost, recycle, and trash and decided I liked it enough to eventually make a career of it (after some years in politics!). I’ve lived in the Bay Area most of my adult life and am a Recycling Program Specialist for City of Oakland; I’ve also worked part-time as an event greener for Race to Zero Waste since 2017. My previous experience in the industry includes working for a hauler, consulting, leading waste reduction projects at Portland International Airport, and volunteering at SF Environment for 10 years.

As a NCRA Board Member, my plan is to co-chair Advocacy Committee and engage members in legislative actions, including continuing to grow Advocacy Day. I hope I can count on you to get involved, and on your vote!

MK Glen

Member since 2021

My name is MK and I have been working in the industry since 2021. As a classical violinist, I’m interested in exploring ways to use the arts to inspire individuals and communities to go zero waste. I am also passionate about advocating for an industry culture where respect and appropriate communication are non-negotiable. In the past, I’ve attended DEI and legislative committee meetings.

I have a certificate in Sustainable Waste Management from Fleming College in Ontario, Canada. I worked in waste hauling in Canada then in the Bay Area. During my hauling days, I became interested in addressing contamination. If elected, I would support establishing a new committee to focus on strategies to address contamination.

My hauling experience helped inform my perspective in my most recent role as Sustainability Analyst with the City of Union City. This year I helped lead a Citywide SB 1383 compliant cart/bin exchange. One challenge I faced was designing SB 1383 compliant cart/bin labels that would still be relevant in a post-SB 54/SB 343 regulatory landscape. I believe it’s important for our industry to discuss challenges like this and share practical solutions.

I want to give back to NCRA and help ensure it remains fiscally sound and continues to offer resources and support to members of all backgrounds for years to come.

LinkedIn

Xinci Tan

Incumbent, member since 2018

As my first term as a NCRA board member comes to a close, I’m running for a second term to continue my service. These past two years, I’ve been planning webinars and salons as part of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion committee, including one coming up on Oct 21, 2025 about Meaningful Community Engagement.

Although planning webinars doesn’t require my participation on the board, I am working on another major project that does. I am collaborating closely with staff to improve the NCRA website, newsletters, and flyers. The goal is to make it easier for members to navigate and find information about available committees or upcoming events, follow and influence policymaking in Sacramento, and network with other members. Streamlining the design would not only make NCRA more accessible and welcoming to our growing membership, but it would also ensure that we can communicate information more quickly to members at a glance.

I’d love to have further opportunity to carry out my ideas and continue helping to improve NCRA. Please vote for me!

LinkedIn