APRC Moderators

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Jazmine Mejia-Muñoz, M.S., Water Quality Program Manager, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Jazmine Mejia-Muñoz is a Water Quality Program Manager at the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation on detail for the Water Quality Protection Program at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS). There she implements innovative solutions to critical issues affecting the interface of land and marine resources, through stakeholder engagement and education. As part of her interdisciplinary approach, she participates in rangeland restoration efforts, through the Healthy Soils Program. Here she works to demonstrate that land-based practices can improve ocean health by reducing atmospheric carbon and diminishing the rate of ocean acidification and warming. 

In an effort to reduce land to sea marine debris sources, Jazmine leads collaborative efforts to find end-of-life solutions for agricultural field plastics. She works with agricultural stakeholders, including growers, the University of California Cooperative Extension, Washington State University, and California Polytechnic State University to conduct trials of Soil-Biodegradable-Mulch (BDM). Together, the team is researching BDMs as an alternative to non-degradable mulch used vastly in agriculture fields within the MBNMS watersheds. Additionally, with support from The Nature Conservancy and key stakeholders, Jazmine is also working on identifying and communicating ways to increase the recycling rate of drip irrigation tape used in agricultural fields across California’s Central Coast.

Eugene (Gene) Jones, Executive Director, Southern Waste Information eXchange, Inc. (SWIX)

Gene Jones serves as Executive Director of the Southern Waste Information Exchange (SWIX), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has been operating since 1981 assisting businesses and municipalities with their waste management and remediation issues. 

With over 40 years of experience, Gene specializes in building strategic relationships with waste and remediation firms.  He brings a vast knowledge of various  environmental sectors from organizing and managing conferences such as;

•  the PFAS Forum,

•  the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Conference & Trade Show, 

•  the Waste Conversion Technology Conference & Trade Show, 

• the Southeast Recycling Conference & Trade Show, 

• the New Life for Closed Gas Stations Conference and Exhibition, 

•  the International Symposium on the Redevelopment of Manufactured Gas Plant Sites, 

•  the National Conference on Waste Exchange and Resource Reuse, and 

•  Florida Remediation Conference.

as well as in managing associations such as:

•  Florida Agricultural Plastics Recycling Cooperative

•  Florida BioFuels & BioEnergy Association, Inc., 

•  Recycle Florida Today, Inc.,

•  International Society of Technical & Environmental Professionals, Inc., 

•  Florida Brownfields Association, Inc., and

•  Keep Florida Beautiful, Inc.

Gene is a Martial Arts practitioner and has his 8th degree black belt in Shaolin GoJu and a 5th degree black belt in Nisei GoJu. Gene is also the Author of Instant Self-Esteem: Empowering Self-Confidence and The Mindful Sensei.

Gene is also the inventor of the Soap Bag Saver, which he designed for the reuse of leftover soap bars.  

Ted Kaiser, President, Dock 7 Materials Group, LLC

Ted Kaiser is the President and founder of Dock 7 Materials Group, LLC, a global plastics recycling business with over $7 million in annual sales. The company specializes in feedstock supply of scrap, resins, and recycled plastic, particularly from the agricultural sector. Dock 7 focuses on the agricultural plastics sector and deals in all types used for farming, irrigation, transport, and packing. Ted and his team have a wealth of experience in bringing these materials to market through solving complex logistical and collection challenges. In 2013, Ted was named a “Rising Star” under the age of 40 by Plastics News and has been published in multiple publications including Resource Recycling’s Plastics Recycling Update. He currently serves on the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Conference advisory board and Dock 7 is a Silver Sponsor for the annual Plastics Recycling Conference.

Sam Sugerman, Sustainability Manager, Toro Ag

Sam Sugerman is the first Sustainability Manager for Toro Ag (a division of the Toro Company) and leads Toro Ag's extended producer responsibility around agricultural plastics, specifically drip tape. Prior to joining Toro Ag, Sam completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Michigan and concurrent to his role at Toro, he is completing courses at Auburn University in pursuit of a graduate Agricultural degree. Leveraging expertise in corporate/environmental sustainability and agriculture, Sam hopes to help agricultural adapt to resource demands and changes in climate while maintaining economic viability.

Dr. Gordon L. Neal, Ph.D., CTO, Board Member, Blue Capital, LLC

Gordon L. Neal, PhD, Blue Capital, LLC, CTO, Board Member: Dr. Neal applies over 60 years experience in Avionics and Aerospace including commercial and military businesses to Blue Capitals Circular Restoration GreenHouse Gas (GHG) reduction projects. He has been the Vice President of Engineering at two fortune 100 companies, a Chief Technology Officer and the Director of Avionics at a third major. He has led the development of multiple high impact products including the conversion to digital autopilots, liquid crystal displays, digital sensor systems, ATF avionics, B2 Avionics, V22 Avionics, terrain following systems, antennas, processors and recorder systems.

Lisa Wasko DeVetter, Associate Professor, Small Fruit Horticulture, Washington State University

Lisa W. DeVetter is an Assistant Professor of Small Fruit Horticulture at Washington State University. Her research program has focused on improving production efficiencies using plastic mulch films in strawberry and raspberry productions systems. She and her collaborative team has also been investigating improved waste management systems for plastic mulch films.