R3 CONSULTING GROUP - Key Persons
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Alex Soulard, Managing Consultant
Alex Soulard has 12 years of solid waste experience in the public sector working for the Marin County Department of Public Works. Alex has been primarily focused on implementation of recycling, composting and other waste diversion and AB 939 compliance programs. As staff to the Marin County Hazardous and Solid Waste Management Joint Powers Authority, Alex focused on Zero Waste Plan Implementation, initial food scrap composting rollout, single use plastic bag bans, pharmaceutical disposal, fulfilling CalRecycle reporting requirements, developing public outreach, and fostering community engagement. In his role with R3, Alex is providing legislative compliance assistance to local jurisdictions for implementing or expanding programs related to organic material collection, tracking, and infrastructure development.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Angela Micheletti, Associate Consultant
Angela graduated from UC Davis in 2022 with a Bachelor's of Science in Geology. While she was there, she conducted a senior thesis studying how carbon isotopes affect microorganisms living in Antarctic lakes. Her interest with carbon isotopes in particular began because of the issue with global warming, the rising of greenhouse gases, and how they would affect organisms living in extreme environments. She has studied the environment for 4+ years and volunteered to help keep the oceans clean and endangered species safe; which has led her to her passion for sustainability and the need to educate those on the importance for it. This, in turn, led her to R3, leading forward the need to become more sustainable to combat global warming. In her role for R3, Angela provides support to the senior consultants as well as maintaining projects. She helps with franchise agreements, rate surveys, diversion, conducting site visits for edible food recovery and contamination.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Carrie Baxter, Principal
Carrie Baxter has over a decade of experience in solid waste consulting in a broad range of operational, planning, and financial projects. She is an expert in providing legislative compliance assistance to local jurisdictions for implementing or expanding programs related to collection, tracking, and infrastructure development, as well as assisting in negotiating improvements and best practices into municipal codes and collection agreements. Carrie is passionate about identifying how our clients can incentivize diversion and engage their community and stakeholders.
Carrie brings significant experience with competitive procurement projects for solid waste management services to improve waste hauler collection contracts by incorporating best practices and legislative requirements. Carrie routinely supports jurisdictions by providing financial analysis services, such as studying rates and how to incentivize diversion, engaging the community and stakeholders, operational and performance reviews, evaluating billing and reporting systems, and conducting on-site route audits and comprehensive benchmarking and rate surveys for various cities throughout California.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Claire Wilson, Sr. Managing Consultant
Claire Wilson combines her background in environmental science and ecology with her experience in research and data analysis to work with local governments in reducing and better managing their waste streams. She has a strong background in legislative compliance and community outreach and education, and her expertise is centered around policy development, state law compliance, and solid waste agreement negotiations. She is experienced in Zero Waste and high diversion planning and implementation, specializes in community and stakeholder engagement strategies, and has worked with jurisdictions to develop innovative methodologies to approach Zero Waste and comply with State legislation, including AB 341, 1828, and SB 1383.
For R3, Claire provides important support on a variety of solid waste management projects, including policy development, planning, and implementation; negotiations and procurement; and financial and rate reviews. To date, she has helped 75+ clients manage their hauler contracts, achieve compliance with State and local legislation, and implement new and exciting policies and programs around reuse, foodware, edible food recovery, and zero waste. She has developed an innovative ordinance to reduce single-use plastics on a County-wide level, assisted in the development of personalized plans for outreach, education, enforcement, and secured funding to ensure a successful ordinance implementation, enforcement, and reduction in plastic waste. Claire has also drafted municipal ordinances to update and clearly define diversion goals, state requirements, as well as codify such requirements in solid waste franchise agreements.
Job Titles:
- President
- Principal
- President of R3
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Garth Schultz, President
Garth Schultz is the President of R3 and brings nearly two decades of solid waste management experience in both the private and public sectors. He is particularly skilled in designing a variety of solid waste and sustainability plans and has served as project manager on a wide range of planning and program development projects for the management of solid waste, recycling, green waste, organic waste, and C&D debris. Pulling from his extensive solid waste management experience, Garth is accomplished in designing visionary approaches to solid waste collection systems to meet the needs and interests of R3's clients.
Prior to joining R3, Garth served as Manager of Operations and Environmental Services for the City of El Cerrito. He was a key partner in restructuring and modernizing El Cerrito's municipal recycling collection operations and award-winning community recycling center. As a Public Works Manager, Garth managed the City's maintenance operations, including a $5 million annual budget funded by multiple special revenue funds, 20+ operations and customer service personnel, and maintenance services for parks, fields, trees, sidewalks, storm drains, and street sweeping.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Vice President of Finance and Administration
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Janet Barile, Vice President of Finance and Administration
As Vice President of Finance and Administration, Janet brings her experience in management, planning and financial analysis to the firm and team. She has been with R3 since 2004 and may have only planned on staying a few months - but ultimately the opportunity for growth and her ability to help the company grow from a team of four to sixteen was too perfect of a match for her organizational and administrative skills. She manages the day-to-day operations of the firm including contract management, firm and project budgeting, financial reporting, and HR duties. Janet uses her years of experience in accounting and human resources to keep policies and procedures up to date and continues to seek opportunities for the firm to run more efficiently, provide long term strategic planning and further the company's overall goals. She spends her free time entertaining, chasing her personal best on her Peloton and spoiling her grandson. If there's a reason to throw a party, she's already planning it, and this includes all the R3 outings and gatherings.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Jim Howison, Sr. Managing Consultant
Jim Howison brings comprehensive experience in planning and managing all financial aspects and services, complex projects, and operations for solid waste companies. He is well-versed in devising and executing strategies, overseeing accounting operations, producing reports, increasing efficiency, assessing financial performance and risk, managing audits and internal control processes. Jim provides advice and guidance to management on future financial plans, as well as reviews of financial reports, monitor accounts, and prepare financial forecasts.
Jim demonstrated his abilities at Mt. Diablo Resource Recovery to such an extent that R3 ultimately brought him on board. Jim is recognized for leading and monitoring multi-functional teams and multitasks to achieve desired goals. Skilled at fostering and maintaining professional relationships with clients and enhancing process, performance, productivity, efficiency, and organizational growth. He is an out-of-the-box thinker and creative problem-solver with exceptional interpersonal, leadership, communication, and analytical skills.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Jordan Muratsuchi, Sr. Consultant
Jordan Muratsuchi comes to R3 from Hawaiʻi, where he was the Executive Director of an environmental 501c(3) nonprofit focused on waste management and community beautification. He has a diverse comprehension of environmental management, with direct experience in waste management, regional and community-based natural resource management, restoration ecology and ecological restoration, stormwater management, and environmental engineering. Jordan has designed and built community biodigesters, performed debris studies and analyses, planned recycling and community outreach events, and assisted in multiple research projects focused on local and community-based natural resource management.
Jordan combines his strong analytical skills with regulatory knowledge to develop cost-effective programs for clients. He is solution-focused and well-versed in working with governmental, business, and community stakeholders and clients. He regularly conducts rate studies, cost-of-service and other financial analyses, and assists clients in understanding the benefits and drawbacks of their current solid waste collections agreements, specifically with regards to legislation such as AB 341, AB 939, AB 1826, and SB 1383. In addition, Jordan has recent experience advising clients on the costs and benefits of outsourcing their municipal solid waste operations.
Job Titles:
- Managing Consultant
- Managing Consultant for R3
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Katelyn Scholz, Managing Consultant
Katelyn Scholz has worked in the solid waste industry for 12+ years, with experience deploying innovative recycling, composting, and waste reduction programs. She has experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors, forging meaningful partnerships to advance sustainability goals. Most recently for Mill Industries, she assessed opportunities for the new technology in community settings, project managed pilot programs, and served as the company's subject matter expert. Most of Kate's solid waste experience comes from the hauler side of the industry, where she served in various roles, ranging from outreach and education, program and contract management, business development and municipal procurement, and sustainability.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Consultant
- Associate Consultant for R3
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Libby Costello, Associate Consultant
Libby Costello is a former environmental engineer and brings 3+ years of experience in environmental consulting and contracting. She has provided project support for various multimedia compliance projects including Hazardous Materials Business Plans, Risk Management Plans, and hazardous materials permitting. Libby also has experience in conducting environmental inspections, chemical inventories, pre-assessment and baseline determinations, and waste audits. After graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering, she worked as a research assistant in Sydney, Australia, where she learned quantification and analysis techniques relating to microplastics in washing machine effluent. After returning to the United States, she worked on U.S. Forest Service wildfire camps and at event venues building and servicing landfill diversion systems, primarily pertaining to recycling and food waste collection.
Currently, as an Associate Consultant for R3, Libby is helping on a wide variety of projects. Moat recently, she has helped to review CPI and RRI based rate adjustments, write safety protocols for waste collection fleets, update and amend franchise agreements, conduct C&D facility audits, and provide assistance on zero waste plan updates.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Maryann Hulsman, Consultant
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal for R3
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Nate Forst, Principal
Nate Forst has 15+ years of experience developing and managing solid waste, recycling, and sustainability projects and programs. His expertise extends to business, non-profits, and the public sector. Nate has contributed to best practices in sustainability, helped write guidance for the Federal Aviation Administration on airport waste reduction, and has improved numerous solid waste programs through enhanced data tracking/reporting and cost-saving solid waste and circular economy strategies. Prior to joining R3, Nate was a Sustainability Consultant at AECOM and Principal Co-Owner at Tomolla Consulting, where he supported clients including Google, Nike, Port of Portland, US EPA, Starbucks, and multiple international airports.
As Principal for R3, Nate combines a deep knowledge of upstream solid waste and recycling practices with market knowledge and a knack for innovative solutions. He approaches projects from a systems-thinking perspective and has helped design materials management programs from the local to national level. Collaboration and communication are key drivers of his most successful initiatives.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Paulina Benner, Sr. Managing Consultant
Paulina Benner has over 23 years of public sector experience with 21 years in the solid waste and recycling field, most recently spending 18 years at the City of West Sacramento where she was the Environmental Services and Sustainability Manager. In that role, she oversaw the City's solid waste and recycling programs and related regulatory compliance, stormwater permit compliance, water conservation outreach and education, water conservation regulatory compliance as well as the budget development and management for the Division.
During her time with the City of West Sacramento, Paulina led the negotiations team for the City's solid waste collection agreement and provided numerous Commission and City Council presentations and reports as well as developed interdepartmental teams to further the City's regulatory compliance. Paulina brings a wealth of project and team management experience to R3 as well as an understanding of public sector needs.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Director
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Peggy Paulsen, Marketing & Communications Director
Peggy Paulsen is an experienced Marketing Unicorn with over a decade of experience in producing proposals, organizing data, brand management, social media engagement, designing and maintaining company websites. She is a very energetic and creative person with a keen eye for detail and organization, and always maintains an understanding of the core story technical staff are trying to communicate. She leads all marketing efforts for R3 and contributes to the growth, leadership, and overall strategic direction of the organization. She is a leader in the development, budgeting, implementation, and adherence to the corporate marketing plan, branding, and messaging.
With her expertise in fine-tuned information design, Peggy also regularly collaborates with project staff and clients to develop visually appealing, easy-to-understand graphics and outreach materials to help R3's clients engage and educate their target communities about new legislation such as AB 1826 and SB 1383. She designs customizable forms, brochures, newsletters, and presentations for our clients, as well as personalized maps, infographics and logos, and event posters and flyers. To create these materials, Peggy uses her extensive knowledge and skills in data organization and flow, typesetting, color theory, and use of various complex software platforms, including the Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Raquel Soria, Marketing Assistant
Raquel Soria has 3 years of experience in various support roles for professional services, including architecture and consulting firms. Combined with 3 years in prior leadership role in the sales and service department for Carmax, she brings significant knowledge on how to listen to the needs of her team in order to achieve the desired goal. Raquel has worked on proposals, data management, and implemented new OSHA and EH&S state guidelines. She also brings experience focused on waste management (hazardous chemical, biological and universal wastes), and previously ensured regulatory compliance, including providing a safe environment for employees by recognizing and controlling health and safety hazards in the workplace.
For R3, Raquel will serve as Marketing Assistant and provide direct support to the Marketing Manager. She is highly organized, detail-oriented, understands time-management skills, and has experience in Microsoft and Adobe Suites. With that experience she's found her love in design and branding. With her unique work background, she understands the importance behind deadlines and creating something impactful in order to get the message across. Raquel plays an active role in maintaining and improving the organization and maintenance of our databases to better serve our clients in an efficient and timely manner.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Rosemarie Radford, Director
With her strong background in research and technical writing, Rose is R3's Director for solid waste management planning, program development, and regulatory reporting. As a part of her main consulting practice, Rose applies her knowledge and experience with regulatory compliance to help her clients solve real-world problems and navigate the complex programmatic requirements that apply to jurisdictions throughout California.
Rose provides advice to client jurisdictions on the anticipated effects of changing requirements for organics programs, as well as the implications of the changes in reporting regulations for diversion performance, regulatory compliance, and long-term planning efforts. Her diverse solid waste industry experience also includes Zero Waste planning and implementation, hauler and facility audits, Municipal Code analysis and revision, data and tonnage tracking and modeling, and strategic planning for landfill, organics, and recyclables processing capacity.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Sarah Koplowicz, Sr. Consultant
Sarah Koplowicz has been working in the waste management industry for 17 years, with a focus on Zero Waste programs and policies. She helped establish the UC Davis Zero Waste system campus-wide, which was used as a pilot for the other UC campuses to adopt Zero Waste programs by 2020. Sarah spent about ten years working in event production providing Zero Waste management to millions of people throughout the state of California. She is experienced with performing waste audits of commercial facilities, waste characterization studies, and Zero Waste training for employees, volunteers, and the public as needed. Sarah has also worked on source reduction projects, such as developing a reusable dish program to help reduce the amount of single use disposables produced at special events as well as ongoing business operations.
Sarah contributes her extensive hands-on experience working in the field with a wide variety of community members and stakeholders. She excels at assessing systems and providing analyses that lead to widespread improvements in cost and efficiency. In her free time, she can be found hiking the Bay Area or reading a book with her cat.
Job Titles:
- Principal, Sr. Vice President of Internal Operations
- Vice President of Internal Operations
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Scott Hanin, Sr. Vice President of Internal Operations
Scott Hanin has more than 30 years of solid waste experience, including serving as the Executive Director of the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority (WCCIWMA). Scott was also City Manager for the City of El Cerrito for 17 years, a member agency of the WCCIWMA. Scott oversaw all aspects of city government including budget development, strategic planning, community engagement, organizational development and restructuring, capital projects, legislative compliance, and oversight of all department heads. He conducted multiple operational reviews of the City's solid waste and recycling operations, which led to numerous changes in program operations including the design and construction of the City's award-winning drop-off center.
Throughout his career, Scott has worked with dozens of local governments on the review and development of modern franchise agreements. He has recently managed a debt financing study as a subcontractor to R3 for Zero Waste Sonoma. Prior to moving to California, Scott oversaw performance and evaluations of the operations of the New York City Department of Sanitation in his role in the Mayor's Office of Operations.
You are here: Home 1 / Our Team 2 / Steve Harriman, Sr. Director
Job Titles:
- Quality Assurance Director