2026 Board Candidates

Northern District

Kelly Schoonmaker - I am a Senior Program Manager at StopWaste, where I have worked for over 15 years to support compost market development. In that role, I collaborate closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including local jurisdictions and other public agencies, composters, and compost users of all scales. My work focuses on education, policy, and research. I also work on advocacy—for example, helping to convene jurisdictions and composters to develop AB2346, which created flexibility in meeting SB1383 procurement targets. I have served on CORC since 2013, and have truly benefited from the group’s collective knowledge, thoughtful discussions, and relentless dissection of issues. Now I feel like it’s time to contribute more to CRRA, which is why I’m running for the board, where I would bring subject matter expertise in organics, along with the ability to work collaboratively and creatively. (WATCH KELLY’S VIDEO HERE)

Central District

Jerame Renteria - Graduating with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture in 2011 from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, I understand how critical recycled C&D materials are to the landscape contracting industry. Without strong end markets, recycling efforts will lose their impact. With more than 10 years at GreenWaste, I have extensive experience in recycled commodities markets and material flow management for inert materials, organic products, and msw/single stream recyclables including Class II Base Rock, Soil Amendments, Compost and Single stream recyclables. I currently serve as Director of Strategic Accounts focusing on partnerships that reinforce GreenWaste’s commitment to responsible materials management and recycling. I helped develop GreenWaste's landscape materials yard, now offering over 100 certified products. My dual perspective on inbound recycling streams and outbound product demand is a unique contribution to the CRRA Board and CRRA's mission. (WATCH JERAME'S VIDEO HERE)

Mia Robinson - Mia is an environmental professional with four years of experience supporting waste reduction, recycling, and community education initiatives. She began her career with the City of Woodland’s Environmental Services Team, where she spent three years working in the public sector and gained a strong foundation in environmental operations, program support, and community engagement. Mia currently works with WM as a Recycling Education Representative on the Public Sector team. In this role, she focuses on outreach and education efforts that help residents and businesses understand proper recycling and waste reduction practices, while also gaining insight into the operational and hauling side of the waste industry. She is passionate about serving her community and has coordinated a local bulky waste event, in addition to volunteering regularly. Mia brings a collaborative, motivated approach to her work and values opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to regional resource recovery efforts. (WATCH MIA’S VIDEO HERE)

Southern District

Richard Ludt - Richard Ludt is Director of Environmental Affairs at Interior Removal Specialist, Inc., an interior demolition contractor. He oversees compliance with California’s complex solid waste regulations and manages recycling efforts for construction debris, including e-waste, ceiling tiles, carpeting, and more than 250 million pounds of drywall. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations, his team has donated over 8,000 tons of furniture, cabinetry, and materials that would have otherwise gone to landfills. He led the permitting of the company’s construction and demolition processing facility in South Gate and continues to develop new markets for recovered materials. The company is also pursuing the addition of Municipal Solid Waste to its permit. Richard previously served nine years as Corporate Director of Recycling and Material Recovery for SWANA, six years on the Los Angeles USGBC Board, and six years with the Construction and Demolition Recycling Association, where he chaired the Legislative Committee. (WATCH RICHARD’S VIDEO HERE)

Lori Mendez - Lori Mendez is an attorney and environmental, ocean, and zero waste advocate with over 35 years of civil litigation experience and leadership in public policy and community-based initiatives. A 2018 graduate student of UC San Diego’s (SIO) Master of Advanced Studies program in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, she developed a zero-waste plan for SIO. She serves as Secretary of Zero Waste San Diego and Legal Counsel to the Save the Albatross Coalition and has held leadership roles with Clean Seas Coalition and Breathe Free San Diego, advancing strategies to reduce single-use plastics and plastic pollution and protect upstream, coastal, and ocean ecosystems. She brings governance experience from Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, the SNAP-San Diego Board of Directors, and the San Diego County Bar Association, where she has chaired multiple committees, including the Animal Law Section. She integrates legal expertise, advocacy, and leadership to support aligned mission-driven organizations. (WATCH LORI’S VIDEO HERE)

Olivia Sanchez - Dr. Olivia Sanchez is a Program Manager at the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), where she leads solid waste, recycling, and sustainability initiatives to help local jurisdictions meet state mandates. With more than 25 years of experience in local government, she has worked across program development, legislative compliance, public outreach, and regional collaboration. She also serves as a lecturer at CSU, San Bernardino, teaching Sustainability Policy and Management, preparing the next generation of public-sector leaders. Olivia previously served on the CRRA Board of Directors in 2009, when the policy landscape looked quite different. With the rapid evolution of legislation, she is seeking to return to the Board to help navigate the growing complexity facing CRRA members. She brings both institutional knowledge and a forward-looking perspective, grounded in practical implementation, multidisciplinary coordination, and a commitment to advancing sustainable materials management across Southern California. (WATCH OLIVIA’S VIDEO HERE)