Last month, representatives from the waste and recycling industry gathered in North Carolina for some fun, golf and fundraising.
Kristy Pickurel
On Thursday, October 2, more than 150 members of the waste industry gathered at the Pinehurst resort in North Carolina for the 2014 EREF Fall Classic and Networking Event, co-sponsored by Waste Industries and Progressive Waste Solutions. The pine-covered grounds of Pinehurst are rich with tradition and home to many historic events鈥攁nd the EREF tournament was no exception. The 2014 event raised more than $318,000 to support EREF鈥檚 mission to fund and direct scientific research and educational initiatives for waste management practices. 鈥淭he EREF Fall Classic has become a must-attend event,鈥� said Ven Poole, Chief Executive Officer of Waste Industries. 鈥淧articipants from across the industry come together to enjoy networking, friendly competition and the chance to give back to the industry by supporting EREF鈥檚 mission.鈥�
The tournament kicked off on the evening of October 1 with a Welcome Reception sponsored by New Way and Rehrig Pacific where attendees greeted old friends and mingled with new associates. The next morning they enjoyed a buffet breakfast sponsored by Caterpillar that included a Bloody Mary Bar sponsored by Big Truck Rental, before heading out to their shotgun start on Pinehurst No. 1. Following the tournament players were treated to a traditional southern lunch at the Awards Luncheon, complete with barbeque and collard greens, courtesy of Sonrai Systems.
Since the EREF Golf Tournament began in 1993, the event has raised more than $2.5 million for
EREF鈥檚 research and educational initiatives. Attending this year鈥檚 tournament were EREF scholar Megan Jaunich and EREF Intern Kristofer Blanco. A Ph.D. student at North Carolina State University, Megan is the first recipient of the Lonnie C. Poole Jr./Waste Industries Scholarship and is working on a project entitled 鈥�Developing an LCA Model for Residential/Commercial MSW Collection.鈥� Also a student at NC State, Kris is working to estimate national waste generation by accounting for tonnage at Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfills, composting operations that manage MSW materials, Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants and recycling facilities. The results of this project will estimate both the total tonnage of waste generation and the composition of the waste streams.
鈥淓REF provides the fact-based information our industry needs to succeed,鈥� said Kevin Walbridge, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Progressive Waste Solutions. 鈥淔unding projects such as the ones Megan and Kris are working on is imperative to keeping up with changing times and technologies.鈥�
Kristy Pickurel is Director of Development and Communications for the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) (Raleigh, NC). A 501(c)3 class charity that funds and directs scientific research and education initiatives for waste management practices to benefit industry participants and the communities they serve. For more information, visit www.erefcontinuingeducation.org.
Tournament Winners
Scratch-Off Fantasy Golf
3rd Place 鈥� Scott Downer, Cascade Engineering
2nd Place 鈥� Mike Cecere, Clean Energy
1st Place 鈥� Tommy McGhee, Rush Refuse Systems
Nite Lite Putting Contest
Dennis Reed, Caterpillar
Longest Drive
Women 鈥� Sharon Kneiss, National Waste & Recycling Association
Men 鈥� Sean O鈥橞rian, O鈥橞rian Tarping Systems
Closest to the Pin
Scott Dols, Big Truck Rental
Longest Putt
Gary Sova, Republic Services
Putting Contest
Troy Hintze, Progressive Waste Solutions
50/50 Raffle
Mark Evans, Meritor 鈥� who very generously donated his winnings back to EREF!
Tournament 2nd Place
David Crockett and Brian Cunningham of Bridgestone Commercial Solutions, Don Lowery of Waste Management and Logan Jackson of Parrish Tire
Tournament 1st Place
Scott Dols, Mike Zukusky and Jeanie Dubinksi of Big Truck Rental and Blake Hamilton of Trucks & Parts of Tampa
Tournament Sponsors
Tournament Co-Sponsors
Waste Industries
Progressive Waste Solutions
Welcome Reception
New Way
Rehrig Pacific
Golf Shoes Giveaway
Wastequip
Shirts
Volvo Construction Equipment
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Breakfast
Caterpillar
Awards Luncheon Food
Sonrai Systems
Golf Carts
Environmental Solutions Group
Beverage Carts
WasteExpo/Waste360
Environmental Specialties International, Inc./Agru America
Environmental Solutions Group/TruStar Energy
Pin Flags
Advanced Disposal
Golf Towels
Rush Refuse Systems/Peterbilt
Golf Balls
TrueBlue
Golf Shoe Bags
KRD Trucking
50/50 Raffle
Joyce Engineering
Putting Contest
Machinex
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Nite Lite Putting Contest
Comerica Bank
Welcome Bags
Golder Associates
Cigars
Otto Environmental Systems North America
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Mulligans
O鈥橞rian Tarping Systems
Hole-in-One Insurance & Goody Bags
McNeilus
Bloody Mary Bar
Big Truck Rental
Driving Range
Waste Management
Holes
Cascade Cart Solutions
Chesapeake Containment Systems, Inc.
Cummins
Mack Trucks
Meritor
Labrie Enviroquip Group
The Pete Store
PTR Baler & Compactor Co.
SCS Engineers
国产麻豆
Weaver Boos Consultants
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