Joe La Mariana
Hilary Gans
John Mangini
Julia Au
Emi Hashizume
Tj Carter
Joanna Rosales-Jose
Joanne Nghiem
Cyndi Urman
Reyna Oceguera
Rachel Dice
Jayden Hanan
Andy Zhang
Executive Director
Joe La Mariana
Joe La Mariana joined the RethinkWaste staff in August 2016 after serving in local government for ten years as San Mateo County’s Solid Waste and Environmental Services Manager. During this time, Joe was a section manager in the County Manager’s Office of Sustainability and the Department of Public Works. Before working at the County, Joe worked for over 13 years in the local solid waste industry’s private sector, including assignments as the Recycling Director for Republic Services (formerly known as BFI/Allied Waste) at the San Carlos Shoreway Environmental Center, and in regional management positions with Recology (SF) and Waste Management Inc. (East Bay). Joe’s responsibilities have always emphasized top-tier customer service in residential and commercial garbage and recycling services, while working closely with local elected officials and business leaders. Prior to the solid waste industry, Joe worked for 13 years in corporate communications and marketing.
Joe serves as current Board Director and past President of the Solid Waste Association of Northern America’s (SWANA) Northern California Gold Rush Chapter, and is extremely active in the California Resource & Recovery Association (CRRA), the Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA), California’s Against Waste (CAW), the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), as well as numerous business organizations. Joe serves on SWANA’s California Legislative Task Force and is a passionate advocate for strong environmental legislation in our state.
With a robust commitment to community, Joe has extensively volunteered with the Rotary Club of Burlingame, the Burlingame and Brisbane Chambers of Commerce, the City of Burlingame’s Park and Rec Commission, several mid-peninsula youth sports leagues and Our Lady of Angels parish.
Joe earned a technical certificate in Solid Waste Management from UC Berkeley; an MBA from Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont; and a BA in Public Relations from California State University, Chico. Joe completed the San Mateo/Burlingame/Foster City/Hillsborough Leadership program in 2004.
Senior Operations and Engineering Manager
Hilary Gans
Hilary Gans joined the RethinkWaste staff in 2007 and brings over 20 years of industry experience to his role as the Senior Operations and Engineering Manager at RethinkWaste. His main responsibilities include ongoing oversight of the Shoreway Environmental Center and its operator, currently operated by South Bay Recycling, and all construction projects at the facility. Before starting at RethinkWaste, Hilary worked as a manager for Allied Waste’s Newby Island recycling and composting facility in San Jose. While there he pioneered the construction on the composting operations and conversion of the MRF to single stream. Hilary graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Connecticut College and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Senior Finance Manager
John Mangini
John Mangini joined the RethinkWaste team in May 2018. As the Senior Finance Manager, he is responsible for the fiscal management of the Agency, including budget development, financial projections, expense management, and capital funding. Most recently, John was the Controller for Republic Services of San Mateo County, where he was responsible for hauling divisions in Daly City and Half Moon Bay and post collection at Ox Mountain Landfill. Prior to Republic Services, John worked for DHL Global Forwarding holding various finance and accounting positions over his almost 20 years with the company. John graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from California State University, East Bay.
Senior Outreach, Education and Compliance Manager
Julia Au
Julia Au joined the RethinkWaste team in November 2017. As the Senior Outreach, Education and Compliance Manager, she is responsible for a variety of engaging waste reduction and outreach programs for residents and businesses, Agency media and communications, policy and legislation with the Agency’s legislative and regulatory lobbyist, and compliance with state and local laws and regulations. Previously, Julia spent over five years at San Mateo County where she coordinated outreach for the Household Hazardous Waste Program, implemented and enforced the County’s Safe Medicine Disposal and Reusable Bag Ordinances, and was the County’s Coastal Cleanup Day Coordinator. Julia has extensive prior experience in environmental policy and outreach programs while at Californians Against Waste, California Product Stewardship Council, and San Francisco Department of the Environment. Julia graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with a Water Quality emphasis from the University of California, Davis.
Environmental Education Manager
Emi Hashizume
Emi joined the RethinkWaste team in October 2018. As the Environmental Education Manager, Emi oversees the Shoreway Environmental Center tours, as well as the In-School Recycling and Compost Program to improve waste reduction, recycling and organic performance at schools. This program incorporates student education, including classroom presentations, paired with on-site assistance and technical support in updating campus facilities and waste infrastructure. Before RethinkWaste, Emi coordinated the Green Business Program for four years at the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability. Emi graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Analysis, with an emphasis in Public Policy and Environmental Justice with minors in Asian American and Community Studies from Pitzer College.
Recycling and Compliance Program Manager
Tj Carter
Tj joined the RethinkWaste team in April 2021. As the Recycling and Compliance Program Manager, Tj manages RethinkWaste’s SB 1383 Compliance Plan, including coordinating mandatory regulatory enforcement, program component contracting, and other ongoing SB 1383 and recycling programs compliance needs as required by law. Tj has over five years of experience in environmental programming for San Mateo County. Before RethinkWaste, Tj spent over three years developing marketing campaigns and overseeing environmental literacy programs for Peninsula Clean Energy. He also assisted with the launch of the countywide sea level rise initiative, SeaChange SMC, while at the County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability. Tj received a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs, with a major in Environmental Management from Indiana University, Bloomington.
Outreach and Communications Manager
Joanna Rosales-Jose
Joanna Rosales-Jose joined the RethinkWaste team in November 2017. As the Outreach and Communications Manager, her main responsibilities include coordinating waste reduction and recycling outreach to residents and businesses, and overseeing social media and community events. Joanna formerly worked at the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission as a Fisheries Technician, going out to the ports in San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. Prior to that, she worked as an administrative assistant for JinkoSolar, where she managed day-to-day logistics and provided support to staff members. Joanna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a minor in Environmental Science and Policy from California State University, Long Beach.
Senior Management Analyst
Joanne Nghiem
Joanne joined the RethinkWaste team in March 2022. As the Senior Management Analyst, she manages the public procurement process and provides technical support for capital improvement projects. Previously, Joanne spent four years at an environmental engineering consulting firm performing water and wastewater treatment design, construction management and program budget management. Joanne also worked for a non-profit single use disposable packaging in food service waste reduction program. Joanne is a professional civil engineer and graduated with a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Harvard University.
Clerk of the Board/Executive Assistant
Cyndi Urman
Cyndi Urman joined the RethinkWaste team in June 2010. Her primary role is to oversee and help manage the day-to-day logistics for the office, serve as Board Secretary, and provide administrative support to the staff members and Agency. Additionally, she provides customer service to the general public and those within the RethinkWaste service area. Cyndi comes to RethinkWaste with an extensive background in customer service, community relations, and marketing having worked for a Chamber of Commerce, a medical center, and in the high tech industry.
Environmental Education Associate I
Reyna Oceguera
Reyna joined the RethinkWaste team in May 2022. As the Environmental Education Associate Reyna leads tours of the Shoreway Environmental Center, coordinates Annual Community events and contests, and assists with the In-School Recycling and Compost Program to improve waste reduction, recycling and organic performance at schools in the RethinkWaste service area. Reyna previously worked in the Zero Waste field at a local hauling company where she coordinated waste sorting efforts with schools and the community, along with being as the main contact for all recycle, compost and landfill service-related data. As a steward to the environment, she worked as a Park Ranger at an urban park in the East Bay of California, along with coordinating local environmental summer camp programming. Reyna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration from San Francisco State University.
Public Outreach Fellow
Rachel Dice
Rachel Dice joined the RethinkWaste team in September 2021. As a Public Outreach Fellow, she is responsible for expanding recycling and composting opportunities in public spaces, education the general public about waste reduction programs, and contributing to Agency environmental education efforts. As an undergraduate, Rachel worked as a Research & Analysis Intern for Direct Relief and as the Outreach Coordinator for the Compost & Garden Department. In the latter position, she planned educational workshops, managed the social media and website, and designed advertising materials. She also held two research positions and interned in the Education Abroad office. Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication and a minor in Poverty, Inequality, and Social Justice from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Environmental Education Fellow
Jayden Hanan
Jayden Hanan joined the RethinkWaste team in December 2022. As an Environmental Education Fellow, Jayden supports RethinkWaste’s environmental education programs at Shoreway and works to reduce waste by providing technical assistance for on-site recycle and compost school programs. Jayden previously interned for the Factory Farming Awareness Coalition where she developed blog posts and informative presentations to educate community groups about the intersections between climate change and dietary choices. Jayden also volunteers time enhancing habitat restoration efforts and participating in environmental cleanup events with Pacific Beach Coalition. Jayden graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Society and Environment from UC Berkeley.
Environmental Education Fellow
Andy Zhang
Andy Zhang joined RethinkWaste in September of 2021 as an Environmental Education Fellow. As an Environmental Education Fellow, he works with schools in the RethinkWaste service area to improve waste reduction by providing in-class presentations and on-site recycling and compost assistance. Andy’s interests are in understanding the structural faults in our political, economic, and social systems that lead to today’s environmental crisis and enjoys engaging in public discourse around topics of environmental justice and equity. Previously, Andy interned as a Water Ambassador for NYC’s Department of Environmental Protection, working on ways to improve local environmental stewardship. He was also a lead instructor for Sprout Up where he offered environmental science education to underserved elementary schools in the NYC area. Andy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in political science and environmental studies from New York University.