Meet Our Staff

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. 

(650) 802-3505
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Principal Engineer and Operations Manager

Hilary Gans

Hilary Gans joined the RethinkWaste staff in 2007 and brings over 20 years of industry experience to his role as the Principal Engineer and Operations 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.

(650) 802-3507
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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. 

(650) 802-3503
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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 University of California, Davis.

(650) 802-3509
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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.

(650) 802-3506
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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.

(650) 610-1625
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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. 

(650) 610-1623
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Associate Engineer

Joanne Nghiem

Joanne joined the RethinkWaste team in March 2022. As the Associate Engineer, 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.

(650) 610-1621
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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. 

(650) 802-3500
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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.

(650) 802-3508
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Public Outreach fellow

Manpreet Chandok

Manpreet joined the RethinkWaste team in April 2023. As a Public Outreach Fellow, she works to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase waste diversion goals by supporting the development and implementation of RethinkWaste’s Recycling and Compliance Program. Manpreet previously worked as an Outreach and Education Fellow for Joint Venture Silicon Valley, where she provided education and technical assistance for edible food generators to help them comply with the Santa Clara County’s Food Recovery Program and SB 1383. Manpreet also previously worked as a Zero Waste Captain at Live Nation Shoreline Amphitheatre where she helped promote sustainable waste disposal practices and reduce the venue’s volume of municipal solid waste. Manpreet graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a minor in Sustainable Energy from San Jose State University.

(650) 610-1627
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Public Outreach Fellow

Lina Pietrzyk

Lina joined the RethinkWaste team in August 2023. As a Public Outreach Fellow, Lina works to implement programs targeting waste reduction and diversion in public spaces, educate residents and businesses on the local waste industry, and bring awareness to services provided by the Agency and its partners. Lina is passionate about discovering and sharing community resources, innovative products, and age-old ways that enable us to live more sustainably. As an ambassador on a marketplace platform for secondhand goods, Lina has connected with a national audience and promoted a culture of reuse. Previously, Lina worked with customers in the medical device industry providing expert advice for diagnostic laboratory instrument use and troubleshooting. She has also worked as part of an interdisciplinary team in the design, development, and application of a clinical technology. Lina graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UC Santa Barbara.

(650) 802-3504
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Environmental Education Fellow

Meghan Pletsch

Meghan Pletsch joined the RethinkWaste team in April 2023. As an Environmental Education Fellow, Meghan supports waste diversion efforts by administering environmental education at Shoreway and additional education and technical assistance to schools in the RethinkWaste service area. Previously, Meghan worked at Las Positas College and succeeded in launching a reusable container pilot program to reduce single-use plastic in the dining facility. Additionally, Meghan worked on several projects at the Zero Waste Lab at UC Berkeley with a team of undergraduates working towards achieving zero waste on campus. Meghan graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics and Policy from UC Berkeley.

(650) 610-1622
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