Meredith Sorensen 5629 SE 68th Ave., Portland, OR 97206-5341 Mobile: (908) 601-3905 E-Mail: msorensen@harvestpower.com Work Experience Harvest: Marketing Manager 2009-present • Creating outreach and education materials for organics processing and renewable energy facilities. Ecos: Program Assistant 2009 • Organized training materials for home energy audit program. Worldwide Waste: Stevens Traveling Fellowship Recipient 2008-2009
• Planned and implemented nine-month international tour with on-site visits to 15 countries gaining robust technical exposure to materials recovery, hazardous waste, dry fermentation, and incineration facilities; • Designed solid waste collection program for town in Guatemala (population 30,000); and • Consulted on the City of Portland’s public recycling plan applying bin design lessons learned in Paris, London, Frankfurt, and Brussels. Community Environmental Services (CES): Project Manager 2005-2008 • Led the Port of Portland’s award-winning Waste Minimization & Recycling Program at Portland International Airport (PDX) which annually generates more than 3600 tons of waste from 15 million passengers and support services; • Managed team of six specialists by coordinating work projects and running meetings; • Developed and maintained system for tracking waste generation and recycling statistics from multiple data sources including hauler tracking sheets and internal monitoring metrics such as passenger loads; • Established baselines, identified opportunities, developed strategies, implemented programs, and evaluated outcomes; resulting improvements include expanding the food waste diversion program to the public, achieving deplaned waste recycling with two airlines, and developing liquid collection stations for security checkpoints; • Increased visibility of the Port’s efforts by drafting press releases for internal distribution (PDXaminer, Portside News, and Currents) and external publication (BioCycle Magazine and The Oregonian); and • Forged alliances through collaboration and communication with multiple stakeholders including government agencies, hotels, haulers, business property managers, materials recovery facilities, airlines, janitorial service providers, and product vendors. Hike Madagascar: Extension Outreach Hiker 2004 • Conducted 74 presentations to 12,600 farmers in Madagascar on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique that produces a six-fold increase in yields, improving food security and soil fertility.
• Only individual in the world to document a 1600-mile mega transect the length of Madagascar. • Organized collection for pump repair securing clean water for rural village (population 400); and
• Taught composting and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in a strategic zone of intervention; worked with villages adjacent to forest corridor so people could successfully farm without compromising the forest integrity. Publications • Renewable Energy World: Author (May 24, 2010) Biogas as Cinderella, Explored • Environmental Protection Online: Author (March 10, 2010) Serving Up Energy and Compost from Organic Waste • Waste Age: Author (March 1, 2010) A Lot to Digest: Peeling the layers of food waste management • Greenopolis: Special Guest Blogger (2009)
• BioCycle Magazine: Author (2008) August 2008, Vol. 49, No. 8, p. 36 Airport Food Court Composting: Portland International Airport (PDX) in Portland, Oregon expands its food waste collection to travelers.
• EcoMetro: “Talkin’ Trash” Blogger (2007)Speaking Engagements • Ignite Portland 9: Baghdad Theater Presenter "Powered by Banana Peels" (2010) • Association of Oregon Recyclers: Keynote Speaker (2009) • Ignite Portland 3: Baghdad Theater Presenter (2008) "Talking Trash" • Madagascar On My Mind: The North Face and Sierra Club Presenter (2005-2007) Education Mark Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University: Master of Public Administration 2006-2008 • Specialized in Sustainable Community Resource Management while gaining broad understanding of public administration principles. • Through coursework, analyzed solid waste management systems by examining how fee structures, communication techniques, perceptions, culture, public policy, and regulations shape human behavior. Wellesley College: Bachelor of Arts 1997-2001 • Geology major; Achieved Dean’s List for academics; Resident Advisor; Initiated “Sedimentary Suppers” generating enthusiasm for Geology Department; Computer Help Desk Consultant; Hoop Cooperative Café Financial Manager. Skills/Interests • Fluent in French, Spanish, and Malagasy.
• Experienced in long-distance hiking, cycle touring, Ultimate Frisbee, and triathlons. Able to juggle, ride a unicycle, and turn a dinner napkin into a mouse. |