New Year, New Me!

2023 is here, and I'm still the same as I have always been. What is different is the US Composting Council (USCC) and the Larger Compost Industry. We are seeing an explosive growth in the number of compost facilities being brought online or in the planning stages of development. We see this in a multitude of ways. 
 
Firstly, the need for education and training is immense. The Compost Research and Education Foundation (CREF), for which I have been the Executive Director until recently, operates approximately half a dozen Compost Operations Training Courses each year, and even this is not enough to meet demand. In order to keep up with the growing need for training, the USCC and CREF launched COMPOST UNIVERSITY (CompostU). This platform has broadened the reach of our training capabilities, allowing individuals to learn at their own pace on their own time. As a result of the growth in the industry, CREF and USCC can no longer share an Executive Director. As of November, Diane Hazard has taken over the mantle of Executive Director for CREF. I am confident that, with her leadership, the foundation will continue to grow and prosper. 
 
Secondly, we see this growth in our membership. More individuals are networking and engaging with us than ever before. With record attendance projected at our annual conference, COMPOST2023, in 12 days, record high membership within the USCC already this year, the most individuals ever being certified as Certified Compost Operations Managers or Certified Compost Professionals, and the largest number of compost manufacturers participating in the Seal of Testing Assurance Program, the USCC and its programs are expanding rapidly. With this expansion, we are hiring staff to help share the load. See USCC Welcomes Matt Ball CCOM™  as Director of Industry Development below. This is in addition to hiring Terri Sorg-McManamon in August 2022 to take on Professional Development. 
 
Lastly, the industry deserves to have someone in their corner in Washington. Over the last five years, USCC members have repeatedly identified advocacy as their top priority. We listened, and in addition to working with our State Chapters, Legislative and Environmental Affairs Committee (LEAC), all under the direction of Linda Norris Waldt, the USCC has established a task force that will report to LEAC. This task force will work with the USCC to direct the Legislative Action Fund. See more details about their first challenge in Advocacy below. 
 
All in all, the more I think about it, 2023 will very likely be our busiest, most rewarding, and dynamic year yet.