The USCC is thrilled to announce that Matt Ball will be joining the USCC staff as director of industry development. Matt has been the compost facility operator at the North Carolina State University Compost Facility and Research Cooperative, the facility that processes all food waste collected at the university as well as many other organics streams generated on campus. In addition to working at NCSU, Matt founded a soil ecology laboratory and has extensive knowledge of soil biology. With prior experience on organic farms and GIS management, Matt brings a wealth of practical knowledge of compost and compost manufacturing to the Council. He will serve as the staff liaison for the STA Advisory Committee (STAAC) & Market Development Committee (MDC). 
 
Matt will be in charge of expanding composting infrastructure, the use of compost, including developing the growing on-farm sector, and composting best practices. Matt will also oversee the business growth of the USCC’s Seal of Testing Program, focusing on market research and analysis and product development, and he will contribute to organizing the Annual Equipment Demonstration Day (demo day) at COMPOST2024 and beyond. 
 
We are excited to introduce Matt to the community at COMPOST2023.

We’re curious, have you thought about your composting career path? Professional development hours, continuing education, certifications—these are just some of the things to consider when looking to further your career.  

The USCC provides you the tools to invest in professional development through three major areas: Certifications, Compost University, and the soon to be launched USCC Career Center.  Opportunities for professional development include:

• Level-up your credentials and apply to be a Certified Compost Operations Manager (CCOM™ or Certified Composting Professional (CCP™).  Certification gives you recognition for your achievement, advances your career, demonstrates your knowledge and increases professionalism in the industry.
  
  

USCC Young Professionals will be volunteering at Huerta del Valle this year by providing fruit tree pruning assistance at the local community garden on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Only 10 minutes away from the Ontario Convention Center, Huerta del Valle is a nonprofit grassroots organization working towards a future of local and sustainably produced food.  

Participating volunteers will receive a small training on tree pruning, and will break into groups to prune and remove cut branches. With enough volunteers, the USCC Young Professionals will be able to facilitate getting all the trees pruned for Huerta del Valle this year! 

Lunch will be provided. To register for the Community Service Event, click here.

Ten finalists were selected to compete for the second round of this year’s installment of the Emerging Composer Competition. The finalists will be answering attendee questions about their posters, showcased at the USCC and CREF Networking Lounge, in the hope of winning one of the following three prizes from our sponsors: 

• First place: $2,500, Sponsored by beyondGREEN biotech, Inc.
• Second Place: $2,000, Sponsored by McGill Environmental Systems
• Third Place: $1,500, Sponsored by St. Louis Composting

Conference attendees will play an important role in selecting the top three winners by voting through the COMPOST2023 mobile app. Make sure to head to the Lounge during trade show open hours and scan the QR code on each poster to hear from our finalists and vote for your favorite. The winners will be announced at the Closing Celebration on Thursday, Jan. 26. Check the COMPOST2023 for more information about locations and timing.

Meet the USCC Young Professionals for our annual in-person Happy Hour and Networking Night at the Punch Bowl Social in Victoria Gardens town center on Thursday after the Closing Celebration. Hang out with new friends, enjoy a full-service bar and an evening full of fun surprises.
 
The first 100 attendees will receive a free drink ticket and one raffle entry ticket. The event will begin with a special scavenger hunt with fun raffle prizes courtesy of our awesome sponsors, Republic Services.
 
Join us after COMPOST2023 and enjoy friendly rounds of bowling, ping pong and giant Jenga with colleagues. To RSVP, click the link here.

Rebecca (Becca) Ryals has joined the CREF Board of Trustees for a three-year term, replacing Noura Bakr, who recently stepped down from the Board when her term was completed. 
 Becca is an Associate Professor of Agroecology at the University of California, Merced. Her research program focuses on ecosystem-based climate solutions, particularly in agricultural and sanitation contexts. A major theme of her work is the capture, transformation and beneficial reuse of organic wastes as compost and other organic amendments to increase soil carbon, improve soil health and contribute to a more productive and just food system.  The CREF Trustees are happy to welcome Becca and thank Noura for all she did for the Foundation.

The International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) Committee is looking for more volunteer ICAW Coordinators to help grow th program during 2023.  Want to learn more about ICAW and how to get involved?

• Join us at an ICAW breakfast during COMPOST23 on Jan. 25 at 7:00 a.m.  
• Sign up for an online ICAW Coordinator training,  Feb. 27 at 12:00 p.m. ET

At these events, you can learn what coordinators have done in the past and their plans for this year. To learn more about volunteering or about either of the meetings, contact Beth Simone, bethsimone@compostfoundation.org.

On Feb. 15, applications will be accepted from college students for CREF Compost-Research Scholarships. These $4000  annual scholarships support college students’ compost research projects, and include an invitation to present research findings at the US Composting Council Annual Conference The scholarship is available for undergraduate through PhD students studying at a college or university in the United States. The deadline to apply is April 14. Learn more about this scholarship and see past winning projects here.