The US Composting Council (USCC) announced the results of its annual board of directors election for the 2027 term, which will bring fresh perspectives to the organization through two new members: Jay Blazey of Cedar Grove Composting, Inc., and Candice Cotler of Common Ground Compost.
Blazey and Cotler will join the USCC Board of Directors representing compost manufacturers, bringing their years of industry experience. Jay Blazey is General Counsel at Cedar Grove Composting, Inc in Washington, and has more than a decade of experience in recycling and composting in the government sector. Candice Cotler is Chief Operating Officer and Sustainability Consultant at Common Ground Compost in New York City, with experience in waste reduction strategies, sustainability education, and zero waste program development. They are also an active member of the USCC Composting for All committee.
Returning to the board are compost manufacturer representative Samantha Winkle of Athens Services, and industry affiliate representatives Cary Oshins of compostercary.com and Michael Martinez of the 11th Hour Project.
These new and returning Board members will serve alongside the remaining Board members, creating a cohesive team to guide the USCC in its pursuit of advancing the future of composting in the United States.
Pierce Louis of Dirt Hugger will be stepping down from the Board at the end of his 2026 term after nine years of service. As a Board member, Pierce served as president for two terms, and has been a longtime member of the Executive Committee.
Ryan Cooper will also be stepping down from the Board at the end of his 2026 term. Ryan served as the chair of the Membership Committee, where he will continue his leadership, helping to grow the USCC鈥檚 membership and ensure the organization鈥檚 work is always delivering value to members.
鈥淯SCC has been fortunate to have the longtime counsel of Pierce and Ryan as board members,鈥� said Chris Seney, current Board President. 鈥淲e look forward to their continued success in the industry.鈥�
The new Board members, alongside the re-elected and continuing members, will be formally introduced during the members meeting at COMPOST2027 in Jacksonville, FL, on Monday, February. 1, 2027. This event will provide an opportunity for the community to meet the leaders shaping the future of composting.
About the Elected Board of Directors Members
Jay Blazey is the General Counsel for Cedar Grove Composting and is responsible for corporate legal strategy and how it connects to business development, effective operations, and solid waste policy. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Jay brings a strong sense of environmental stewardship and innovation to his work. He is a proud member of the Cedar Grove Composting and Organics Collection businesses, which focus on providing green infrastructure through organics recycling solutions at our two compost facilities in the Seattle area.
For more than 20 years, Cedar Grove has worked with commercial food waste generators, such as grocery stores, restaurants, food processors, and institutions, to build effective organics diversion programs. This work has helped shape best practices for source separation, contamination reduction, and collection systems that produce high-quality finished compost and maximize diversion.
Jay helps connect these operational lessons with policy development so that regulations support practical solutions. He is involved in local and state policy efforts and supports approaches that prioritize source-separated organics recycling and long-term environmental performance. Cedar Grove鈥檚 approach has always been built on deep local roots and a longstanding commitment to serving our communities. Jay is excited about the opportunity to serve on the board and contribute to its important work.
Candice Cotler is the Chief Operating Officer and a Sustainability Consultant at Common Ground Compost (CGC), a New York City-based organization specializing in composting, zero waste consulting, and sustainability education. A TRUE Certified 91仓库 Advisor and 2025 91仓库360 40 Under 40 honoree, Candice brings experience in organizational leadership, waste reduction strategies, sustainability education, and zero waste program development.
An active member of the US Composting Council for nearly four years, Candice has served on the Composting for All Committee for three years and is also involved with the TRUE Advisory Committee. They are particularly passionate about making the composting industry more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to organizations and professionals of all backgrounds and sizes.
Candice looks forward to bringing their collaborative approach, practical experience, and commitment to education and accessibility to the USCC Board of Directors.
Michael Martinez is a former elementary school teacher, founder of LA Compost, and author of Composting for Community. During his tenure at LA Compost, he built a decentralized network of community compost hubs across LA County. Currently a Program Manager at the 11th Hour Project, Michael directs the foundation’s national composting and organics recycling strategy, focusing on innovative capital, land access, and public-private partnerships. He serves on the board of the Los Angeles Community Garden Council and was appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles to serve as a Commissioner for the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office.
Cary Oshins is with ComposterCaryDotCom and聽has spent over 30 years promoting increased recycling of organics through education, research, and advocacy. He served as the Associate Director for the US Composting Council and as the Education Director for the Compost Council Research & Education Foundation. He made an enormous impact on the Composter Training Program, including the highly regarded Composting Operations Training Course where he oversaw educational curriculum development. His work at the USCC focused on member services, including the annual conference, developing the professional credential program, and industry advocacy at the state and national levels. He currently sits on the US Composting Council鈥檚 Board of Directors and continues serving on the Professional Development Committee.
Samantha Winkle,Athens Services – American Organics,聽brings over 20 years of experience in the solid waste industry with a strong focus on composting operations. She is passionate about organics management and creating sustainable circular systems where people are fed and organic waste is made into a marketable finished product. She is passionate about employee development, safety, product quality, customer service, and healthy working relationships with local governments.
Samantha has permitted and designed several composting facilities and managed over 200k tons of organics on an annual basis. She served on the Washington Organic Recycling Council for over 12 years, and she retired as the President. She currently serves on the United States Composting Council (USCC), and is serving in her third year as Treasurer. She has participated in several rule making legislative sessions and solid waste rewrites.