Circular Arizona elects new board and announces grants, scholarships, and awards at annual meeting

Feb 28

Phoenix, AZ — Circular Arizona held its annual meeting on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at Metro Tech High School, where the organization welcomed new board members, celebrated key achievements, and recognized outstanding contributions to Arizona’s circular economy.

The event featured the election of new board members, the announcement of grant and scholarship recipients, and the presentation of awards honoring businesses, organizations, and individuals leading circularity efforts in Arizona.

New and Re-Elected Board Members

Circular Arizona is pleased to welcome the following new board members:

Alyssa Tarpley, Public Information Specialist at the City of Tucson
Alyssa Knowles, Circular Economy Specialist at the City of Phoenix
Jessica Quesada, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at the Town of Queen Creek
Alexandra Craig, Sustainability Development Manager at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona

Additionally, the organization re-elected the following board members:

Roberto Shapiro Heredia, Environmental Science Specialist at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Karen Jayne, CEO at Stardust
Kyleigh Brown, Legislative Assistant at the Arizona State Legislature

MEET THE BOARD

Awards

Circular Arizona presented its 2025 awards to individuals and organizations making significant strides in sustainability and circular economy practices during the meeting. The physical awards were crafted from locally collected and recycled plastics from the ASU Circular Living Lab’s Plastics Microfactory. This year’s honorees include:

Business Awards

Small Business of the Year: Originate Natural Building Materials (Tucson) – Recognized for promoting environmentally responsible building through the use of reclaimed, recycled, and non-toxic materials, as well as its dedication to preserving historical architectural materials and reducing construction waste. Originate’s work blends sustainability with history, showcasing the value of creative reuse in the built environment.
Large Business of the Year: Amentum Corporation (Chandler) – Honored for implementing exceptional waste diversion initiatives, reducing landfill waste at multiple sites, and launching innovative recycling programs in collaboration with local organizations. Amentum’s initiatives, including garment reuse and electronic waste recycling, set a benchmark for corporate sustainability.

Organizational and Municipal Awards

Nonprofit of the Year: Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary (Scottsdale) – Acknowledged for its outstanding food waste reduction and composting initiatives, which minimize landfill contributions and support sustainability in caring for rescued reptiles. Their efforts highlight the intersection of conservation and circular economy principles.
Municipality of the Year: City of Tucson – Recognized for its leadership in waste diversion, composting programs, and educational outreach, setting an example for other municipalities in Arizona. Tucson’s dedication to circular economy education and community engagement makes it a sustainability leader.
School of the Year: Rover Elementary School (Tempe) – Celebrated for its Rover Vine school garden initiative in partnership with Rhine Farms, which integrates composting and sustainability education into student learning, fostering environmental stewardship. The program equips students with hands-on experience in sustainability and waste reduction.

Individual Honors

Individual of the Year: Christian Lee (Town of Queen Creek) – Recognized for his leadership in expanding recycling initiatives, coordinating volunteer efforts, and improving waste diversion programs within the town. His efforts in contamination reduction and community outreach have significantly improved recycling participation.
Individual of the Year: Amanda Jordan (City of Phoenix) – Honored for her innovative approaches to circular economy solutions, her commitment to sustainable projects, and her influence on policies at local, state, and national levels. Amanda’s expertise and mentorship have inspired circular economy initiatives across multiple jurisdictions.
Lifetime Member: Ariel LeBarron (City of Phoenix) – Celebrated for her years of dedicated service on Circular Arizona’s Board, including four years as Treasurer, as well as her contributions to sustainability efforts in Phoenix’s food systems. Ariel’s financial stewardship and leadership have strengthened Circular Arizona’s mission and impact.

Grant Recipients

Circular Arizona awarded grants to two organizations pioneering circular economy initiatives:

Knead Technologies, Inc. – Awarded $5,000 to expand its food waste management pilot in Phoenix, supporting surplus food rescue, volunteer training, and certification efforts. This program diverts food from landfills while addressing food insecurity, demonstrating a scalable circular solution.
Keep Phoenix Beautiful – Awarded $5,000 to launch a HomeBiogas project, implementing anaerobic digesters that convert food scraps into biofertilizers and clean cooking gas, demonstrating a sustainable waste-to-energy model. This initiative provides both educational opportunities and practical sustainability solutions.

Scholarship Recipients

Two students were awarded Circular Arizona scholarships for their dedication to advancing circular economy principles:

Kyleigh Brown (Arizona State University) – Recognized for her leadership in sustainability policy, community initiatives, and entrepreneurship, including her work in reducing single-use plastics and consulting small businesses on circular practices. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges policy, business, and environmental stewardship.
Alyssa Tarpley (University of Arizona) – Honored for her role in public outreach and education on recycling and composting initiatives, as well as her contributions to policy development supporting circular economy efforts. Her work in local government communication enhances public engagement in sustainability programs.

Keynote Speaker: Stephen Ritz

The event featured an engaging keynote address by Stephen Ritz, an internationally acclaimed educator, award-winning author of The Power of a Plant, and founder of Green Bronx Machine. Recognized as one of America’s most innovative educators, Stephen has created the first-ever edible classroom and has helped grow over 165,000 pounds of vegetables in the South Bronx.

His work has been celebrated at the White House, featured on TIME for KIDS, and documented in Generation Growth. Stephen’s presentation highlighted the transformative power of education, sustainability, and urban agriculture, encouraging attendees to integrate circular economy principles into their own communities. Circular Arizona was thrilled to welcome Stephen back to the Grand Canyon State for an inspiring presentation.

Looking Ahead

Circular Arizona’s annual meeting highlighted the organization’s progress and its commitment to fostering an equitable circular economy for a sustainable Arizona. With new leadership and continued support from the across the state, the organization is poised to expand its impact in 2025 and beyond.