On Thursday, September 25, at the Southern California SWANA Annual Meeting and Workshop, Michelle Leonard completed her 18-year tenure as a member of the Southern California Founding Chapter Board of Directors, and most recently as Chapter President. Her departure marks the end of an era defined by visionary leadership, advocacy, and transformative impact in the solid waste management industry.
Michelle’s journey with SWANA began in the early 1990s, when she joined SCS Engineers and quickly became a trailblazer in a field where women were few and far between. Over the years, she rose through the ranks of SWANA’s Executive Board, serving as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and ultimately President in 2015. Her commitment to education, mentorship, and innovation has left an indelible mark on the organization and the broader environmental community.
At the September 25 workshop held at The Reef in Long Beach, Michelle opened the day with a warm welcome and presided over the annual business meeting, which included board slate approvals and by-law updates. Later in the day, she delivered a deeply personal and inspiring keynote titled “If I Knew Then What I Know Now: My Journey in SWANA and the World of Waste”—a reflection on her career, the evolution of the industry, and the lessons learned along the way.
As Senior Vice President at SCS Engineers, she has led dozens of high-impact projects across California and beyond. Her expertise spans solid waste management planning, recycling program design, regulatory compliance, and sustainable materials management. She has worked with municipalities, tribal governments, and regional authorities to develop innovative solutions that reduce, reuse, and recycle waste while improving operational efficiency.
Her leadership has also extended to national platforms. Michelle is a past recipient of SWANA’s Sustainable Materials Management Technical Division Distinguished Achievement Award and Waste 360’s inaugural Women Who Inspire Award. She is known for her ability to moderate panels, present at conferences, and mentor the next generation of environmental professionals.
As Michelle steps down from her role on the SWANA SoCal Board, her legacy continues through the programs she helped build, the people she inspired, and the standards she set. Her swan song may mark the end of her board position, but it is far from the end of her influence as she continues supporting SCS Engineers clients.
Say hello to Michelle on LinkedIn or from the SCS website!
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