Diane Hazard became the Compost Research & Education Foundation’s first full-time Executive Director in 2022. Her early career centered on pharmaceutical research with University of California, San Diego, Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp, and Vical, Inc. She has been a member of the Sanford Burnham Prebys Institutional Review Board and the Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee since 2007. Diane turned her focus toward environmental outreach in the non-profit sector after acquiring a Sustainable Business Practices certification through UC San Diego and Master Composter certification. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served for 9 years as Education Director for Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, managing a team of educators in delivering school, corporate, and public outreach on sustainable practices, with a strong focus on composting. The US Composting Council recognized her in 2018 with the H. Clark Gregory Award for outstanding grassroots efforts in support of the composting industry. Diane holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Session Code: 6F

Track: State Chapter

Session Name: Compost Foundation and Chapters, Dialogue and Ideas

Session Time: Thursday, February 8, 2:00 – 3:30 PM

Presentation Title: Compost Foundation and Chapters, Dialogue and Ideas

Presentation Description: Join us for an overview of Compost Research & Education Foundation (CREF) programs to understand how its efforts align with those of state chapters, and brainstorm avenues for greater partnership. A key program we’ll explore is the Compost Operations Training Course. Attendees will learn about the course goals and successes to date, leading to a round-table dialog about increasing collaboration and potential state chapter revenue. The discussion will also cover opportunities for chapters to get involved with International Compost Awareness Week, research, and other outreach programs.