WEST MICHIGAN A&WMA – 2026 SPRING CONFERENCE AGENDA
Location: Watermark Country Club, 1600 Galbraith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI
Date: April 23, 2026

8:00 – 8:45 AM
Annual WM-AWMA Business Meeting (all are welcome) Registration / Breakfast / Networking

8:45 AM
Welcome, Introductions, and Announcements

8:50 – 9:30 AM
Facing Compliance Challenges in an Evolving Legal Landscape
Matt Eugster, Varnum LLP

9:30 – 10:00 AM
Applying AI to Waste Management and Diversion
Matthew Wheeler, Woodchuck

10:00 – 10:30 AM
Networking / Coffee Break — Sponsored by Rhoades McKee

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Updates from EGLE Division Directors
Tracy Kecskemeti, Mike Neller, Annette Switzer, Christine Alexander

12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch — Sponsored by Taplin Environmental Services
State of the Chapter — Chris Occhipinti, WM-AWMA Chair
State of the Great Lakes — Simon Belisle, Office of the Great Lakes, EGLE

1:15 – 2:00 PM
Stack Testing 101
Brad Bergeron & Steve Smith, RWDI

2:00 – 2:15 PM
Networking / Coffee Break — Sponsored by Varnum LLP

2:15 – 3:15 PM
Demystifying Data Centers Panel
Natalie Stewart Mitchell, Switch Data Center
Gaetan Gerville-Reache, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP
Nate Henschel, Consumers Energy

3:15 – 4:00 PM

Status of Microplastics in Michigan’s Waterways
Eddie Kostelnik

4:00 PM
Raffle Drawing — Sponsored by Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

4:05 PM
Happy Hour — Sponsored by NTH Consultants, Ltd.

With special thanks to our Technology Sponsor — Barr Engineering Co. and
General Conference Sponsor — Terracon