ReMA Partner NERC Opens Annual Emerging Professionals Program

The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has opened the 2025 Emerging Professionals (EP) Program. Now, in its third year, the program provides professionals who are new to the field of recycling, sustainability, and environmental stewardship with discounted access to NERC’s Conference and Foundations Course, sponsored by their employer organization.

EPs gain valuable connections with seasoned industry professionals and peers while engaging in discussions on current trends, challenges, and innovations shaping the industry. This program is designed for those with three or fewer years of experience.

“This year, EPs also receive a discount to our Foundations of Sustainable Materials Management course (a live, instructor-led training) developed to provide the key building blocks for understanding the industry,” said Mariane Medeiros, Senior Project Manager at NERC. “It’s a great way to close the loop: gaining both a strong technical foundation and real-world connections in one experience.”

How It Works:

Organizations sponsor an Emerging Professional (EP) from their team to attend a NERC in-person event. 

  • The EP should have a strong interest in recycling, sustainability, and environmental stewardship and be eager to learn, network, and engage within the sustainable materials management (SMM) community. Eligible participants include early-career employees and interns who have started working in the industry within the past three years. 
  • The EP should be accompanied by a representative from the employer organization also attending the event, who can provide guidance and help the EP make meaningful connections. 
  • The employer organization should cover all expenses related to the EP’s attendance (event registration, travel, meals, lodging, etc.). EPs attend at a special discounted rate ticket. 

Benefits for Emerging Professionals:

  • Learning & Networking: Special discounted access to NERC’s Rethink Resource Use Conference provides enhancement of knowledge spanning a variety of key issues in the industry and ample opportunities to make new professional connections.
  • Exclusive Roundtable: A seat at the table with seasoned industry professionals and peers allows for open dialogue to ask questions, share ideas, and gain insights that aid in career paths and growth. The Emerging Professionals Roundtable meets at lunch at the in-person conference. 
  • 1-on-1 Mentoring Session: One mentoring session with an industry professional from a NERC member organization that provides tailored guidance to support career goals.
  • Professional Development: A specialized discount for the Foundations of Sustainable Materials and Recycling course offered multiple times each year.

The Emerging Professionals Program seeks to make NERC events and resources more accessible to those just starting out in sustainable materials management (SMM) careers. The Program serves as a platform for emerging talent, connecting them to seasoned industry professionals and other peers, and exposing them to industry discussions about current trends, challenges, and innovations.  

“This program is for everyone who is early in their career in the field, regardless of age or life stage,” Medeiros said. “Whether you’re fresh out of school or transitioning into the industry later in life, if you’re within your first few years in sustainable materials management, this program is for you.”

Benefits for Sponsoring Organizations: 

In addition to building talent and strengthening the capacity of your organization by providing emerging professionals with the opportunity to cultivate new skills and gain knowledge, employer organizations participating in the program receive acknowledgment and recognition on nerc.org, social channels, and at the Conference.  

According to Medeiros, sponsoring an EP shows a true commitment to investing in the next generation of professionals bringing change in sustainable materials management.

“It gives early-career staff a chance to access learning and mentorship they may not otherwise have,” she said. “For the EPs themselves, it’s a chance to gain real-world insights, expand their networks, and start their careers with a strong foundation. And for the sponsor organization, it’s a great way to build visibility and help their staff learn and grow.”

Apply for the 2025 Program by Saturday, August 30. If you have questions reach out to Mariane Medeiros at [email protected].