From karaoke escapes to magnet samples on his desk, Ames Lab’s Ikenna Nlebedim shares quirks, insights and first-time adventures. | Photo courtesy of Ikenna Nlebedim

When the E-Scrap Conference convenes in October, one of the freshest voices to join the stage will be Ikenna Nlebedim of Ames National Laboratory. He is set to appear on a session exploring rare earth recovery and recycling, a subject that has never been more critical as the industry pushes to secure essential materials in smarter, cleaner ways.

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Detroit loyalist, global traveler and proud Chapstick collector, John Spagnuolo proves you can take the man out of Michigan, but you’ll never take Michigan out of the man. | Photo courtesy John Spagnuolo

It’s fair to say John Spagnuolo’s loyalty runs deep, to his city, his state, and even his teams. Born about 45 minutes north of Detroit, he’s stayed close to his Michigan roots ever since. “I love the state where I’m at,” he said. “And it’s the perfect time to be a Detroit sports fan: Lions, Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings.”

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Few people in recycling carry as much institutional memory as Jerry Powell. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he came up through hands-on operations before realizing the industry’s biggest need was trustworthy information and connection. He went on to found Resource Recycling, Inc., the company behind Resource Recycling, Plastics Recycling Update and E-Scrap News.

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Growing up in the tiny town of Guerneville, California, tucked near the Russian River wine country, Emily Farrant was surrounded by gardens, forests and streams. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong fascination with how people interact with the environment. 

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