Laura Rosenshine
Founder and Advisory Board Member
(she/her)
Laura founded CGC in 2014 after a few years working in the commercial waste sector including working with a Norwegian-based technology company piloting in-vessel organics processing in NYC. In 2017, Laura Co-Founded Foodprint Group which was focused on working with chain businesses in and outside of NYC to bring standardization and industry best practices to their waste management programs. In 2021, Laura returned to CGC to focus on building a waste management online platform. Laura is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.
Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli
Fmr. Executive Director and Advisory Board Member
(she/her)
Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli is the Executive Director of Common Ground Compost LLC. She sits on the US Composting Council board of directors and the steering committee of the Institute for Local Self Reliance’s Community Composting Coalition. She was recognized by the New York State Association for Reuse, Reduction, and Recycling with the 2019 Recycling Leadership Award. Meredith is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.
Rachana Shah
Zero Waste Consultant
(she/her)
It has been said that waste is a design flaw. Rachana works with clients who strive to eliminate this inefficiency as much as she does, to reach mutually shared sustainability goals. Prior to CGC, she worked with NYC Zero Waste Schools, innovative recycling/composting companies in the U.S. and abroad, and earned her M.S./MBA in Environmental Behavior Change. Rachana is mom to 2 bold daughters, she’s a proud Queens, NYC resident, and she practices Capoeira and Afro-dance in her free time. Rachana is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.
William Klimpert
Director of Analytics
(he/him)
William Klimpert is the Director of Analytics at Common Ground Compost. As an avid nature enthusiast with a background in plant biophysics, he seeks to use data and technology to increase the accessibility of sustainability initiatives. Since 2019, William has been working with CGC to develop tools and reports that improve workflows and bring audit, composting, and diversion statistics to life. William is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.
Jonas Schaller
Microhauling Division Director
(he/him)
Jonas Schaller was imported to the USA from Germany in 2014 to help solve the NYC compost crisis! When not joking around, he maintains the Reclaimed Organics Microhauling trike fleet, collects compost, manages on-site food scrap processing, audits waste and helps keep the company’s books. It’s true that he is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor whose favored mode of transport is the bicycle. Jonas can frequently be found escaping the city on his tin donkey (that’s a German term for bicycle!).
Jason Jones
Microhauler
(he/him)
Hello, my name is Jason! I’m new to the CGC family. I am a microhauler and I look forward to the learning experience I’ll go through while working with this group of amazing individuals. I've been welcomed with open arms even though I didn’t know much about composting before this job! It is never too late to start learning and I’m happy to help try to make a difference in the world with this company - no matter how big or small the impact.
Michael McAllister
Microhauler
(he/him)
Michael McAllister is a compost hauler and sometimes event manager at Common Ground Compost. His interest in sustainability began as an organic farmer in the Hudson Valley, and eventually led him to the grape growing regions of New York. Michael is currently an ambassador for the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, and pursuing his sommelier certification. His focus is the continued spotlight and education of sustainable food and farming practices here locally.
Jo Mispel
Zero Waste Consultant
(she/her)
Jo Mispel is a Zero Waste Consultant at CGC. Passionate about humanity's need to re-engage with decomposition and life cycles, she gladly left a long stint in corporate publishing to realign. She is thrilled to be part of the organic (yep) CGC family of fellow trash nerds and earth stewards. She loves being part of a team tirelessly striving to recover materials from landfills, and enjoys participating in the mission to help others, big and small, understand what waste really means, reach their waste diversion goals and become part of a more circular economy. Jo is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.
Candice Chetta
Head of People and Comms Manager
(they/them)
Candice joined the CGC team in March of 2021 to do social media and quickly became the team They Friday - or They of all Trades, if you prefer! From web development to audio/video production to audit staffing and off-site event management, Candice doesn’t mind taking on a challenge! Candice is a certified Reiki Master and has been reading Tarot for 20+ years. You’ll find them hanging out with their cats, Benny and Jude. Candice is a TRUE Certified Waste Advisor.