Zapalac and Lawrence hired by Lopez Solid Waste

The Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District has hired David Zapalac for the position of facility manager, effective immediately. David had served as transitional site supervisor since April 5. As manager, he will continue his hands-on work during and after business hours, and he will assume increased responsibility to manage the facility operations and staff. David will work 30 hours/week during the summer schedule and 27 hours/week the rest of the year.

The district also hired Gary Lawrence as facility administrator, effective immediately. Gary will be working part time, nine to 10 hours per week, and his duties include all tasks necessary to operate the dump plus other tasks to support the manager, such as purchasing, correspondence, and budget control.

David and Gary join long-standing, hard-working employee Bob Chonka. Together the three employees’ hours add up to the equivalent of 1.5 full-time employees. Having three persons on board gives the district more flexibility during its busy months, and helps ensure there will be at least two employees on site in the event of an absence.

The district simultaneously hired Matthew McQueen as community training and education coordinator, a one-year grant-funded position. Job descriptions for all staff can be seen at lopezsolidwaste.org, under the LSWDD menu.

David received a degree in geography – resource and environmental studies from Southwest Texas State University. He is an FAA-certified airplane mechanic, and has extensive experience working on all types of machinery. One of his responsibilities is to serve as in-house mechanic for district equipment. David says he is excited to be working at a facility that is seen and respected as a model for reuse and recycling, and he is regularly inspired by his interactions with facility patrons.

Gary has been a mainstay volunteer in the recycling area since the district took over in January 2013. Prior to moving to Lopez, Gary spent over 20 years as a chief operating officer at a software company in Texas. He has volunteered for the Island Oil Spill Association since 2011, and is active in the Mud Bay smelt-fishing community. Gary says he is confident and ready to make a contribution to Lopez’s efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle solid waste.

The district feels very fortunate to have such capable people as David and Gary join its staff, and the community is encouraged to stop in to greet them and to offer suggestions, feedback, and support as they start work in their new positions.

Coordinator position

The Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District is pleased to announce our new hire, Matthew McQueen, for the one-year grant-funded position of community training and education coordinator. This one-year position is 75 percent funded through the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Offset Cycle Coordinated Prevention Grant and 25 percent funded by LSWDD. Look for Matthew at the dump and around the island as he helps us all to discover ever more meaningful and fun ways to reduce waste, and increase recycle and reuse. Matthew recently moved to Lopez Island from South Bend, Indiana where he was an educator and researcher. He was known far and wide for his work with a mobile science lab and his outstanding teaching abilities. He has a strong science background, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education and a working knowledge of Zero-Waste initiatives and more than a decade of experience teaching K-12 as well as adults.

In addition to working part-time at the dump, Matthew will be farming with his Lopez relatives. To contact Matthew directly about setting up an event for your homeowners association, service club or other groups and events contact: sandyLSWDD@rockisland.com