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Reinventing Recycling

Eco Shift Environmental Film Series 2026

Join us for a screening and panel discussion with experts. Register now and be part of the conversation for change!

Join us at West Regional Broward County Library for a special screening followed by a dynamic panel discussion. Hear their unique insights, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

With the US recycling system teetering on the point of collapse, and a global plastic pollution crisis on the horizon, a group of determined scientists and engineers engage in a race to rescue recycling.  Reinventing Recycling is a feature documentary that peels back the layers of the waste problem and shares the stories of those innovating to solve it. From breakthroughs in recycling technologies to public policy, these are the people working to transition the linear economy of today to the circular economy of tomorrow.

https://www.collectiveeye.org/products/reinventing-recycling

Jay Windland is a Seattle-based documentary filmmaker and photographer. Coming from a background in broadcast news, he went on to create branded video content for companies like SpaceX and Redfin, and capture stories for media outlets like Money Magazine and Discovery Science. In 2020, Jay co-directed “Vertical: The Future of Farming” which became a finalist in the New York International Film Awards and was awarded Best Short Documentary in the Angeles Documentary Festival. His most recent mini documentary “The Hunt for the Asian Giant Hornet” is now screening in film festivals around the US.

PANELISTS

Michael J. Ryan, Mayor of City of Sunrise

Michael J. Ryan was elected Mayor of Sunrise in August 2010, returned to office without opposition in 2012, 2016 and 2020, and most recently won re-election in 2024. He earned a B.B.A., majoring in Finance, from The George Washington University, and a Juris Doctorate, summa cum laude, from The Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

As a long time active resident of the City of Sunrise, Mayor Ryan served as a PTA President for two years and as an Executive Board Officer for an additional two years with the Sawgrass Elementary PTA; a volunteer coach over many years for youth soccer, baseball and flag football; volunteer coach for high school varsity girls soccer team; and two terms as Chair of the Education Advisory Board for the City of Sunrise.

In addition, Mayor Ryan is a member of the Florida League of Mayors Board of Directors and the Broward County Regional Planning Council; serves as Chair of the Governing Board and the Executive Committee of the Solid Waste Authority of Broward County; served as chair (and prior vice-chair) of the Broward County Consolidated Communications Committee (regional emergency 911 communications); served as co-chair of the Communications Working Group for Strengthening Police-Community Relations; served as chair and past vice-chair of the Public Safety Committee for the Broward League of Cities; served as co-chair of the Broward County League of Cities’ Joint School Resource Officers Task Force; served as co-chair of the Broward League of Cities’ School and Community Public Safety Taskforce; and served as a member of the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association Committee on Domestic Violence Injunction Process. 

Mayor Ryan has received awards for his work in the community and is a frequent author regarding matters of public importance. His work promoting scholastic and community-based chess initiatives has been the subject of local, national and international news coverage. Mayor Ryan's efforts, along with that of the City Commission and City staff, led to the City of Sunrise earning the national title of “Chess City 2015” by the United States Chess Federation and the development of the Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess. In 2014, celebrating his roots that go back to Ireland and his status as first generation American, Mike was named “Irishman of the Year” by the Emerald Society of Fort Lauderdale.

Mayor Ryan is also a lawyer who is president and founder of Michael J. Ryan, P.A. In 2019, Mayor Ryan was awarded the Broward County Bar Association’s “Walter G. 'Skip' Campbell, Jr. Lawyer-Public Servant Award.” Aside from his successful law practice, Mayor Ryan has been an active force in the lives of many in our community. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors and Secretary to the Board for Women in Distress for Broward County.  His charitable works include running marathons for charity, helping gather goods and supplies to assist Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake, traveling to Haiti to volunteer after the earthquake, traveling overseas to volunteer at a U.S.O. Wounded Warrior Center, and a 900-mile bike ride to benefit, among others, wounded soldiers and their families.

Jairo Gonzalez, Founder, Trustee, President and trustee of Organics Recycling Foundation

Along with his team Jairo was able to achieve 501c3 and 501c6 status for two organizations, moving from a committee to a full stand-alone United States Composting Council (USCC) chapter. Through these non-profits Jairo has worked to assist the State in bringing much needed legislation and regulatory reform suited to developing compost manufacturing infrastructure. He has worked to bring established educational courses to New Jersey and developing new courses such as a 2021 NJCC ASP Composting Course and a 2020 Principles of Compost Manufacturing course alongside the Compost Research and Educational Foundation (CREF). Additionally, Jairo has developed and designed cost-effective food waste and organics recycling programs both in urban and rural settings with the goal of creating healthy soils, sustainable businesses and food waste reduction programs for over a decade. He holds a BS in Political Science from the University of Oregon and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Andrew Koenig, CEO of City Furniture

Andrew Koenig graduated with degrees in Finance and Accounting from Elon University in 2005 and received his MBA in Entrepreneurship from Nova Southeastern University – Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Andrew began his full-time career with City Furniture in January 2026 in the Receiving Department unloading furniture on container and has worked his way up through the company and in almost all divisions of the company.  He spent a significant time streamlining the Operations Department in the first 8 years of his career to become one of the industry’s best. Currently, Andrew is serving as CEO of City Furniture, overseeing all departments of the business.

 Shortly before joining City Furniture, Andrew studied Lean Philosophy at Toyota’s headquarters in Toyota City, Japan. After learning from Toyota and other Lean Companies in the United States and abroad, Andrew introduced Lean Thinking to City Furniture in 2007. Ever since, City Furniture has been on a Lean Journey to create a culture of mutual trust and respect, teamwork and a deep sense of urgency to continuously improve. Since the implementation of Lean, the company has seen many major breakthroughs in turnover reduction, operational process improvement, customer experience, safety, associate satisfaction, strategic planning, financial success and much more.

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