Superintendent of Solid Waste Management

Karla has been employed by the City of Lincoln for 33 years; the last 14 years as the superintendent for the solid waste management division.  She has approximately 23 years of experience in the solid waste industry managing disposal, processing and recycling operations in various capacities.  Currently, the solid waste management division employees 35 personnel who are collectively responsible for recycling, two currently operating landfills, one closed landfill, a composting operation and a transfer station.  Karla’s bachelor’s degree is in mathematics and was earned at Kearney State College.

Karla is also a veteran who served as an enlisted soldier and an officer in the maintenance and logistical skill areas with the Nebraska Army National Guard.  She deployed twice in her 20-year military career and has been retired from service for nearly 15 years.

Her husband Jim and their Chihuahua/Pomeranian companion – Rocky - are working in their spare time to deconstruct and reconstruct a home in Algona, IA.  The home is near live-long friends who are semi-retired from their professional careers.

Karla believes the solid waste management industry will become more aggressive in challenging communities to view solid waste as a resource; and that presents many opportunities and challenges for progressive communities across the United States and certainly Lincoln.