Jeff started working in the landfill industry in the spring of 2015.  Loup Central Landfill has an MSW site, a C&D site, and a small transfer station for public use.  We focus on removing all metals from the various incoming waste streams.  Seeing all the ferrous materials that have come through the landfill has ignited his passion for recycling.

In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and landscape projects with his family and helping his son farm.

Jennifer Burnside is the Public Education Director at Western Resources Group in Ogallala, Nebraska, where she leads community outreach and education efforts focused on recycling and responsible waste management. With a strong passion for sustainability, Jennifer is dedicated to helping individuals and communities better understand the impact of their everyday choices and how they can reduce their environmental footprint. 

Her work reflects a deep commitment to innovation, education, and practical solutions that make recycling more accessible and effective, particularly in rural communities. Although relatively new to the industry professionally, Jennifer has been an avid recycler for most of her life—starting as a child collecting cans at her parents’ bar and helping clean the beaches at Lake McConaughy, instilling a lifelong commitment to keeping natural spaces clean. 

Outside of her work, Jennifer enjoys attending local community events, traveling, camping, gardening, live music, visiting casinos, and reading. She was recently married and is the mother of two adult children and a 10-year-old daughter, as well as a proud grandmother to one grandson. She is an active supporter of her children’s activities—from sports and soapbox derby racing to FFA and Quiz Bowl—and also serves as a board member for the Big Mac Sports Club, home of Ogallala’s Youth Trap Team.

Alex Tunnison has served as the Assistant Sustainability Coordinator for Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska since 2025. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a proud alumna of the program’s Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communication option.

Alex oversees the district’s waste reduction and diversion programs, including recycling, composting, and construction waste management. She is a TRUE Advisor who leverages both her formal education and previous career in marketing to cultivate clarity around the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of district waste initiatives, engaging stakeholders ranging from kindergartens to custodians. 

Shari Shanks is the Executive Director of the Lincoln Bike Kitchen, where she leads the organization’s sustainability‑focused mission to keep bicycles in motion and out of the waste stream. By refurbishing donated bikes and parts, LBK extends the life of valuable materials while expanding access to affordable, eco‑friendly transportation throughout the community.

A Nebraska native who grew up on a farm just east of Scottsbluff, Shari brings a lifelong appreciation for community resilience and resourcefulness. She holds a BA and MA in journalism and has spent much of her career within the University of Nebraska system, including roles at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center and as director of marketing and communications for University Housing & Dining.

An avid cyclist with deep roots in Nebraska’s riding community, Shari is LBK’s first executive director and is guiding the organization into a new era—strengthening partnerships, growing repair and reuse efforts, and expanding LBK’s impact from its new home in the City Muny Building.