Forest ReLeaf of Missouri

Environmental Excellence Award

Forest ReLeaf of Missouri’s mission is to enrich communities by growing and planting trees through the power of people and partnerships. This effort supports their vision of a more resilient tree canopy in Missouri’s communities that supports healthy people, healthy habitats and a healthy planet, all supporting and in line with the concept of reduce, reuse, recycle. Forest ReLeaf believes that recycling is one step towards better use of resources and better living. 

Through their efforts in 2025 alone, Forest ReLeaf have planted 16,918 trees across 403 projects that include pocket parks, honor tree planting, saving stream banks, and recovery efforts. Volunteers have provided 16,313 hours helping at nurseries, tree planting, tree deliveries and so much more.

Forest ReLeaf has community neighbors design tree plantings, volunteers to help plant trees and asks the recipients to provide long term care for the trees once they are planted. The whole process of getting a neighborhood involved and having people participate in the process with a request for a long-term plan creates a greater success rate for the trees and creates positive engagement in the community.

For example, the City of Canton, Missouri has been participating in the Forest ReLeaf program for over ten years. The City has found reward in getting citizens involved in the tree planting and committing themselves to the continued care of the trees.  The variety of trees planted have established themselves over the years, creating a beautiful canopy.  

Forest ReLeaf also works toward increasing the canopy in historically low canopy areas, including low income, disadvantaged communities. The studies support the positive impact trees have on a community and is a great way for smaller, disadvantaged communities to be able to improve their environment through free trees! Forest ReLeaf has now provided trees to every County in the State of Missouri.

Charlene Hentges-Fitch

Lifetime Achievement Award

Charlene Hentges-Fitch has over 34 years of solid waste management experience. In that time she played a significant role in shaping solid waste management in Missouri. She worked on the development and implementation of most of what is now the Missouri Solid Waste Management Code under 10-CSR-80. The code shaped recycling, yard waste management, HHW, electronics recovery etc. 

Charlene also played a major role in leadership of the DNR. In 2023 she became director of the Waste Management Program overseeing both hazardous waste and solid waste permitting actions. and served in that role until her recent retirement. 

Charlene holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, with Masters’ work in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a licensed professional engineer, as well as a graduate of the department’s Leadership Ladder and Missouri’s Leadership Academy.

Laurie Davis

Lifetime Achievement Award

Laurie has demonstrated outstanding commitment to professional excellence through her leadership within the MWCC. She served as chair of the scholarship committee and organized the young professional social event. She was elected to the MWCC Board in 2021 and still serves on the board today. Laurie took on the role of President-Elect and Conference Chair from July 2023-2024, and in 2024-2025 moved to the role of President of the organization. Laurie is completing her role in leadership in the MWCC as she steps down as a Past-President. Her efforts during her time of leadership within the MWCC organization have worked to strengthen the conference by adding a recycling tract to the conference offerings, expanding networking opportunities through the young professional’s social event, and making the Monday night reception fun and exciting for people to stay and network. 

Professionally, Laurie has dedicated the past 10 years to the City of Springfield as an Education Outreach Specialist and Education Outreach Coordinator. In this role, she has built and led a highly effective team of educators capable of addressing a wide range of environmental education needs within the community. Her leadership has significantly expanded public awareness and engagement around sustainability, recycling, and waste reduction. 

Laurie’s career also includes serving as Educational Director at the Discovery Center in Springfield, Missouri, as well as 22 years of formal K–12 classroom teaching experience. Her deep background in education has equipped her with the skills to connect with learners of all ages and foster a culture of curiosity and stewardship. Laurie also worked for 10 years for the Bureau of Education and Research and presented seminars nationally to classroom teachers.  Laurie’s seminars provided practical strategies designed to improve classroom teaching techniques targeted to specific grade levels.

In addition to her local impact, Laurie has contributed significantly to the state level through her involvement with the Missouri Environmental Education Association (MEEA). As a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer from 2021 to 2023, she played a key role in supporting the organization’s mission and ensuring its continued success. Laurie Davis exemplifies the qualities of an Outstanding Achievement Award recipient. Her leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to environmental education have made a profound difference in her community and beyond. 

Ken Ewers, R.G.

Jan Dillow Coalition Contribution Award

Ken Ewers, R.G., is employed with GREDELL Engineering Resources, Inc. He has a B.S., Geology and Geophysics from Missouri University of Science and Technology, and a M.S. in Quantitative Hydrogeology from Michigan State University. Ken is a registered geologist with 18 years of private consulting, and 13 years in business management. Ken specializes in Geologic and Hydrogeologic Evaluations, Groundwater Modeling, Data Reduction, Statistical Analysis, and Groundwater Compliance.

Ken has been a longtime member of the MWCC.  Ken began as a board advisor for MWCC in 2015 planning and promoting the conference, served as Secretary in 2018, served as Vice-President in 2019,  and elected as President in 2021.  He served as Conference Chair in 2022, continuing as a Board Advisor and Past President.  He then served as President for MWCC’s 50th conference in 2022-2023. He continues to serve on the Advisory Board for MWCC and as a presenter at the conference.