The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), Silver Spring, Maryland, has announced a new program called MentorMatch, available to members on its online forum MySWANA.

Established to pair experienced professionals with fellow colleagues looking for career guidance or industry information, the MentorMatch program seeks to promote professional development, networking and overall member engagement.

By signing up on SWANA’s members-only social network, members can register as either “mentors,” “mentees” or both and match with other professionals in their area of interest. After matching, members enter a mentoring relationship for the next six months where mentors are available as a resource to discuss career development, professional goals and give industry-specific advice.

“We are excited to launch MentorMatch as our newest member benefit,” says Darryl Walter, SWANA’s director of membership. “Through this program, mentors and mentees can make connections with their fellow colleagues and in turn, help each other grow personally and professionally."

Through MentorMatch experienced professionals can enhance their leadership abilities and grow their professional network, while professionals and students new to the solid waste and recycling industry can both strengthen their skills and knowledge base, the organization says.  

“Many of SWANA’s rapidly growing membership are young professionals or others who are still learning about the industry; at the same time, many members have decades of solid waste experience,” says David Biderman, SWANA’s executive director and CEO. “MentorMatch provides a terrific way for the younger and newer members to learn more about this great industry, make new connections and enhance their expertise. I hope that many of SWANA’s more than 9,000 members take advantage of this program, which benefits not just the individuals involved, but the industry as a whole.”

To learn more about SWANA’s new MentorMatch program, visit swana.org/Membership/MembershipInformation/MembershipBenefits/MentorMatch.