Dr. Bryan Staley is president and CEO of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF), one of the largest sources of research funding and graduate scholarships related to solid waste management. He joined EREF in 2008 as vice president of environmental programs and has more than 20 years of experience in the environmental engineering field.

Bryan is recognized nationally as a technical expert in sustainable solid waste management. He earned a doctorate in civil engineering from North Carolina State University, where his research focused on understanding microbiological mechanisms for waste decomposition and methane generation from solid waste. He also holds a master’s degree in biosystems engineering from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in biological and agricultural engineering from North Carolina State University.

A licensed professional engineer, Bryan previously held key positions in consulting firms as a project manager and vice president of engineering, managing projects ranging from solid waste management and wastewater treatment system design to retail and commercial land development and environmental management of large-scale livestock operations.