Ron Gonen

Biography

Ron is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Closed Loop Fund. The Closed Loop Fund was formed by a group of the world's largest manufacturers, consumer goods companies and retailers to invest in municipal recycling and waste diversion programs. Prior to the Closed Loop Fund, Ron was the Deputy Commissioner of Sanitation, Recycling and Sustainability for New York City. He joined the Bloomberg administration with the task of rebuilding NYC's recycling program and developing a plan to divert over 30% of New York's waste stream from landfills by 2017 and over 70% by 2025. He was responsible for New York's recycling programs, which include paper, metal, glass, plastic, organics, textiles, electronics, the management of household hazardous waste and related legislation. In 2013, NRDC and Earth Day New York named Ron as the Public Official of the Year in New York City.

Ron has been an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School since 2010. In 2012, he was the recipient of the Social Enterprise Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching. From 2004-2010, Ron was the Co-Founder and CEO of RecycleBank. During his tenure as CEO, the company grew from an idea into a company that serviced over 50 cities and over 1 million households. RecycleBank was recognized with a number of business and environmental awards including the Philadelphia Sustainability Award, The Conference of Mayors - Public/Private Partnership of the Year Award and a Technology Pioneer award from the World Economic Forum.

From 1998-2002, Ron was a management consultant at Accenture and Deloitte. Ron has been a recipient of a number of environmental and business awards including being recognized as a 'Champion of the Earth' by the United Nations Environment Program which is the highest distinction for environmental protection given by the United Nations and recognizes outstanding visionaries and leaders in the fields of policy, science and entrepreneurship and the Medal of Excellence from Columbia University which recognizes alumnus under the age of 45 for excellence in scholarship, public service and professional life. Ron was a Henry Catto Fellow at the Aspen Institute is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He holds patents in the recycling industry and rewards/loyalty industry. Ron received an MBA from Columbia Business School.