President | |
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 | Scott DeFife has served as the president of the Glass Packaging Institute since 2020. He previously served as the Vice President of Government Affairs at the Plastics Industry Association, the Executive Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs for the National Restaurant Association, as well as in senior roles with the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the American Public Power Association. For 12 years, Scott worked in the House of Representatives Congressional Leadership for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and for Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as for the State of Texas under Governor Ann Richards and the National Conference of State Legislatures. His experience at multiple levels of government and across several different industries and materials gives him a broad policy and systems perspective to support national recycling infrastructure and education. Scott also serves as the President of the Glass Recycling Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization created to help fill gaps in glass recycling efforts by providing matching grants for equipment that support community projects and the environment. |
Associate Manager of Government Affairs & Sustainability | |
 | Avery Makrakis joins GPI to support the Institute’s legislative engagement efforts related to packaging, supply chain, and recycling policies to promote glass as a preferred packaging option. Her involvement in specific projects include the Small Format Coalition (SFC) to capture and recover hard to recycle small format metal, plastic, glass, and fiber, as well as the Coalition for High Performance Recycling (CHPR) to promote extended producer responsibility (EPR) and deposit return systems (DRS) to reduce glass contamination for improved recovery and reuse of glass in packaging. Prior to joining GPI, Avery worked in the solid waste consulting industry in California helping municipalities implement and manage their solid waste collection agreements to meet statewide reporting and compliance requirements. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in Packaging Science at Michigan State University, with expected completion in Fall 2026. |
Digital Media & Outreach Coordinator | |
| Shannon Sweeney supports the marketing team with content creation, campaign planning, and outreach strategies. Shannon was previously an intern with GPI for a year, gaining valuable experience in the glass packaging industry. In May of 2024 Shannon graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and International Business with a minor in Sustainability Studies from the University of Maryland, where she also led reuse and recycling initiatives under the university's Resident Life program. She was also a Smith Strategic Design Fellows program member with the School of Business, where she worked with nonprofit organizations on large-scale branding projects and pitched in marketing case competitions. |