Individual Recycling Champion: Amy Rowden
Amy Rowden, 30th Circuit manager of the Department of Social Services’ Children’s Division, leads by example in her dedication to a cleaner planet and a better future for sea turtles and the environment. Her passion for sustainability shines through in her everyday choices, like using reusable straws, bringing her own bags for groceries, and minimizing paper use by opting for digital formats whenever possible. Amy also has a personal recycling setup in her car for leftover food, avoiding single-use plastic and Styrofoam containers when dining out. She even fishes trash out of rivers and encourages her coworkers to be mindful of their environmental impact.
At the office, Amy inspires eco-friendly habits by setting up recycling bins, providing reusable water bottles, and even bringing washable dishes to team picnics. She’ll gently remind anyone using disposable items to reconsider, always advocating for reduce, reuse, and recycle. Amy is the “Recycling Queen” of the 30th Circuit, tirelessly encouraging us all to take small steps for a big difference.
Commissioner Ken Zellers, Amy Rowden, Cameron Gehlert, Deputy Commissioner Caroline Coulter
Team Recycling Champion: MOREuse Movers
When the ITSD-DSS building was lost to a fire more than 2.5 years ago, a creative solution emerged to refurnish the new office location at W. Truman Blvd. By coming together as a team, Kerry Kroll and Dana Ferguson (Attorney General’s Office), Greg Luebbering (Missouri Supreme Court), Terry Stratman (Department of Health & Senior Services), Randy Libbert (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education), and Mary Kay Holterman (ITSD-DSS) were able to secure an extensive list of used furniture through the MOREuse program, valued at over $71,500. This collaboration saved the State of Missouri substantial costs and helped clear out storage spaces across agencies.
The contributions included 23 executive desks, seven credenzas, 40+ office chairs, conference tables, bookcases, shelving units, and more; all vital pieces to support ITSD-DSS’s approximately 90 team members. Special thanks to Jeff Cassmeyer, App Dev Manager, who personally transported a large conference room table that was too big for the moving company. This teamwork exemplifies resourcefulness and the power of multi-agency collaboration.
MOREuse Movers Jeff Cassmeyer, Mary Kay Holterman, Kerry Kroll, Dana Ferguson, Cameron Gehlert
Click here to view a list of all our previous Recycling Champions.
