An entrepreneur and activist, Wendy has worked at Hugo Neu for over 30 years, alongside and strategically advising her late husband John L. Neu, who served as Chairman until his death in February 2013.
In her role as Chairman and CEO of the Hugo Neu group, Wendy leads the companies in all aspects of strategy and development.
Since joining Hugo Neu in 1980, Wendy has been involved in all aspects of the company recycling business, from sales and operations, to government affairs and financial oversight. She has led efforts to ensure that Hugo Neu's recycling operations meet and exceed state and federal regulatory standards and has actively advocated for raising standards in the industry as a whole. She was instrumental in Hugo Neu's 2002 effort to create an economically sustainable curbside recycling program for New York City and has also been a leader in electronic recycling as Chairman of Hugo Neu's then-WeRecycle! subsidiary, since Hugo Neu acquired the business in 2009.
Wendy actively advocates for business and environmental integrity and leadership through her work within the industry, and working with environmental and social justice grassroots organizations. She has chaired the Government Relations Committee for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, was a founding member of the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER), and serves on the Product Stewardship Institute's Advisory Council.
Wendy has been honored by numerous industry and environmental groups, including NY/NJ Baykeeper (on whose Board she presently serves), the New York League of Conservation Voters and Earthday 2006. In 1989, focusing on the areas of social welfare and animal rights and rescue, Wendy organized and expanded a non-profit organization, Companion Animal Placement, dedicated to the support of senior citizens and animal rescue. Wendy is a Trustee of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and a co-chair of the E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) initiative on the East Coast, which advocates for environmental legislation on behalf of NRDC.
A graduate of Cardozo School of Law (J.D.), Wendy started out her professional career as a social worker for Trenton State Prison and the Yardville Correctional Facility, where she developed and implemented inmate work programs.
See Wendy's industry speeches here.
