Kip Buckley

Food Waste Summit 2026

Kip Buckley

Vice President of Sales, Organic Solutions – Vanguard Renewables

Kip Buckley

Kip Buckley serves as Vice President of Sales for Organic Solutions at Vanguard Renewables, where he leads national efforts to help food and beverage companies decarbonize their supply chains by transforming organic waste into renewable natural gas. In this role, he partners with major brands to advance sustainability commitments while driving scalable, circular solutions.

Before joining Vanguard Renewables, Kip held senior sales and leadership roles in the environmental services industry, where he built and managed teams focused on recycling, waste reduction, and innovative sustainability technologies. His career reflects more than a decade of experience guiding organizations through complex environmental challenges and creating strategies that deliver measurable impact.

Kip earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. He is an active contributor to industry forums and conferences, where he shares insights on renewable energy, circular economies, and the future of sustainable business. 

Biography

As Executive Chef Director of Nutrition Services for Cheney Public Schools since 2015, LJ has revolutionized K-12 dining by creating scratch-made, nutritious meals while championing sustainable practices to minimize food waste. His innovative approaches inspire students to embrace healthy, eco-conscious food choices. Beyond schools, LJ consults nationwide, collaborating with early childhood programs, the Washington Fire Chiefs Association to integrate sustainable menus into fire stations, and the Department of Defense to educate military families. As the founder of Richland Community College’s Culinary Arts Institute, he empowered future chefs to prioritize sustainability.
On the panel, LJ will share practical strategies to combat food waste, drawing on his servant leadership philosophy and culinary expertise. Using food as a universal language, he’ll challenge attendees to rethink waste through purpose-driven solutions, from community kitchens to institutional reforms, inspiring actionable change for a more sustainable future.

Sessions

2/24/26
9am-Rising Collection Costs- Celebrity Ballroom

2/25/26
11am- Food Waste in Education- Celebrity E