Alumni of Distinction
Marlene Conway
Marlene Conway is a 1979 graduate of the Mohawk College Marketing Program, and a 1985 graduate of the Mohawk College Business Administration Program. Marlene is the founder of "Knowaste Technologies Inc". She has spent the last eight years developing environmental strategies to recycle, among other things, diapers and other personal care products. Marlene has pioneered a patented process that separates a diaper's wood pulp from its superabsorbent polymer and allows both to be recycled, something no-one else has ever been able to do. What is most remarkable though, is that Marlene has pioneered this process with no formal scientific training.
Marlene has demonstrated that a business opportunity can be beneficial both to its internal stakeholders, and to the international community as well. Marlene's business breakthrough has helped remedy a long standing environmental problem, after all there is over five million tonnes of diaper waste produced in North America per year. This is waste that would otherwise sit in landfill sites. Marlene's recycling processes are supported by a full scale demonstration facility, which is providing recycling services for over 300 institutions in the Metropolitan Toronto area. Marlene has demonstrated that with determination and fight, she can achieve anything she sets out to do. Marlene was able to persuade huge corporations such as Du Pont and Proctor & Gamble to put up more than $15 million dollars to fund her efforts. Having done so, Marlene is now preparing to turn other environmental nightmares into corporate opportunities. Her newly founded company, "Envirolutions", will be tackling such challenges as te zebra mussel problem, as well as other opportunities such as "Medwaste", the development of a process to recycle medical products. She has recently purchased a plant in Stoney Creek, which will house "Envirolutions", and will not only help her continue her environmental research and development strategies, but will also support outside businesses in their environmental efforts. The company plans to act as a long term conduit for environmental technology development. Its mission is "to develop efficient value added global environmental technologies on a cooperative basis with government and industry to demonstrate environmental stewardship".
Marlene is currently proposing many other exciting business opportunities. She has recently approached the Disney Corporation, and they have indicated that they are happy to receive her proposal to establish a diaper recycling plant in the Epcot Centre in Florida.
Marlene's efforts have not gone unnoticed in the scientific and business communities. To recognize her achievements, the Chemical Institute of Canada presented Marlene with full Associates Degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. In 1993 Marlene and her company were awarded the Recycling Council of Ontario's Waste Minimization Award for the development of significant environmental technologies. They were also awarded the Mississauga Board of Trade "Environmental Service" Award in 1995. Marlene and her company have been showcased on many radio and television programs, and she has lectured at many conferences. She has been featured in several business publications, and was featured on the cover of the September 1996 issue of Canadian Business Magazine, which showcased successful women entrepreneurs.
Marlene Conway shows that Ontario College graduates do indeed play an integral part not only in their own business communities, but globally as well.
Marlene Conway also received an Ontario Premier's Award in the Business category in 1997.
