ReMA’s Young Executive Committee Shares Advice and Recommendations at ReMA2026

From April 13 - 16 2026, ReMA2026 - The Show, Powered by ReMatter is taking over Mandalay Bay and bringing together close to 7,000 industry professionals.

To give attendees a sneak peek of the convention, ReMA News spoke with members from ReMA's Young Executive Leadership Council - Abhijay Goenka, Brandon Sacca, Cameron Keefe, and Matt Bender about the council's presence at ReMA2026, what they're looking forward to at the event, and advice for new attendees.

What are each of you looking forward to at ReMA2026?

Brandon Sacca: For me, it's the learning and networking I look forward to the most. It's so valuable to attend the sessions, hear about different developments in the industry, and learn about market trends. And you can't beat the networking-hearing what your peers are thinking about, going to the happy hours and after-hour events. I think this will be my fifth year going to the ReMA convention and I enjoy it every year.

Matt Bender: I agree. This business can get strenuous. Coming to ReMA's convention and seeing what's up and coming on the show floor and talking with friends in the industry is just a shot of rejuvenation for me. It gets me ready to hit the ground running when I get back home to my business.

Abhijay Goenka: The organizers have done a great job this year putting together the education sessions. YEC has worked hard putting together sessions as well as those from leadership, education, market update, and even from equipment standpoint its super valuable. It's been an eventful year and there's been a lot going on with current events, tariffs, and new trade flows. It's hard to stay on top of it all. So, talking to your peers and learning what types of pivots or changes they're making is really validating, even if it's just knowing that none of us have the answers.

What sessions are you interested in attending this year?

Matt: One of the sessions I'm interested in is the successful partnership one with your company your community. One of our goals at Speedie Recycling is to learn how to become more involved in the community and better support our community members in a productive way.

Brandon: I'm interested in the manufacturing and innovation track, it's so important to stay up to date about what's new in the market, what my consumers going to be looking and how I can help my suppliers get ready for any changes.

Abhijay: I'm excited to get to see Alex Rodriguez speak and another is "Best Practices: Personal and Corporate Branding." Tim Ridderbos,Vice President, Circular Business Development at Shapiro is going to lead the session. While Steelbro is already well known in the industry, I believe there is always room to enhance our digital and personal exposure. Learning how other global leaders use social media to build trust and brand equity will help us maintain our competitive edge and ensure our reputation as a market leader is reflected across all modern platforms.

What has stood out to you from past conventions that you've been able to apply to your company?

Brandon: For me it's always valuable to learn what my peers in the industry are thinking about and getting their insight and perspectives. It's good to hear how people are handling challenges and those stories can be great to take back to your company along with the networking.

Abhijay: There are several small things that add up for me. Seeing the equipment and the new capabilities on the show floor informs how you can hold your conversations with different consumers. From an operational standpoint, a few years ago I learned about new hedging strategies and saw tools at a ReMA convention. We brought back some of those tools to the company and still use them today.

Matt: You might find yourself sitting in an education session and think it doesn't pertain to you. But five years later you're in a situation and you recall something you learned from that session. That's often what happens at a ReMA convention.

What can attendees expect from the Young Executive Council's presence at ReMA2026?

Abhijay: YEC is hosting two sessions-one is with WIR about reverse mentorship and what leaders can learn from the next generation. Experienced individuals in the industry will share practical insights into workforce engagement, adaptability, and other skills that the next generation can bring to long-established companies. The other session is about personal and corporate branding, which I mentioned earlier. It should provide practical tools and insight on branding.

Like every year, we're also holding the Young Executive after-hours event. It'll be sponsored PMR and held at Rhythm and Riffs. The event is a highlight for me every year. It's a great way to connect with your colleagues. For people who aren't involved in YEC, it's a good opportunity to meet new people, get involved, and see some of the energy we bring to the industry. We'll also be presenting the Young Executive of the Year Award during the convention.

Matt: The YEC after-hours event is something I look forward to every year. It brings together people in the industry who are going through similar issues and challenges as you are. There's so much to learn and so many great people to talk to at the event. The Young Executive Council, for me, has been one of the biggest contributing factors to my growth and the growth for Speedie Recycling. The more you learn and the more you get involved the better of a young executive you'll be.

Brandon: It's a great opportunity to get more comfortable at these types of events. It can be intimidating to be a young executive at a trade show with 8,000 people in the room, most of whom have been in the industry much longer than they have. At YEC, you don't need to worry if you're asking a "dumb" question because someone else in the room is probably thinking the same thing.

Do you have advice for first-time attendees?

Abhijay: Check out the Young Executive after-hours event. There's a lot of friendly people to talk to who are great at introducing you to others in the industry. Like Brandon said, walking through a national convention can feel very overwhelming so making one or two friends will lead to more connections, and 10 years down the line that's the foundation of your career.

Brandon: Try to go to a little of everything, and don't be afraid to attend events or sessions even if you don't know anyone else there. You might sit next to someone you don't know who you should know. The learning sessions and the networking events are worthwhile. People love to talk and teach you about things they already know. I also recommend if you want to get more involved at YEC, reach to me, Matt, Cameron Keefe, or Abhijay, or get involved in your local board.

Matt: Soak it all in. This business is all about connections. Use ReMA and the event to your advantage to meet people and make connections so you can have them in your back pocket. You get out what you put into this industry. And don't forget to wear a good pair of comfortable shoes because there's a lot of walking at this event.