Circular Philadelphia is excited to announce the appointment of Candice Lawton as its new Executive Director. Candice brings over a decade of experience as a circular economy leader, driving sustainability and systems change at the intersection of business, community and the environment.
Candice’s journey began with a community garden, blossoming into a career that has taken her from local soil to global impact. She has pioneered circular infrastructure in plastic pollution hotspots, created recycling solutions for hard-to-recover items, and led community partnerships that distributed rescued food across the region. Her leadership at organizations like TerraCycle, rePurpose Global and Philabundance has equipped her to guide Circular Philadelphia into a future where circularity is real, practical and inclusive for all Philadelphians.
“We’re thrilled to have Candice join us in leading Circular Philadelphia through its next phase of growth and impact,” said Circular Philadelphia Board President Mike Tannenbaum. “Her vision of what circularity looks like in practice is built firmly upon her extensive experience addressing some of the most gnarly challenges of our time: plastic waste, food waste, and hard-to-recycle materials. This combination of vision and expertise is exactly what we were looking for as we conducted our search, and we’re delighted to be able to harness her leadership as we expand Circular Philadelphia’s ability to create meaningful outcomes and impact throughout our beloved region.”
Co-founder and Interim Executive Director Samantha (Sam) Wittchen will ensure a smooth leadership transition to Lawton before leaving her staff position. Sam, who has been instrumental in shaping Circular Philadelphia since its inception, stepped into the Interim Executive Director role following the departure of fellow co-founder Nic Esposito in February 2025. Sam will be moving on from day-to-day operations but will remain a vital part of the organization as a board member.
“If you had asked me to describe my ideal person for this role, it would’ve been pretty darn close to Candice,” said Sam. “I feel extremely confident in handing off the leadership of Circular Philadelphia to her. It is in very capable hands.”
Candice looks forward to building on the foundation laid by Sam and Nic, and to leading Circular Philadelphia into its next phase of growth and impact.
“I’m grateful and excited to join Circular Philadelphia, especially during such an important moment,” said Candice. “The organization is playing a leading role in finding ways to reduce waste while creating jobs and strengthening Philadelphia communities. Instead of throwing things away, we’re building systems that keep materials in use, support local businesses and make our neighborhoods more resilient. Philadelphia has the innovative spirit and collaborative culture to become a national model for circularity. I’m energized to work with our incredible team, members and partners to make that vision a reality for all Philadelphians.”
Have questions about the leadership transition? Email us at info@circularphiladelphia.org.
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