A lifelong Scouter, Lonnie Poole has spent the majority of his life involved with the Boy Scouts of America. More than 50 years after achieving his Eagle Scout rank, Lonnie was recognized with the Silver Beaver Award for his volunteer service to the Occoneechee Council. In fact, Lonnie has served as a Scoutmaster, a board member of the Occoneechee and Central Florida Councils, president of the Occoneechee Council, and Southern Region board member. He has also been recognized as a Distinguished Eagle Scout.

Lonnie is a trained engineer and former U.S. Army pilot. In 1970, he founded Waste Industries USA Inc., one of the largest waste and recycling companies in the Southeast United States. At Waste Industries USA, he served variously as chairman, president, and CEO until his retirement in 2008. He joined the National Solid Waste Management Association in 1971 and has since served on the association’s board as chairman and as a representative of the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Lonnie is the cofounder and past chairman of the board of the Environment Research and Educational Foundation, a leading provider of student support and research in the environmental industry.