Second Life Sessions: 19 Conversations with Tech Repair, Reuse & E-Waste Leaders

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We went to Mobile Disrupt with a camera and a list of the most interesting people in the tech care ecosystem. We came home with 19 conversations about repair, reuse, and the fight against e-waste, and they are all coming to the TCA YouTube channel.

By Rob Link, Founder & CEO, Tech Care Association · August 3, 2026 · 7 min read

Key Takeaways

  • Second Life Sessions is a new TCA interview series: 19 one-on-one conversations filmed at Mobile Disrupt in Miami with people working across repair, reuse, reverse logistics, and responsible recycling.
  • The interviews were conducted by Emily Blethen, whose sustainability background connects the day-to-day work of repair back to the bigger environmental picture.
  • Every guest answered the same four questions, including the big one: what do you wish more people understood about the e-waste crisis?
  • Episodes land on the TCA YouTube channel in the coming weeks, with shorts and clips rolling out across our socials. Subscribe now so you don't miss the launch.

What's in this post

  1. The person behind the camera
  2. The questions we asked
  3. Meet the guests
  4. You're going to want to watch these
  5. Why we show up, and why you should too
  6. Help us tell their stories
  7. Common questions about Second Life Sessions

If you've followed the TCA for any length of time, you know one of my favorite things to do: promote the people in this industry who are doing great things. And here's the truth. We have so many people doing great things. Repair educators. Shop owners. Software builders. Parts suppliers. Recyclers. Reuse advocates. People quietly solving hard problems every single day, keeping devices in use and out of landfills.

Their stories deserve to be told. So we're telling them.

At Mobile Disrupt, while thousands of repair professionals, refurbishers, and industry partners were networking on the show floor, our team was pulling some of the most interesting people in the tech care ecosystem aside for one-on-one interviews. The result is Second Life Sessions, a new interview series from the TCA exploring repair, reuse, and the fight against e-waste, told through the voices of the people actually doing the work.

Second Life Sessions by the numbers: 19 guests, 17 organizations, 1 show floor. A new interview series from the Tech Care Association, filmed at Mobile Disrupt 2026 in Miami.

The Person Behind the Camera

The Second Life Sessions interviews were conducted by Emily Blethen, who recently completed her Master of the Environment, Renewable & Sustainable Energy degree at the University of Colorado Boulder. Emily has been working with the TCA this summer to help expand our reach and complete special projects for the association. This series is a perfect example of what that partnership makes possible. Her background in sustainability brought exactly the right lens to these conversations: every interview connects the day-to-day work of repair and reuse back to the bigger environmental picture.

The Questions We Asked

Every guest sat down with the same core questions.

The four questions asked of every Second Life Sessions guest: where their work fits in the electronics life cycle, what they are building, how their work creates access to technology, and what they wish more people understood about the e-waste crisis.

The answers surprised us, and we think they'll surprise you too. Here's just one example, from our conversation with Ansar Khan of RepairDesk, whose platform serves as the operating system for independent repair stores around the world. His team integrates directly with major parts suppliers so store inventory manages itself, gives their software free to university repair centers, and is setting up a nonprofit that trains people with disabilities for careers in repair. But when we asked what he wished more people understood about the e-waste crisis, his answer was disarmingly honest: that repair stores exist. Before joining the industry, he didn't realize he could walk down the street and get his phone fixed, or at least get a quote.

"I'm guilty of defaulting to 'let's buy a new phone,'" he admitted, "partly because the carriers make it so easy with their deals."

Think about that. Someone now working at the heart of the repair industry once didn't know repair was an option. If that awareness gap exists even among tech professionals, imagine how wide it is among everyday consumers. Closing that gap is exactly why Second Life Sessions exists.

Meet the Guests

Here's the full Second Life Sessions lineup: the people doing great things, and the corner of the electronics life cycle where each of them is doing it.

Many of the people on this list I am proud, and have the pleasure, to call longtime good friends. And some of the new people I met at Mobile Disrupt will be soon enough. That's the way this industry works.

  • Ansar Khan (RepairDesk): The point-of-sale platform powering independent repair stores worldwide, on automating inventory and opening doors into repair careers.
  • Brennan Zelener (WholeCell): Inventory software built for the used-device business, where tracking every phone is the difference between profit and chaos.
  • Austin Martin (iFixit Pro): The most recognized name in repair education, on why repair should be every student's superpower.
  • Steve Manning (FutureDial): Automating the processing of used mobile devices at scale. The machinery behind the second-life economy.
  • Eden Morrison (URT): The responsible recycling side of the story: what happens when a device truly reaches the end of the line.
  • Tony Sciarrotta (former Executive Director, Reverse Logistics Association): A global authority on the returns industry, on returns, recovery, and why what flows backward through the supply chain matters as much as what flows forward.
  • Shannon Fertitta (RIOS): The Executive Director of the Recycling Industry Operating Standard, on what responsible recycling really requires, and why certification matters for everyone downstream.
  • Jon Newman (PrologMobile): The data behind the second-life device market, bringing transparency to every used phone that changes hands.
  • Frank Pipolo (FutureDial): A second perspective from the device-processing world on where automation is taking the industry.
  • Eric Houdek (Phone LCD Parts): The parts supply chain that keeps every repair bench in business.
  • Joel Mansnerus (Fixably): Repair management software, and what thousands of repair workflows reveal about where the industry is heading.
  • Peter Evans (All Things Circular): The circular economy in practice. Designing waste out of the system entirely.
  • Sandy Zimmerman & Jodi Ortiz (VT Services): A joint conversation, and one of the most energetic sessions we recorded, on their corner of the tech care world.
  • Michael Leiberman (Aeris Protective Packaging): Eco-friendly, recyclable air-chamber packaging that gets devices where they're going in one piece. A second life starts with surviving the shipment.
  • Louis Garcia Fabucci (Cellphone MD): The origin story so many shop owners will recognize: from one repair bench to a thriving business.
  • Jordan Notenbaum (MobileSentrix): Inside one of the largest parts and tools suppliers in the industry. The ecosystem repair shops depend on every single week.
  • Alberto Delgadillo (Mannapov): On the global trade in used devices and what it takes to do it right.
  • Chris Hale (SmartphonesPLUS): The buyback business. Turning the phone in your drawer into value instead of waste.
  • Rich Bulger (All Things Circular): Closing the loop on circularity, and what it takes to make reuse the default rather than the exception.

Every one of these guests gets their own full episode. These are just the opening notes. The real stories are in the conversations.

Diagram showing where the Second Life Sessions guests fit across the electronics life cycle: repair and education, parts and tools, processing and data, reuse and resale, logistics and packaging, and recycling and circularity.

You're Going to Want to Watch These

Here's the exciting part: it all starts in the coming weeks. All Second Life Sessions interviews will be published on the TCA YouTube channel, and we'll be releasing shorts, clips, quote cards, and highlights across our social channels throughout the series. Keep an eye out for all of our content on these interviews everywhere you follow the TCA. Sneak peeks are already rolling out, the series trailer is right around the corner, and full episodes follow close behind.

Trust us, you're going to want to watch these:

  • Learn from people who've done it. Every guest has built something: a shop, a platform, a training program, a recycling operation. These are practical insights from practitioners, not theory.
  • See the whole life cycle. Most of us work in one slice of the electronics life cycle. These interviews connect the dots between repair, refurbishment, reuse, and responsible recycling.
  • Find your next partner or idea. More than one guest described projects, integrations, and community programs that could spark your next revenue stream or collaboration.
  • Get fluent in the e-waste conversation. When customers ask why repair matters, you'll have stories and perspectives to share, straight from the people leading the movement.

Subscribe to the channel now so you don't miss a single episode, and watch our social feeds over the coming weeks. The previews, the trailer, and the first interviews are all on their way.

Why We Show Up, and Why You Should Too

None of these conversations would have happened if we hadn't been in the room. That's the thing about industry events: the best outcomes are almost never on the agenda. They happen in hallways, at booths, and across a camera lens between sessions.

Earlier this year, we made the case that 2026 is the year to show up. In an era of digital disconnect, in-person connection is one of the most valuable investments a repair professional can make. Second Life Sessions is proof of concept. We showed up at Mobile Disrupt, and we came home with 19 conversations worth sharing with the entire industry.

And we're not slowing down. This week, the TCA will be at the ITAD Summit (August 4–5), where the IT asset disposition world gathers to talk data security, value recovery, and responsible end-of-life management. Then on August 18–19, we'll be at the All Wireless & Prepaid Expo, one of the biggest gatherings for the wireless, prepaid, and repair retail community.

If you're attending either event, come find us. We'd love to meet you. And if you're still deciding which events deserve your time this year, the TCA Industry Events Calendar is the industry's only complete, independent, no-kickbacks list of tech repair, reuse, and tech care events. It's the best place to keep up to date on everything happening in this industry, all year long.

Help Us Tell Their Stories

This industry is full of people doing great things. Far more than one series can capture. Second Life Sessions is 19 stories. There are thousands more out there, waiting to be told.

The TCA is a nonprofit, and everything we produce, from this series to our free resources and the events calendar, is funded by the members who believe this industry deserves to be seen and heard. With more support from the industry, by joining the TCA, we can produce more content like this, so that more people can learn about what we do: how repair works, why reuse matters, and who the people behind it all really are.

So here's what you can do today:

  1. Subscribe to the TCA YouTube channel and turn on notifications for the series launch.
  2. Follow us on social for shorts and clips from the interviews over the next few months.
  3. Join the TCA and help us tell the stories of the people doing great things in this industry.

We can't wait to share them with you.

Common Questions About Second Life Sessions

What is Second Life Sessions?

Second Life Sessions is a video interview series from the Tech Care Association (the TCA) featuring 19 conversations with leaders in tech repair, reuse, and electronics recycling, filmed at Mobile Disrupt in Miami.

Where can I watch Second Life Sessions?

All Second Life Sessions episodes will be published on the TCA YouTube channel, with shorts and clips shared across the TCA's social media channels. Subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications to catch the series launch.

Who is featured in Second Life Sessions?

The series features Ansar Khan (RepairDesk), Brennan Zelener (WholeCell), Austin Martin (iFixit Pro), Steve Manning (FutureDial), Eden Morrison (URT), Tony Sciarrotta (former Executive Director, Reverse Logistics Association), Shannon Fertitta (RIOS), Jon Newman (PrologMobile), Frank Pipolo (FutureDial), Eric Houdek (Phone LCD Parts), Joel Mansnerus (Fixably), Peter Evans (All Things Circular), Sandy Zimmerman and Jodi Ortiz (VT Services), Michael Leiberman (Aeris Protective Packaging), Louis Garcia Fabucci (Cellphone MD), Jordan Notenbaum (MobileSentrix), Alberto Delgadillo (Mannapov), Chris Hale (SmartphonesPLUS), and Rich Bulger (All Things Circular).

Build your future with the TCA

Industry interviews, creator collaborations, market data, events, and advocacy built specifically for independent tech repair professionals. Membership starts free.

Join the TCA Community

More from the TCA Blog

Rob Link is the founder of the TCA. The TCA is independent of carriers, manufacturers, and insurance companies, which is exactly why it can tell the whole channel the truth about where this industry is headed.

Sources: Interviews recorded at Mobile Disrupt, Miami, July 7 and 8, 2026. Guest roles and affiliations confirmed against interview footage and public records. The Tech Care Association (TCA) is the leading nonprofit trade association for independent tech repair professionals in North America.

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Why 2026 Is the Year to Show Up: The Complete Tech Repair Industry Events Calendar, Real Connection, and the Role of TCA

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Tech Repair Industry Events 2026: The Complete TCA Events Calendar

Why 2026 Is the Year to Show Up: The Complete Tech Repair Industry Events Calendar, Real Connection, and the Role of TCA

By Rob Link, Founder & CEO, Tech Care Association (TCA)

If there's one thing I've learned from spending years in the tech repair and tech care industry, it's this: the real value isn't just in the tools, the parts, or the platforms. It's in the people.

As we head into 2026, I want to speak directly to repair professionals, refurbishers, reuse advocates, recyclers, educators, and industry partners. This year represents a real opportunity to learn more, connect better, and build stronger, more resilient businesses. Industry events — when approached thoughtfully — are one of the most effective ways to do exactly that.

That's why the Tech Care Association created and maintains the TCA Industry Events Calendar — and why it should become a resource you return to again and again throughout 2026.

View the 2026 Events Calendar →
2026 Tech Repair Events Q1 Q1 Q2 Q2 Q3 Q4 Complete coverage of conferences, workshops, training, summits & meetups

The Only Complete Tech Repair Industry Events Calendar

Let's be very clear: no other organization provides a complete, independent list of tech repair, tech reuse, and tech care industry events.

Most event lists you'll find online are incomplete, outdated, or quietly shaped by sponsorships and paid placements. Many only highlight events owned or promoted by the organization publishing the list.

The TCA Industry Events Calendar is different by design.

It is the only place where we actively work to list the full range of industry events across many categories, ensuring repair professionals have access to comprehensive, unbiased information about every opportunity to learn, network, and grow.

Our calendar includes:

  • Tech repair and electronics service conferences
  • Right to Repair and policy-focused events
  • Tech reuse, refurbishment, and sustainability gatherings
  • Training classes and hands-on workshops
  • Regional meetups and community-driven events
  • Industry networking and partner-focused conferences

If it matters to the tech care ecosystem, it belongs on this calendar.

Unbiased, Nonprofit, and Fully Transparent

TCA is a nonprofit trade association, and that matters.

We do not profit from any of the events listed on our calendar. We do not accept kickbacks, commissions, or profit-sharing arrangements — ever.
What Makes TCA Different ✗ No Kickbacks Ever ✗ No Commissions Zero profit ✓ Full Disclosure Always transparent ✓ Nonprofit Mission Community first

In some cases, we may exchange membership benefits for access to an event, such as tickets or limited display space. When that happens, we disclose it clearly. Transparency applies not only to events, but also to the free resources we offer.

If TCA ever receives compensation, discounts, or special access as part of a partnership, our readers will know. Most of our relationships exist simply because organizations choose to become members of TCA and support our nonprofit mission — not because money changes hands behind the scenes.

That independence allows us to provide honest context about events — including noting when some lean more toward hype or profit-seeking. That doesn't mean those events have no value. Sometimes it's worth attending simply to be around like-minded people. What matters is knowing what you're committing to and why.

A Snapshot of Events You'll Find on the 2026 Calendar

To give you a sense of the diversity on the calendar, here are just a few examples of the types of events we're tracking and sharing:

Event Categories

  • Right to Repair Summits & Advocacy Days – Events focused on policy, legislation, and grassroots advocacy that directly impact how repair businesses operate.
  • Regional Tech Repair Conferences – Smaller, more focused gatherings that emphasize peer-to-peer learning, practical business insights, and local networking.
  • Sustainability & Tech Reuse Events – Conferences and meetups centered on refurbishment, reuse, e-waste reduction, and circular economy practices.
  • Industry Partner & Vendor Conferences – Opportunities to learn about new tools, parts sourcing, diagnostics, and services — with a critical eye toward real value.

These events — and many more — are continuously updated on the TCA calendar as we learn about them.

Learning, Connecting, and Discovering New Opportunities

Industry events are not just about sessions and swag. When chosen intentionally, they help you:

Why Attend Industry Events

  • Learn new repair techniques and operational best practices
  • Stay ahead of regulatory and Right to Repair developments
  • Meet vendors, partners, and collaborators you won't find online
  • Discover new revenue streams and business opportunities
Industry Events 📚 Learn New techniques 🤝 Connect Build partnerships ⚖️ Policy Updates Right to Repair 📈 Grow Business New opportunities

The strongest outcomes often come from conversations between sessions — the kind that don't show up on an agenda. These connections frequently lead to partnerships, referrals, and long-term professional relationships.

Throughout 2026, TCA will also publish follow-up stories and reflections on events to share their real-world value, not just the marketing claims.

Free Resources That Help You Grow

One of the things that truly sets TCA apart is our commitment to free, practical resources for the industry.

We believe access to information should not be locked behind paywalls. That's why we offer guides, references, and tools designed to help repair shops and industry professionals:

  • Navigate Right to Repair issues
  • Improve business operations and customer trust
  • Understand sustainability and reuse opportunities
  • Stay informed about industry trends
📚

Explore our complete library of free tech repair industry resources. And just like our events calendar, we disclose any partnerships or compensation tied to resources — because trust matters.

Events, Human Connection, and the Digital Disconnect

There's a deeper reason events matter in 2026.

We're living through what's often called the Digital Disconnect — a time of Digital Loneliness, an Intimacy Deficit, and what many now describe as a Loneliness Epidemic. Constant screen use has replaced meaningful face-to-face interaction, even as we remain perpetually "connected" online.

Behaviors like phubbing (phone snubbing) and technoference — when technology interferes with relationships — quietly erode trust, empathy, and mental health.

Digital Disconnect Isolated Disconnected Screen time ≠ Real connection → Real Connection 👤 👤 👤 Industry Events Build partnerships Share knowledge Strengthen community Showing up matters — for your mental health and your business
Industry events, meetups, and in-person gatherings help reverse that trend. They remind us that this industry is made of real people solving real problems together. Showing up matters — for your mental health and your business.

Creating Real-World Connection in Your Own Community

You don't need to wait for a national conference to build meaningful connection.

Local events often create the strongest bonds. Hosting or participating in community gatherings can:

  • Strengthen your local reputation
  • Build trust with peers and customers
  • Create referral and support networks

Platforms like Meetup and Luma make it easier than ever to host low-pressure, community-first events.

In 2026, TCA will be producing content specifically designed to help you create and host local events — from informal meetups to educational gatherings.

Stay tuned, and keep coming back for more.

Training Classes and Education Opportunities in 2026

Training and education will be a growing focus of the TCA Events Calendar in 2026.

As we learn about:

  • Hands-on repair training classes
  • Certification programs
  • Vendor-led workshops
  • Technical and business education sessions

We'll add them to the calendar — another reason to bookmark it and check back often.

We're also exploring ways to help TCA members access training discounts and make it easier for organizations to post training events directly.

Support the Mission: Join the TCA

You can support this work by joining TCA:

🤝

Industry Partners can add events to the calendar and help expand industry knowledge.

Repair Shops & Store Partners help fund the creation of free resources for everyone.

Membership directly supports our nonprofit mission and allows us to offer more tools, transparency, and opportunities for the entire industry to thrive.

Join TCA Today

A True Industry Leader — Built for the Community

Everything TCA does is grounded in independence, transparency, and service.

We don't profit from events. We don't sell access. We don't hide relationships.

We listen, we share, and we build.

We also have exciting plans for 2026 that we'll be sharing in the coming weeks.

To stay informed, visit the TCA Blog for tech repair industry insights and analysis.

And make the TCA Industry Events Calendar part of your 2026 planning:

Because real growth in 2026 won't come from another screen — it will come from showing up, learning together, and building real human connection.

— Rob Link
Founder & CEO, Tech Care Association

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Why Your Community Doesn’t Know You Exist (And How eWaste Warriors Can Help You Fix That)

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Here's the hard truth: More than 80% of people with a broken device go straight back to where they bought it. Not to you. Not to any repair shop. They go to the carrier store, the big box retailer, or the manufacturer—even though those options are often more expensive, less convenient, and worse for the environment.

Why? Because most people don't even know tech repair is an option. They don't know you exist. Why do you think you have to work so hard to get referrals from carrier stores? Because their entire business model is built on selling new devices, not sending customers to you.

That's not a failure on your part. It's the reality of operating in an industry where customer education comes before customer acquisition. You're not just competing with other repair shops—you're competing with decades of consumer conditioning that says "broken = buy new."

The good news? You have the power to change that narrative. And you now have a powerful ally: eWaste Warriors, Tech Care Association's public awareness and volunteer engagement initiative designed to spread the repair and reuse message to communities across the country.

80%+
Go straight to retailers when devices break
62M
Tons of e-waste generated annually worldwide
#1
Education is your most important tool

The Repair Illusion: Why Big Tech Doesn't Really Want to Fix Your Devices

Apple will tell you they do repair. They'll put out press releases and talk about their commitment to sustainability. But let's be honest: it's an elaborate PR stunt.

Think about what actually happens when a customer walks into an Apple Store with a device issue. One of the "geniuses" tells them they can book a repair appointment—for a week from today. They need to back up and wipe their device. And plan on waiting a few hours for what should be a simple repair.

Or, the genius says: "I can sell you a brand new unit and you can walk out the door with it right now."

What do you think most customers choose?

Now think about what happens at the carrier store. A customer walks in with a cracked screen or a battery issue. Do you think that salesperson pulls out your business card and sends them straight to you?

Heck no.

They try to upgrade the customer. They pitch a new device. They talk about the latest model, the best trade-in deal, the promotional financing. And if all else fails—if the customer really insists they just want their device fixed—maybe they hand them your card and send them to your shop.

Why? Because these are all sales operations run by salespeople whose job is to sell as many brand new devices as possible.

These big tech companies only care about selling more stuff. And here's their secret: it's not even all about selling a new device. It's about locking the customer into a long-term deal that keeps them in their ecosystem. Yes, it's all about customer retention for them. They could care less about repair.

If they really cared about repair, they would make it a big part of their business. Does Apple have any signs in their stores that mention repair? No. Do carrier stores even do repair? Of course not. It's all about selling new devices. After all, that's what they are: sales operations.

This is why you exist. This is why your community needs you. And this is why education is the most important thing you can do.

Apple Store interior with customers

Major retailers prioritize new device sales over repair services

The Education-First Business Challenge

Tech repair isn't the only industry that faces this challenge. Consider these parallels:

  • Solar energy companies spend years educating homeowners about ROI, tax credits, and environmental benefits before making a sale
  • Electric vehicle manufacturers had to overcome range anxiety, charging infrastructure concerns, and decades of gas-powered vehicle habits
  • Organic food producers invested heavily in consumer education about pesticides, health benefits, and sustainable farming before organic became mainstream
  • Financial advisors and insurance agents must educate clients about complex products and long-term value before earning trust

What do all these industries have in common? They require significant customer education before purchase decisions happen. And the businesses that invest in that education—through community engagement, content creation, and public awareness—are the ones that thrive.

The Customer Decision Journey

Device Breaks 📱 💔 Without Education Go to retailer Buy New Device 💸 Lost customer With Education Know repair exists Choose Repair ✅ Your customer! The Education Gap 80% of customers don't know repair is an option Education = Customer Acquisition

Tech repair is no different. You're not just fixing devices. You're changing minds.

Community gathering and networking

Community engagement builds trust that advertising can't buy

Why Community Engagement Matters More Than Advertising

You could spend thousands on Facebook ads and Google campaigns. But here's what works better: showing up in your community as the local expert.

When you engage with your community, you:

  • Build trust and credibility that no ad can buy
  • Position yourself as an educator and advocate, not just a service provider
  • Create word-of-mouth referrals that convert at higher rates than cold traffic
  • Establish relationships with businesses and organizations that can send you steady referrals
  • Become the go-to resource when local media needs an expert voice

Most importantly, you start changing the default behavior in your community. Instead of "my phone broke, I'll go to Verizon," it becomes "my phone broke, I'll call that repair shop that spoke at the Chamber meeting."

10 Ways to Connect With Your Community (Starting This Week)

Community networking event

1 Join Your Local Chamber of Commerce

Why it works: Chambers are filled with business owners who need your services and can refer you to their customers and employees.

Action steps:

  • Attend monthly meetings and networking events
  • Volunteer to speak about e-waste reduction or tech sustainability
  • Offer member-exclusive discounts to drive initial traffic
  • Sponsor chamber events to increase visibility
  • Join committees related to sustainability, small business, or technology

2 Partner With Local Nonprofits and Community Organizations

Why it works: Nonprofits often work with underserved populations who need affordable tech solutions. They're also trusted community voices.

Action steps:

  • Offer discounted or free repair services for nonprofit staff and clients
  • Provide refurbished devices to organizations serving low-income families, students, or seniors
  • Speak at nonprofit events about digital inclusion and e-waste
  • Partner with environmental groups on e-waste collection drives
  • Connect with workforce development programs to offer training or internships

3 Reach Out to Local Schools and Libraries

Why it works: Educational institutions have tech needs, limited budgets, and direct access to families in your community.

Action steps:

  • Offer to speak at career days or STEM events
  • Provide repair services for school-owned devices at discounted rates
  • Host a "Tech Repair 101" workshop at the local library
  • Donate refurbished devices to students who need them
  • Partner with school tech coordinators on device lifecycle management

4 Write Letters to the Editor and Op-Eds

Why it works: Local newspapers and news websites are always looking for community voices on relevant issues.

Action steps:

  • Write about e-waste, environmental impact, and local solutions
  • Respond to news stories about technology, sustainability, or consumer issues
  • Share data about device waste in your community
  • Position yourself as a local expert and solution provider
  • Include your business name and location in your bio

5 Become a Source for Local Media

Why it works: Journalists need experts to quote. Being featured in news stories positions you as an authority and reaches thousands of potential customers.

Action steps:

  • Reach out to local reporters who cover technology, business, or environmental issues
  • Offer yourself as an expert source for stories about device repair, e-waste, or consumer tech
  • Respond quickly when reporters need quotes or information
  • Pitch story ideas about local e-waste problems, repair success stories, or consumer savings
  • Build relationships with journalists by being helpful and reliable

6 Attend Local Government and Community Meetings

Why it works: These meetings influence local policy and give you direct access to decision-makers and engaged community members.

Action steps:

  • Attend city council, county commission, or town hall meetings
  • Speak during public comment periods about e-waste, right to repair, or sustainability initiatives
  • Propose partnerships between your business and local government programs
  • Support policies that benefit repair businesses and consumers
  • Network with other attendees and community leaders

7 Participate in Local Business Networks and Events

Why it works: Business networking events connect you with other entrepreneurs who can become customers, partners, or referral sources.

Action steps:

  • Join local business networking groups (BNI, LeTip, etc.)
  • Attend "Shop Local" events and small business showcases
  • Participate in farmers markets, street fairs, and community festivals
  • Sponsor local sports teams, school events, or charity fundraisers
  • Host or co-host networking events at your shop

8 Host Your Own Community Events

Why it works: When you host an event, you control the message and create a memorable experience.

Action steps:

  • Organize an e-waste collection drive in partnership with a local recycler
  • Host a "Fix-It Clinic" where people can bring devices for free diagnostics
  • Offer free workshops on device maintenance, data security, or extending device life
  • Partner with other local businesses for a "Shop Local" event
  • Celebrate milestones (your anniversary, Earth Day, America Recycles Day) with special promotions and community activities

9 Build Relationships With Complementary Businesses

Why it works: Businesses that serve similar customers can become powerful referral partners.

Action steps:

  • Connect with cell phone carrier stores (remember, 80%+ of people go there first—make sure they know to send customers to you)
  • Partner with electronics retailers, computer stores, and office supply shops
  • Build relationships with insurance agents who handle device protection plans
  • Network with IT consultants and managed service providers who work with small businesses
  • Offer reciprocal referral arrangements and track results

10 Leverage Social Proof and Testimonials

Why it works: People trust other people more than they trust businesses.

Action steps:

  • Ask satisfied customers to leave Google reviews and share their experiences
  • Feature customer testimonials in your marketing materials and at community events
  • Share before/after photos and success stories on social media
  • Highlight the environmental impact of repairs you've completed (devices saved from landfills, CO₂ prevented, etc.)
  • Create case studies showing how repair saved customers money compared to replacement
Team collaboration and community engagement

Building community partnerships creates sustainable growth for your repair business

Tech repair workshop and tools

Your expertise and community connections are your greatest business assets

eWaste Warriors: Already Making an Impact in Communities Nationwide

Here's the challenge: doing all of this takes time, energy, and resources. You're already running a business, managing repairs, and serving customers. How are you supposed to also become a community organizer and public educator?

That's exactly why TCA created eWaste Warriors.

At TCA, we know that educating consumers is job number one—and that's why we created this new volunteer group. eWaste Warriors is a public awareness and volunteer engagement initiative designed to amplify the repair and reuse message across the country. It's not just another program—it's a movement to change how people think about their devices and the businesses that repair them.

And it's already working.

eWaste Warriors has already launched and is doing great work in communities across the country. We kicked things off by launching our first chapter in Arlington, Virginia, where local volunteers are connecting with residents, businesses, and organizations to spread the repair message.

This week, eWaste Warriors is a partner at DC Startup & Tech Week, spreading the message of repair and reuse to more than 7,000 attendees. We're talking to entrepreneurs, tech professionals, investors, and innovators about the importance of device longevity, e-waste reduction, and supporting local repair businesses.

And we're just getting started. eWaste Warriors will be at more events over the coming weeks, building awareness, recruiting volunteers, and connecting repair professionals with the communities they serve.

How eWaste Warriors Supports Your Community Engagement

Ready-made educational materials: Access professionally designed content, infographics, and talking points you can use at events, in media outreach, and on social media.

National awareness campaigns: Benefit from TCA's advocacy and media efforts that raise the profile of tech repair and e-waste reduction nationwide.

Volunteer network: Connect with passionate advocates who can help you organize events, spread the word, and engage with your community.

Shared resources and best practices: Learn from other repair professionals about what's working in their communities and adapt proven strategies for your market.

Credibility and authority: Align yourself with a recognized movement that gives you instant credibility when speaking to media, community organizations, and potential partners.

Software tools to help you: TCA is building platforms to connect consumers with local repair providers and promote device lifecycle management—making it easier for people to find you and choose repair.

How to Get Involved

You can join the movement today:

  • Register as an eWaste Warrior supporter and access campaign materials
  • Recruit volunteers in your community to help spread the repair message
  • Participate in coordinated awareness events and campaigns
  • Share your success stories and community engagement wins with the network
  • Collaborate with other Warriors on regional or national initiatives
  • Start a local chapter in your community and connect with other repair professionals

Learn more and join the movement at ewastewarriors.org.

Electronic waste recycling and sustainability

Join the movement to reduce e-waste and promote repair nationwide

The Bottom Line: You Can't Talk About Repair Enough

If people don't know repair is an option, they'll keep buying new devices. If they don't know you exist, they'll keep going back to the carrier store or the manufacturer. If they don't understand the environmental and financial benefits of repair, they'll keep contributing to the 62 million tons of e-waste generated every year.

Education isn't optional in this business. It's the foundation of everything you do.

Every conversation you have, every event you attend, every letter you write, every partnership you build—it all adds up. You're not just promoting your business. You're changing the way your community thinks about technology, consumption, and sustainability.

And with eWaste Warriors already making an impact in communities across the country, you don't have to do it alone.

The repair message is too important to stay quiet. Get out there. Connect with your community. And let's build a movement together.

Action Checklist: Get Started This Week

  • ☐ Research and join your local Chamber of Commerce
  • ☐ Identify 3 local nonprofits or community organizations to contact
  • ☐ Draft a letter to the editor about e-waste or right to repair
  • ☐ Find contact information for local media outlets and pitch yourself as an expert source
  • ☐ Look up upcoming community events where you could participate
  • ☐ Reach out to 5 cell phone carrier stores to introduce yourself and build referral relationships
  • ☐ Plan your first community event (e-waste drive, workshop, or fix-it clinic)
  • ☐ Visit ewastewarriors.org to learn more about eWaste Warriors and join the movement
  • ☐ Consider starting an eWaste Warriors chapter in your community

Resources

TCA Member Portal: Access educational materials, industry contacts, and training resources at techcareassociation.org

WhereToRepair.org: Promote your business and help customers find local repair options at WhereToRepair.org

eWaste Warriors: Join the movement to spread the repair and reuse message nationwide at ewastewarriors.org

Need help getting started? Email rob@techcareassociation.org—TCA is here to support your community engagement efforts.

Tech Care Association is the largest trade association for tech repair, support, reuse, and recycling professionals, representing 1,700+ members across all 50 states. We champion right to repair, fight e-waste, and empower local businesses to thrive while protecting consumer choice and environmental sustainability.

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