Gwenn Nolan ’01, founder of Mother Compost, honored as a Main Line Woman of Influence

Notre Dame proudly celebrates alumnae Gwenn Nolan ’01, founder and CEO of Mother Compost, who was recently recognized as one of the Main Line Women of Influence for her leadership in sustainability.

After a successful career in finance, Gwenn was inspired to take action against household food waste. What began in 2018 as a small composting service for friends has since grown into Mother Compost, a thriving business that now serves more than 1,500 residential subscribers and numerous schools and businesses across the Philadelphia region. Through her company’s curbside composting service, Gwenn has helped divert more than four million pounds of food scraps from landfills—turning waste into nutrient-rich soil while educating communities about practical environmental stewardship.

At the Main Line Women of Influence Luncheon, hosted by Main Line Parent and Family Focus Media, Gwenn was honored alongside other regional leaders making a difference in their fields. Dr. Laura Hotchkiss, Notre Dame’s Head of School and a past recipient of the same award, attended the event with fellow alumnae to celebrate Gwenn’s achievements.

Through her vision and dedication, Gwenn Nolan continues to lead by example—showing how one person’s commitment to sustainability can spark meaningful change in the community and beyond.