Born: I was born Aug. 27, 1986, in Houston, Texas.
Education: I attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in 2009.
Family: I’m currently single with no kids, but I do have an adorable niece Riley who is 3 years old.
When and how did you enter the recycling industry? I was basically born into the industry. In the 1950s, my grandfather had a yard on the outskirts of downtown Houston called Nolan Street Metals. Over time, the entire family became involved with the industry. I spent every summer, including Fridays, getting to know our C&D Scrap Metal family business and began working full time in the company in 2009. I eventually joined C&Y Global in 2019 as a buyer. It has opened my eyes to a much larger side of the industry, reviving my passion for what I do. In 2022, I was able to visit our production facility in Thailand—it’s the largest scrap processor in the country.
What was it about the industry that prompted you to build a career in it? It’s easier to get to know a specific industry when it’s your family’s business. I learned a lot from working at and managing C&D Scrap Metal, and over time I grew to appreciate the benefits of building a career in the recycling industry. For one, each day was a different adventure. The business also allowed me to wear something comfortable to work, so I was able to leave the suit and tie at home.
What have been your most rewarding professional achievements? Personal achievements? The family business was a great training ground for me when I was in a non-leadership position. That education allowed me to grow into eventually managing the business and then expanding it. The years of learning about a huge variety of issues—concerning employees, environmental topics, equipment, materials, growth, and even conflicts—helped develop my knowledge and confidence levels to where they are now. And since I travel a lot, both for business and leisure, I’ve set foot on five continents so far. South America and Antarctica are the last ones on that list.
What are you passionate about? Recycling is a complicated process. From growing up in the industry, it has become part of who I am. I’ve become passionate about the recycling process. Materials and manufacturing processes are always changing, so there is always a challenge to continue learning.
Tell us something about you that would surprise people. I’m a big movie buff. I have no shame in admitting I’ve seen all the Marvel and DC movies. I’m also a fan of being outdoors. I’ve gone whitewater rafting three times now and dog sledding twice.
If you could improve anything about yourself, what would it be? My golf game. It needs improvement all around.
What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy traveling. It’s hard not to enjoy going to new places and experiencing new cultures. I also like spending time with friends and close ones. If I can do both of those things at the same time, it’s a bonus.
When and why did your company decide to join ISRI and the Gulf Coast Region? Being part of such a successful team isn’t something our company was willing to pass up. Working with such a talented group of people is beneficial to everyone involved.
What GCR leadership positions have you held? What motivated you to become a GCR leader? This is the first leadership position I have held within GCR. [GCR First Vice President] Becky Proler [of SCR Recycling] called me to ask if I’d sit on the GCR board of directors. I couldn’t say no to Becky! It’s also nice to give back after being a fly on the wall in previous years.
What benefits have you received from your GCR involvement? I’d have to say the relationships and networking opportunities. I’ve been around GCR since I was a toddler, so I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years. While environment- and technology-related changes happen frequently, the people and relationships are constant. I’ve had the opportunity to attend ISRI programs such as the Operations Forum and the Young Executives Training at ISRI’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. I always walk away learning something new.
What are the major challenges facing your company and the overall recycling industry today? Manufacturing keeps changing—sometimes it’s raw materials, sometimes it’s the finished product—so our goal is to keep improving. The ever-changing game of globalization is a challenge. Materials are always moving from one country to another, and there’s always an opportunity to improve that process.
