In our industry, we see a lot of movement on the road. Crystal Clean operates a fleet of more than 900 vehicles, ranging from light duty vans and pick-up trucks to class 8 tractors and straight trucks. And that’s not even counting the number of third-party transportation firms that support our operations. A majority of these vehicles are out on the road each day moving the materials we collect and deliver from one point to another. From customer locations to branches, hubs, operating facilities, and waste disposal sites, things are always moving at Crystal Clean.

With all that said, it comes as no surprise that our transportation and logistics team truly is doing work that keeps our company running. One member of this integral team is Michael Chavira, our Senior Logistics Specialist. He has been with Crystal Clean for five years and has worked within transportation and logistics for more than 20 years.

Michael’s day starts off early in the morning going through emails with transportation requests from across the company. He primarily handles requests related to Crystal Clean’s Indianapolis and Shreveport hubs, scheduling for the re-refinery, and supports the Battle Creek and Wooddale antifreeze facilities as well. Throughout the day, he is on the phone and sending emails to provide transportation updates, scheduling large customer pickups, and coordinating any emergency services needed.

“I initially fell into this type of role earlier on in my career and since then it all fell into place and I got hooked on this type of work,” Michael shared. “It’s always kept me busy and engaged and I’ve gotten a great comfort level with this work over the years.”

The logistics team can see anywhere from 100 to 200 requests a day split between the three of them, so it’s safe to say they work in a fast-paced environment each day. In addition to our own internal logistics operations, they also manage the third-party transportation companies who support our needs. There is a delicate balance of trying to keep all parties involved happy when it comes to logistics, while also ensuring that everyone receives exactly what they need at the right time so no one is overwhelmed with too many pieces moving at once.

“One of my goals I have is to do my job so well that people don’t notice when an issue arises because we handle it and find a solution quickly,” Michael said. “We have a good team in my department and the way everyone steps up helps us run like a well-oiled machine. If one of us fails we all fail, so we take our work seriously and we all are prepared to help wherever we need extra support.”

The way Michael handles himself in high-pressure situations has been a key characteristic to his success in his work. He shared that he has always been good at working with different kinds of people and juggling different situations as he addresses them to make sure everyone is happy.

“Michael has been great to work with in the field and he always gets the job done,” said Alan Spiller, Dayton Branch Manager. “Even when he’s faced with a challenging situation, he always has a great sense of humor and is willing to work with myself and other branch managers to get a problem solved quickly.”

Michael shared that he’s enjoyed his time at Crystal Clean and the people he gets to work with. He says it’s been a night-and-day difference between previous places he’s worked, where people genuinely care about one another and everyone pitches in the get the job done the right way. This has him excited about what the future holds for his career and the company. “The kind of work we do is exciting, and I like seeing how we continue to expand into the recycling and renewable energy side of things,” Michael said. “The world is continuing to look for new ways to manage the waste we collect and it’s encouraging to see how sustainability continues to be a focus of our company.”

Sunrise this time a year is typically just around 7 a.m., but there are some early birds who like to already have some time working under their belt before the sun peeks over the horizon. They already have their coffee in hand, going over their list of things to do for the day or checking in with co-workers. Dustin Gotreaux, Crystal Clean’s Branch Sales Manager (BSM) for the Baton Rouge, LA branch is one of those early birds that starts his day nice and early.

Dustin has been a member of the Crystal Clean team since 2007 and has held a few different positions leading up to his current role. He became the BSM at the branch in 2018 and had previously spent two years as an Environmental Solutions Partner (ESP) and 10 years before that as a sales and service representative. With all that time on a truck and working together with customers, it’s safe to say Dustin knows a thing or two when it comes to the environmental services industry.

“I feel like I have one of the best jobs as a BSM,” Dustin shared. “I have the freedom to go out, meet people, and grow the business. Plus, I can still hop on a truck and help out if needed.”

Each day is anything but typical for Dustin as a BSM. He usually arrives at the branch around 6 a.m. and starts going through emails while also checking in with sales and service representative to see what they need before he gets ready to hit the road himself. He has a goal to visit about 10 customers and prospects each day and lines up his week of appointments each Monday. And while it may sound like these visits would all be similar, Dustin shared that each visit has its own unique spin that keeps things interesting. The kind of people he meets at each customer keeps things different and lively, and he enjoys the opportunity his role as BSM gives him to meet new people and learn more about them.

“I’ve known Dustin for his whole career at Crystal Clean and he has really settled into his role as a BSM,” Baton Rouge Branch Manager Bill Bumm said. “He’s able to adapt well and is very persistent whenever he faces challenges. As a BSM, he’s very good at asking questions, keeping things fun, and breaking the ice with customer visits and cold calls. The way he handles himself helps all parties relax and be engaged in the conversation.”

Dustin hasn’t always been this confident, and in fact he shared that he used to be very shy. However, after a bit of time cold calling customers and prospects, he’s built up his confidence over the years. It’s his positive attitude and focus on what’s ahead that has made a difference and helps him frame each day as a new opportunity to try again.

“Always be looking forward at the future,” he shared. “Don’t dwell on the past. Otherwise, you can get stuck in the same mindset and things will keep going that way. There’s always a new day to try again.”

This forward-looking mindset is something that Dustin feels has helped lead to his success. He also decided early on to make the job a bit more personal and get involved with his co-workers. He’s found that this mindset has helped him become more invested not just in the business, but the relationships with his co-workers as well. This had led to better relationships around the branch and opportunities to support sales and service representatives with their questions as they continue to learn the industry.

Being at Crystal Clean for more than a decade, Dustin has seen a lot of changes happen in both the company and his career. He’s always felt challenged in his roles and has felt supported to try new things and move into new positions during his career. As he continues to work with Crystal Clean, he’s excited about what the future holds for the company. “In the future, I’d like to see us to process all the waste streams we collect,” he said. “We’ll be able to become the end-all solutions for our customers’ waste and won’t have to depend on other businesses to support our waste disposal and recovery operations. That’s why the recent acquisitions that grow our internal capabilities have me excited.”

It’s time to be honest. When was the last time you read through the entire terms and conditions of a website or app? If you find yourself quickly skimming and scrolling through the body of text to get to the bottom, you’re not alone. A 2017 survey by Deloitte found that 91% of people agree to a terms of service without reading them. But within that last 9%, there are people like Carla Sipe who are detail-oriented and make sure everything in a contract lines up to be beneficial for both parties.

Carla has been part of the Crystal Clean team since 2007 and is currently the Contracts and Litigation Manager within the Legal Department. Each day, she wears multiple hats and can go from analyzing service agreements, submitting formalized bids for services, assisting with litigation matters, and more in a single day. Carla also finds herself and her team supporting departments across the company to help make their jobs easier as well.

“At its core, my job is help make the jobs out in the field easier for our sales and service team,” she shared. “Negotiating contracts with customers and vendors, sharing certificates of insurance, providing W-9 information, and many other parts of my job is focused around creating a smooth process for setting up new customers and vendors as our field team grows the business.”

Leading up to her current role, Carla has worked in several departments at Crystal Clean’s corporate headquarters in Elgin, IL. She’s held positions within Branch Administration, Accounting, and Corporate Accounts, giving her a thorough understanding of many vital areas that help the company continue to run on a day-to-day basis. And once she moved to the legal department, she felt that she found her niche.

“I started negotiating contracts in 2011 and I felt I found a role that was perfect for me,” she said. “Every time a new contract comes in, I see it as a problem-solving challenge where my goal is to create a contract everyone agrees on. That feeling of satisfaction after negotiating a contract where both parties are happy is one of my favorite parts of my job.”

When asked to share some insights on what she views as important characteristics that lead to success, Carla was quick to point out the importance of setting goals for yourself both personally and professionally. Goal setting at Crystal Clean lead Carla to create personal goals for herself that were a little out of her comfort zone. Starting with small goals and growing from there as time went on is a key piece of what she has attributed to her successful career at Crystal Clean. And encouraging others to set goals and supporting them along the way is something that is just as important.

“Carla has always been an important part of our law department. Many of the accomplishments we’ve had with our contracting process have been a result of her hard work and organization. Carla is also a great manager and a natural leader. We have a very cohesive and supportive team environment, and she’s a critical part of it,” shared David Chameli, VP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. “Doing the right thing is very important to her. She is extremely client focused, and she’s always prepared to help anyone at a moment’s notice.”

Carla has always felt support by Crystal Clean and her team to grow in her career and continue to take advantage of new opportunities. In fact, she was encouraged by her team to look into Crystal Clean’s Education Assistance Program to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Carla took advantage of this program, and graduated from Franklin University in 2017 with a degree in Business Administration.

“There are always opportunities in front of you, and the best thing you can do is take advantage of them,” she said. “Crystal Clean makes it a goal to promote from within. Asking questions and finding opportunities for you to cross-train are always a positive step forward for your career and also build your confidence in the work you do.”

Carla is excited to continue her career at Crystal Clean as both the company and the Legal team continue to grow. She knows there are exciting things in store for the future and can’t wait to see what’s next. Carla has recently taken a great interest in traveling and has a goal to visit all 50 states and five other continents in her lifetime. Carla’s most recent experience was a mission trip to Kenya, Africa. When Carla is not traveling, she enjoys outdoor adventures and spending time with family. 

Things are always moving in the Motor City, and that includes Crystal Clean’s Detroit branch. If you arrive at the branch bright and early in the morning, chances are you’ll bump into Branch Manager Mike Mitchell, who has probably been there since before the sun has risen.

Mike entered the world of environmental services after a career in the tank cleaning and automotive industry. After spending time in various labor and managerial roles, he made the jump to the environmental services business. While there was a big learning curve at first, Mike took the time to build his knowledge and was able to quickly become well acquainted with the industry.

“There’s a lot of knowledge that you need to build up in the environmental services industry,” Mike said. “You need to know how to perform your services safely, understand different waste streams, be up to date on regulations and reporting requirements, and of course manage the customer relationship. There’s a lot of knowledge to take in at the beginning, and the best thing you can do is ask questions.”

And that’s exactly what Mike did when he started his career at Crystal Clean in 2010 as an SSR at the Detroit branch. As he worked his way up to BSM and then BM, he wasn’t shy about asking questions. In fact, asking questions led to building relationships, a support network, and mentorships with people around the company that have helped him grow his career.

Since stepping into his leadership role as a BM seven years ago, Mike has been dedicated to building a positive support culture at his branch to help all his employees grow their own careers.

One of the biggest things Mike does is make sure he shares his knowledge with his staff. One of his goals is to always be an open book, ready to answer any questions. He also intentionally starts a mentorship with all new hires to help them get acclimated to the industry, and he makes sure to continue the mentorship with ride-alongs as time goes on to help all his employees keep growing. Mike also likes to start his morning early and his goal is to get to the branch before any other employees arrive and get things prepared for his staff.

“As people start to arrive in the morning, I have the chance to check-in with my team and see if there are any challenges, they may need help with,” Mike said. “Helping my staff feel supported and listened to has always been a priority for me. What I love most is the relationships I build with my team, watching them grow and get better at what they do.”

That support can go a long way too. Mike is always ready to hop on a truck or answer any questions his staff has. His willingness to help no matter what has left a lasting impression on many of the people who have had the opportunity to work with Mike.

“Mike has been a great leader and is always willing to listen,” shared Detroit Branch Clerical Sylvia Bachran. “Whenever you have a question, he takes the time to walk you through it and is very patient. He is always encouraging us that we can get anything done and does a great job creating a positive culture at our branch.”

Mike has always been passionate about supporting others, and with that he has gained a lot of valuable insights he hopes to continue sharing with employees as they grow their careers.

“I love the idea of supporting others to help them reach new heights and want to continue to do so in the future. Crystal Clean is going to continue to grow in the coming years and take the next steps as we continue to be a leader in the industry. There are constantly new opportunities for employees to grow their career and make a good living while working here,” shared Mike.