Ryan Wurgler
Chief Executive Officer
Ryan Wurgler joined WRM as President & Chief Operating Officer in February of 2021 and became the Chief Operating Officer on July 1st, 2021. Prior to joining WRM, Ryan served as Vice President of Operations for Stericycle Environmental, Senior Vice President of Operations for Clean Harbors, Divisional Vice President for Waste Connections and Division Manager for Waste Management.
In his 30-year career, Ryan has led organizations with up to $700MM in revenue, over $150MM in EBITDA and more than 2,100 employees. Ryan has a demonstrated record of delivering strong stakeholder returns while focusing on hands-on leadership, team member development, operations management, organic growth strategy, M&A integration and superior sales & marketing performance.
Ryan holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the North Dakota State University, with a double major in Accounting and Economics.
Ed Hickman
Chief Financial Officer
Ed Hickman has served as Chief Financial Officer for WRM since 2016. Ed previously worked as the company’s Director of M&A.
Prior to joining WRM, Ed was the Senior Vice President of Relativity Capital, a private equity firm investing in aerospace & defense, transportation, and industrial businesses.
Ed has a Master of Business Administration degree from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Michael Costello
Chief Operating Officer
Michael Costello is the most recent acquisition to WRM’s senior leadership team, joining as the Chief Operating Officer in April of 2022. Prior to WRM, Michael was the Chief Executive Officer of Otto Environmental Systems, a $97m manufacturing company where he was responsible for streamlining executive leadership and developing lean processes to improve profitability.
Michael has over 20 years of experience in profit and loss management and excels at building cohesive, cost-efficient organizations ranging from $19m to $160m. During that time, Michael acquired industry expertise in manufacturing, environmental, industrial services, transportation, distribution, and more. Michael has a degree in Heavy Equipment Management from the American Training Institute in Newark, NJ.
Brian Kelleher
Vice President- Sales and Marketing
Brian joins us with an extensive operational background and is a proven Sales Executive. Brian is a driven and passionate revenue leader with an entrepreneurial mindset, consistently delivering more than expected. He has 19+ years of extensive experience developing and driving robust growth strategies, operations, and initiatives in diverse and rapidly evolving water, wastewater, recycling, composting, and grease markets. Brian’s career highlights include securing multimillion-dollar contracts, leading large-scale projects, and transforming underperforming teams into thriving regions.
Brian holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing from Clarkson University. Additionally, Brian has attained a 2nd B.S. degree from Clarkson University in Social Sciences with a minor in Pre-Law.
Brent Karrington
VICE PRESIDENT OF Mergers and Acquisitions
Brent Karrington is the Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions, focused on leading our strategic growth through key acquisitions and mergers. With a robust background in finance and accounting, Brent specializes in corporate development, M&A, and strategic planning. His experience spans various sectors, including FinTech, real estate, and automotive, supported by work with top private equity groups like Blackstone and Carlyle.
Before joining our team, Brent was crucial in business transformation and strategy implementation across multiple industries. He holds two bachelor’s degrees from Southern Methodist University, where he was a full-scholarship athlete and an MBA from The University of Oklahoma.
In his role, Brent leverages his deep industry insight and strategic acumen to drive our organization’s growth and competitive advantage.
Alon Najer
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Alon Najer is the Vice President of Operations at Waste Resource Management. He brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to excellence, promising to propel our operations team to heights.
Alon’s professional journey is marked by a continuous pursuit of improvement and a hands-on approach to leadership. Starting his career in the logistics industry, Alon quickly developed a knack for identifying efficiencies and spearheading operational advancements. This early experience laid a solid foundation for his subsequent transition into the civil groundwater management and treatment sector—a field to which he has dedicated over 14 years of his career.
Alon holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Houston, CL.
Brent Hollenbaugh
Director Of Human Resources
Brent is a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years of experience leading human resources functions across private, public, and private equity-backed organizations. Brent has successfully overseen HR teams across diverse industries, including manufacturing, oil & gas, transportation, and logistics, with companies generating revenues exceeding $5 billion.
Recognized for his expertise in driving cultural transformation and enhancing organizational effectiveness, Brent excels in strategic HR planning, talent acquisition, leadership development, and succession planning. These strengths directly align with and support company growth objectives.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Brent served 13 years in various leadership roles, gaining invaluable experience in high-responsibility environments. He is a Senior Certified HR Professional (SHRM-SCP) and holds both a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources Management, both earned from Liberty University.
Matthew Marquardt
General Manager
Kelley Anderson
Terminal Manager
Kelley is originally from a small town in upstate New York where he studied Criminal Justice and Penal Law. He moved to Colorado in 2003 and joined McDonald Farms the same year. He has 30 years of experience in the transportation industry, half of which include railroad. When he is not working, he enjoys scuba diving, flying airplanes, travel, hiking, reading, and learning languages.
Hector Chacon
Operations Manager
Brandon Bazor
Plant Manager
Brandon, a Colorado native, started as a driver at McDonald Farms and was promoted to General Manager based on nearly 8 years of stellar service and dedication to safety. He has a wealth of knowledge in the transportation, wastewater, and recycling industries. To best support his team, Brandon is perpetually learning and maintains more than 10 safety certificates as well as an advanced diploma in Wastewater Treatment & Recycling. Additionally, he also holds a Class A Commercial Driver’s License. Outside of work, Brandon is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys spending quality time with his wife, 3 children, and dog.