Staff Bios

Kerry Getter – Chief Executive Officer
Kerry Getter, like his father and brother, was raised on a steady diet of competition, tenacity, and optimism.  It’s a combination that served him well as a professional baseball player, but translated even more impressively to success in the world of banking and finance, and ultimately as an entrepreneur when he and his wife, Becky, founded Balcones Resources in 1994.

Over the years, Kerry and the board of directors have worked diligently to cultivate a true “team”of key players who all share that competitive drive and strong motivation to be the absolute best in their field. “We try to promote the kind of culture that keeps innovation at the forefront,”says Kerry.  “Our industry is changing and I think those that are out in front, truly innovating are the ones who are going to be successful.”

Kerry’s competitive nature is balanced by his optimistic nature and strong character.  “I believe that my behavior sets the tone for the rest of the company.  I’m part leader, part cheerleader –I believe in setting the right tone, and then celebrating when we’ve accomplished something great as a team."

Rusty Getter – President
Rusty Getter inherited the family gene for competitiveness. Over the past three decades, he’s aimed that competitive drive at mastering the recyclable commodities market. “There’s never a dull moment,” says Rusty, “The market, by nature, is always a moving target and there’s always drama.”

Rusty coordinates the incoming recyclable material with the demand for fiber and pulp products, developing relationships with paper mills around the world. He has successfully positioned Balcones Resources as the top provider of high-quality paper-making products – earning the company a reputation as innovators in an otherwise traditional marketplace.

“My tenacity over the years, my enthusiasm – these are traits that have helped me stand out with our customers.” Rusty doesn’t mince words and his customers appreciate it. “We’re very open about the industry – what’s going on behind the scenes – because it gives our customers a sense of the realities of the marketplace. They know that if they have a problem, no matter how small, they can pick up the phone and call me and I’ll handle it.”

Bart Parish – Vice President, Maintenance
Bart Parish has always been mechanically inclined.  “My first car came with the engine in the trunk,”explains Bart.  “When you put something together yourself, you end up taking excellent care of it.  That’s what I did with that car and with everything else I touch.”

He means it.  Over his fifteen-year history with the company, Bart has worked on practically every machine or engine in sight.  He helped plan and build all three of Balcones Resources’plants in Dallas, Austin, and Little Rock.  He is responsible for installations and maintenance for all of Balcones’customers.  He’s the co-inventor on a patented piece of machinery designed for the fuel cubing process.  He even got a Class-A commercial driver’s license just to prove he could do it without studying!

That’s how Bart elevated the position of “maintenance man”to an executive class.  “I never give up.  I’m proud of my work and I pride myself on not having to ask someone else to help –though I’m not afraid to ask questions.  I like to know I can fix it, whatever it is.”

Sara Koeninger – Vice President, Projects and Safety
If you’re ever on site, looking for Sara Koeninger, you’ll know her by her pink hard hat, Carhartt jacket, and cowboy boots. Fortunately for Sara – and anyone who knows her – her personality is just as bold and capable as her attire. And as a woman in a male-dominated field, Sara’s success goes well beyond simply holding her own.

“When people ask me what I do, I tell them, ‘If it’s broken, that’s where I come in!’” explains Sara. As the head of projects and safety, she puts her organizational prowess to work, managing safety for all operations; equipment installation and maintenance; and overseeing all new construction projects. Sara has helped Balcones negotiate some of the biggest changes in the company’s history.

“There are so many opportunities out there,” says Sara. “When I first started, we were beating people over the head to convince them to recycle paper. Now, the roles are reversed and people are beating down our doors to find new ways to recycle everything – and we’re in the perfect position to help them. The opportunities are really endless.”

Randy Wolf – Executive Vice President
When giving a presentation about Balcones alternative fuels, Randy Wolf puts up a slide showing the characters from The Sopranos. “Say what you will about them,” he jokes, “but they know the garbage business. Almost as well as I do.” Randy freely admits that he may not be the best public speaker, but he knows his trade.

Born and raised on the east coast in Philadelphia, Randy has spent his entire, three-decade career working in recycling and waste management. Moreover, he loves what he does. Don’t let the rough edges fool you – Randy is an intelligent, straight-talking businessman with a focus on customer satisfaction and problem solving that’s the calling card of all the Balcones crew.

“I’m as comfortable on the loading dock as I am in the board room,” says Randy. Explaining the nuts-and-bolts of Balcones’ alternative fuel technology is not an easy job. But time has turned the story of their alternative fuel program from a quirky and uninteresting one into a compelling and highly popular one. The challenge of sharing that story and the science behind it is what holds Randy’s attention and devotion.

Steve Stone – Vice President
If alternative fuels are the newest frontier, then Steve Stone is one of the foremost – if unintentional – pioneers in the field. Like many other entrepreneurs’, Steve’s career path has been unconventional. Including the risky proposition of taking a hiatus from college to begin his own recycling company at the foolhardy age of 21. But the gamble paid off, and five years later he merged with Balcones Resources.

Today, Steve enjoys the freedom and challenge that comes with his position overseeing the Arkansas facilities and alternative fuel program, as well as the stability that comes from working for one of the leaders in the world of recycling. “We learn as much from our failures as we do our successes,” says Steve, “and Balcones gives us the chance to do that.”

“My passion is alternative fuels, pure and simple. We’re constantly engaged with people in various industries to evaluate new options like ethanol and bio-diesel, trying to evaluate if there’s a niche for Balcones Resources. We try and solve the problems they’re facing and turn it into a feasible business model.”

Andy Andrasi, Site President, Austin
Like a chess player anticipating his opponents moves, Andy Andrasi stays two steps ahead of trouble.  As the site president for Balcones’Austin plant, it’s his job to handle the day-to-day operations –creating efficient, sustainable operations and processes –and for Andy, that means seeing beyond the horizon and anticipating problems before the occur. 

“I am an analyst,”says Andy.  “I love to solve problems and make things work –finding efficiencies, understanding systems, and putting our customers on the best path.  My position with Balcones allows me to do all of that, day in and day out.”

The autonomy of his job also satisfies his entrepreneurial bent.  Before joining the Balcones team, Andy ran several small companies in a myriad of industries –from land surveying to real estate investment to child care.  “I like to build things –to see a product at the end of day.  I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that things ran smoothly, goals were accomplished, customers are satisfied, and everyone went home safe and sound.”

Liz Cunningham, General Counsel and Business Development
Passion may not be the first word that comes to mind when you hear “attorney”. But for Liz Cunningham, passion for the environment has fueled her career and her life. Her desire to work on energy policy and sustainability efforts is what brought her to Texas in the first place.

In addition to traditional law and corporate counsel, Liz’s 16-year career included representing the State of Texas in its first wind power project, and participating in a Federal Task Force to baseline the alternative transportation fuels industry.

With Balcones Resources, Liz earns her keep by doing what comes naturally: learning everything she can about sustainability, and using that knowledge to help Balcones’ customers improve their bottom line while reducing their impact on the environment. Liz looks for new ways to solve corporate America’s waste stream challenges – from non-traditional recycling and zero-landfill document destruction, to Balcones’ alternative fuel program. And perhaps most importantly, Liz is developing a Balcones program that will help companies quantify their sustainability efforts, giving real meaning to concepts like “carbon offsets” and “carbon footprint”.

Richie Getter, Materials Marketing & Procurement, Plastics Division
Don’t let his drawl fool you – Richie Getter may be laid back, but he is a born-and-bred entrepreneur and an enthusiastic businessman. “Like my dad and uncle – and everyone else at Balcones, for that matter, - I’m determined to grow our company and distinguish Balcones from the rest of the pack.”

Richie works closely with Balcones customers – new and existing – to analyze recyclable materials and determine their market value. On the outbound side, Richie works to expand Balcones’ share of the plastics commodities market, funneling his competitive drive into negotiating. “Being aware of the market daily is instrumental to understanding our customers' needs and providing them with the best solutions.”

But customer service may truly be Richie's strong suit. “Customers know I’m being honest with them and I understand trust is key into building successful relationships. I love being able to help clients find a single-source solution for all of the various waste items, pushing them to become completely sustainable without losing sight of economic viability.”

Shane Mericle, Vice President, Austin Shred Operations
Shane Mericle is a serious sort of guy. He exudes commitment, and from the first moment you meet him, it is obvious that his commitment to customer service makes all others look like mere lip service.

Shane has always been a hard worker, but his years of service in the United States Marine Corps honed that work ethic and focused it on serving others. Later, his career in computer consulting further proved his belief that customer service was falling by the wayside in Corporate America.

So, Shane began his own shredding and document destruction company in order to build a business that was truly customer-centric. “If you focus on the customer and deliver a good product or service, the money should follow,” says Shane. He found a kindred spirit in Balcones Resources, and merged with them in 2007. “I knew that under the Balcones banner, I could continue to offer my clients what I promised them at the start. That was paramount.”

Tyler Frisbie, Vice President of Business Development

Tyler Frisbie goes out of his way to make an impression. Over his ten-year history with Balcones Resources, he’s become notorious for his antics aimed at getting the attention of clients. Whether it’s shipping clown shoes with a note saying “Trying to get my foot in the door” or a turkey caller with the message, “Thought I’d give you a call”, Tyler tends to stand out.

But underneath all that creativity and downright wackiness is a hard-working, committed businessman who values customer service above all. Tyler became a father early in life and began working for Balcones Resources when he was only 18. While he climbed the ranks at work, he put himself through college at night. He and his wife have two beautiful daughters, and his commitment to family carries over to his work. “I know this sounds corny,” says Tyler, “but the people here are great. There’s a good morale and everyone really is like family.”

Tyler knows that Balcones like-family approach is something clients value. “At Balcones, we do our best to build real relationships. We do everything we can to keep our clients happy so they stay with us for life.”

Chris Mariani, Operations Manager

It may not be immediately obvious, because of his modesty, low-key personality, and down-to-earth approach, but Chris Mariani is a “do-gooder”.  It’s a fact he can’t seem to escape.  No matter what business or enterprise –from joining the Peace Corps to working for Balcones –Chris’s underlying desire to improve circumstances for his fellow man, for the earth, or for those he serves in business, is ever-present.

“I enjoy being associated with recycling and sustainability –it appeals to my values and sense of responsibility toward the world,”explains Chris.  “I like knowing that we’re attempting to find sensible, feasible, sustainable solutions.  Lately, the general public is much more environmentally conscious, which is great, but we have to keep our eye on the big picture and sustainability.”

It’s a motivation that has served him well at Balcones, where his broad job description includes implementing service for new accounts and maintaining customer satisfaction and service for existing ones.  “I’m very objective in looking for ways to help our customers find solutions.  I won’t necessarily say what they want to hear but rather what they need to hear,”says Chris.  “I try to marry the two: great customer service and practicality.” 

Dave Stephens, Chief Financial Officer

Dave Stephens is the “money man”for Balcones Resources.  “We’re growing fairly rapidly and taking on new projects and ventures.  It’s my job to provide the financial analysis to make sure it makes sense and determine what sort of out come can be expected,”he explains.

Dealing with finances may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Dave relishes the challenge of trying to bring order and predictability to the often volatile world of a growing business.  “A budget is still just a roadmap,”explains Dave.  “You have to have the flexibility to deal with contingencies.  I think it’s important to learn when it should be followed and when it shouldn’t.  Evaluating opportunities as they arise and executing changes on the fly is crucial.” 

“My colleagues would probably describe me as a tightwad,”Dave jokingly admits.  “I’m constantly asking people why they spent money on something.  And I think that’s really part of my function.  I’m not one of those guys who makes folks turn off all the lights, but I do ask about things that might not be necessary –even if it’s just a few bucks.”

Roy Kennard, Dallas Warehouse Manager

You can take the man out of the military, but you can’t take the military out of the man.  The old saying certainly proves true with Roy Kennard.  Roy manages Balcones’Dallas facility with the same unwavering focus on mission completion he learned in his 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force. 

“I’m a Type-A personality –at least according to my wife!”says Roy.  “I like to get things done.  It’s sort of like a puzzle, you are given certain people, equipment, budgets, timeframes, and you have to use them in the most efficient way to meet a given goal; navigating any unforeseen circumstances on the fly.”

Fatherhood helped Roy develop two other strengths –patience and flexibility –which he calls upon daily to meet the demands of his job.  “After life in the military, there’s definitely a transition when you settle into the civilian world.  I’ve learned to adapt, though I’m still pretty stringent about goals.  I listen to my co-workers, supervisors, and the people I oversee, gathering feedback from all directions to see what’s working and what’s not.”