How We Got Here

Kerry founded Balcones Resources in 1994 with a small group of investors and a focus on commercial recycling in Austin, Texas. Prior to starting Balcones, Kerry was a regional recycling manager for Waste Management and was part of a family owned recycling business.  He also served as a Director and CEO of a Texas Bank holding company.

Kerry is a frequent speaker at national and state recycling trade events and is a two-time finalist for the Ernst and Youngs Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He serves on the advisory board of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas.

Kerry attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he was an anthropology major, and wanted to become Indiana Jones, before there was an Indiana Jones. He gave up the pursuit to become a pitcher in the Texas Rangers Organization, while finishing his degree at Texas Wesleyan.  According to NASA, several of his ill-fated pitches can still be tracked in orbit today. Kerry graduated from Texas Wesleyan where he received a BA with a major in Political Science.

Rusty leads Balcones Resources’ Commodities Group, and coordinates the incoming recyclable material with the end-user demand for fiber and pulp products, developing relationships with paper mills around the world. Rusty started in 1979 at the Dallas recycling company founded by his father, Richard Getter.

Rusty has successfully positioned Balcones as the top provider of high-quality paper-making products – earning the company a reputation as innovators in an otherwise traditional marketplace.  Rusty is a frequent speaker at industry events such as the Paper Recycling Conference and the Southeast Paper Recycling Conference.

Rusty graduated from the University of Texas with a BA in Radio-TV-Film and played baseball for The Longhorns. Rusty began his recycling career after being fired by the Cincinnati Reds for being an imposter.

Adam joined the Balcones Team in February 2011 and serves as Chief Financial Officer.  He is responsible for financial statement preparation and analysis, improvement of profitability, coordinating tax and audit work, compliance, capital investments and keeping the company’s bank happy. He is able to handle all of this through the assistance of his all-star team of accountants and controllers.

Adam’s role isn’t limited to spreadsheets and financial statements. One of his favorite parts of his job is that he engages directly with the different managers to help them work more effectively and efficiently. His ability to gather copious amounts of information and translate it into usable and tangible tools has helped transform the way Balcones conducts business.

Adam holds a BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University and a JD/MBA from the University of Arkansas. When he isn’t number crunching, Adam enjoys Austin’s outdoor and music scenes and is on the Board of Hill Country Conservancy.

Sara has been with Balcones Resources since 1995 and has held a number of positions including sales, marketing and operations. Tasked with a variety of high-profile projects, Sara’s impact on Balcones’ footprint is significant.

As Senior Vice President for Balcones Resources’ Corporate Services, Sara is responsible for a variety of functions within the company.  She sits on the Executive Leadership committee, oversees equipment installation and upgrades at each location, and coordinates all major corporate projects. Sara was the sole project manager for the MRF in Austin, Texas. Sara led the $25 million-dollar project and helped open the facility on-time and on-budget.

Sara has a BFA from Southern Methodist University and an MS in Environmental Planning from the University of Texas – School of Architecture. She is a 5th generation Texan and is on the Board of Shoal Creek Conservancy.  When she isn’t pouring over architectural plans or equipment specifications, she enjoys the company of her dog, Maggie, who often accompanies her to the office.

Richie grew up in the recycling business, working part time at Balcones in the summers prior to attending St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX where he earned a BA in International Relations in 2004. Richie began working full time for Balcones in 2005 continuing to learn the operational side of the business working in the Austin facility.

In 2008, Richie began developing the plastics recycling side of the business aspiring to grow the services provided by Balcones to its client base and to new customers. Today he manages strategic initiatives, growth opportunities, and the Plastics Division for the company. Building relationships within the industry for well over a decade, Richie has assisted clients in finding solutions for difficult to recycle plastics domestically and internationally.

Richie is an avid outdoorsmen and steward of the environment, which continues to drive his passion for diverting valuable resources back into the supply chain.

Joaquin was promoted to Vice President of Operations for Balcones Resources at the start of 2018.  In this role he focuses on maintaining best-in-class recycling facilities that prioritize the safety and satisfaction of its employees while manufacturing high quality recycled commodities. Previously, Joaquin served as the General Manager for Balcones’ Austin Division.

Before coming to Balcones, Joaquin was the Executive Director of the historic Central Texas nonprofit, Ecology Action of Texas. His efforts there led to increased access to recycling opportunities for Austin’s residents and an expanded awareness of the importance of recycling and other landfill diversion activities across the state.

Joaquin is an Alumni of the University of Texas where he received a BA in English. He is also an avid rugby player, competing regularly with the local Huns Rugby Club. Joaquin’s favorite activities are spending time in the kitchen or experiencing the outdoors with his two sons.

Sarah joined Balcones Resources in 2013 and manages the sales team for all three locations.  She also leads the marketing and branding initiatives for the company. Sarah has been in the recycling industry for many years, and prior to joining Balcones, she managed the implementation of sustainability and waste diversion programs on college and university campuses.

Sarah grew up around the waste and recycling world; her father and brother have also worked in the industry for most of their careers. During her second grade Career Day, she told her classmates she was going to grow up to be a trash woman. Sarah’s favorite part of the job is learning the operational component of recycling. She is often found in the MRF or maintenance shop bugging her colleagues to learn more.

Sarah received her BA in Broadcast Journalism and MBA with an emphasis in Marketing from Texas Tech University. In addition to her career, she is on the Board of Keep Austin Beautiful and is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).