LRS undergoes regional restructure

LRS, an independent waste, recycling and portable services provider based in Rosemont, Illinois, has restructured to better align for future growth plans. The company says the next phase enables a more sustainable business model supporting future expansion, unlocking growth opportunities and accelerating regional traction.  

As part of the move, LRS will be organized into three newly created, autonomous regions, including LRS Great Lakes, LRS Central and LRS South, each with dedicated, localized management across operations, business development, finance and safety. The company says this change will allow for greater access to leadership, heightened cross-functional collaboration and improved communication across regions and throughout LRS.  

"As the trend of accelerated growth continues, our leadership team saw the need to evolve and redefine our organizational structure,” says Alan T. Handley, president and CEO of LRS. “The regional model provides a strong foundation from which we can accelerate growth within our current and future markets." 

The company has announced a number of regional promotions:

• John Sliwicki, executive vice president, Central Region. LRS says Sliwicki has been a key member of the company for seven years. He has more than 20 years of experience managing safety and risk before moving to operations four years ago. At LRS, Sliwicki has been the vice president of risk management and safety, the vice president of MRF (material recovery facility) operations and most recently the senior vice president of postcollection operations. In his new role, he will work to elevate LRS' focus on safety and people development as well as customer experience.  

• Brian Grosse, executive vice president, Great Lakes Region. Grosse started a portable restroom business out of his garage 10 years ago, which LRS acquired in June 2018. Since then, he has served as vice president and senior vice president of LRS Portables.  

• Rusty Janssen, executive vice president, South Region. Janssen was the chief financial officer at Ramco Waste and Recycling and the senior vice president of LRS South after the Ramco acquisition in 2021. In his new role, Janssen plans on growing LRS South organically and through more acquisitions, exceeding budgeted revenue and earnings before inflation, taxes, depreciation and amortization, fully integrating all the South Region's operations as well as improving the region's postcollection infrastructure.  

• Matt Marquis, senior vice president, Great Lakes Region. Marquis has been in the waste and recycling industry for more than 25 years and started off as a driver. He has industry experience in operations, sales, finance, maintenance, MRFs and landfills. In his new position, Marquis will work toward improving the processes and systems of his region.  

• John McGee, vice president, Central Regional Operations. McGee has been a general manager for nearly two years and has 33 years of experience in the waste industry. He says he plans to work with the Central Region to build a safety culture and customer experience.  

• Nicole Nicholls, vice president, Central Regional Sales. LRS says Nicholls started in the industry 18 years ago and has been an influential leader at LRS as the director of business development. She has experience in outside, inside and municipal sales. She is now the chairperson for Women In Sustainability and Environment. Her goals in her new role include working with her regional team to improve safety compliance, customer experience, employee engagement and profitable growth.  

• Scott Crawford, director, Great Lakes Regional Maintenance. Crawford has been with LRS for more than four years and started as a mechanic. Since then, he has been a shop manager, fleet manager and is now the director of regional maintenance for the Great Lakes Region. He will work with the states in his region to build and execute a proficient layout for the maintenance departments, including safety, work culture, retention, vendor relations, equipment and spending.  

The company also has announced a number of corporate appointments:  

• Janet Haas, senior vice president, human resources. LRS says Haas has been a prominent leader at LRS and has made a huge impact on how the human resources (HR) team operates within the company. Her goals in her new role include building processes and consistency in HR functions, along with providing more training opportunities across LRS.  

• George Strom, senior vice president, safety. Strom started in the waste industry in eighth grade working on the back of a garbage truck at Roy Strom, which was started by his family in 1944. He joined the LRS team two years ago from the Roy Strom acquisition and has been the vice president of operations, interim vice president of people development and vice president of municipal services. His goal in his new role is to reduce incidents by 20 percent this year and to develop a standardized safety training program throughout LRS.  

• Ron Harris, senior vice president, integrations. Harris drove the integration efforts of all recent acquisitions as the vice president of strategic integration. His goals as the new senior vice president of integrations include supporting LRS' growth through improved integration processes and engaging collaboratively with key teammates across the organization.  

• Rick Bulthius, vice president, business development. Bulthius has more than 35 years of industry experience at private and public companies. In his new role, he will work with companies that strategically align with LRS' acquisition growth goals and values.  

• Rich Rabs, vice president, risk management and safety. Rabs is an influential team member especially when it comes to LRS' safety culture. He has been with LRS for nearly two years and has 40 years of experience in risk management and safety. In his new role, Rabs will continue to develop a culture that minimizes risk through contracts, procedures, compliance and best practices.  

• Aneisha Thurman, senior director, human resources: Thurman is a Detroit native and has previous experience as an area HR manager within the waste industry. Some of her main objectives in her new role will be to help decrease LRS' turnover rate and increase retention and provide leadership development programs and executive coaching.  

"I have the utmost confidence in these leaders and look forward to seeing all they accomplish in their new roles," Handley says. "The restructure of the LRS organization and the promotion of these incredible men and women mark a monumental start of the year for our team."