Champions Industries gets new president

Champions Industries Inc., a Houston-based solid waste management company servicing Harris County, Texas, has named a new president and vice president.

The company’s board of directors has appointed Vivien (Viv) Kay Nguyen as president. She previously served as the company’s director of sales and replaces former President James R. Gregg, who has retired from the company to focus on family and community service. Additionally, Ericka M. Clawges has been named vice president.

Formed in 2020, Champions Industries is a registered waste and engineering contractor with local and federal governments. The company specializes in waste collection, disaster recovery and engineering services in Houston and the surrounding areas. Its fleet includes new, military-grade rolling stock, and the company operates out of a building that was completed in 2023.

Prior to entering the waste collection business, Gregg was an aerospace engineer. He joined the waste industry in 1985 and later went on to serve as vice president of operations for United Waste in Atlanta, which later merged with additional waste management firms to become Republic Services. Following his retirement from Republic Services, he formed Champions Industries four years ago.

"When I was in my late thirties, my mentor, H. Wayne Huizenger, told me there would come a time to pass the torch to the younger generation,” Gregg says. “He was in his seventies at the time, and now, at almost 70, that time has come for me."

Gregg will remain on the board of directors as a consultant.

Nguyen is a native Houstonian who served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps before attending the University of Houston, graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Her business experience began with building and managing an insurance agency with her former husband 14 years ago; she later entered the real estate industry and was a full-time commercial real estate investment sales broker.

"I am honored to have been selected to lead this company,” she says. “Jim has taught me so much about life and business, and I am truly grateful for all the wisdom and knowledge he has shared with me. I am confident in our future growth and will utilize all my personal and business experience to guide our team in the right direction."

Clawges also worked in real estate before joining Champions and has been directly involved in every aspect of the waste business, from customer service to human resources to operations, in her role as secretary.

"Jim has been an excellent mentor to me, and although we will be sad he is no longer president, I am grateful for the rare opportunity to be a female leader in a male-dominated industry and am looking forward to what the future holds for this company," Clawges says.