Some employees witness company history. Debbie helped build it. For 44 years, Debbie has been part of Certified's growth, evolution, and success. We sat down with her to reflect on the milestones, memories, and lessons that shaped an incredible career.
“The culture of care has been a constant at Certified across generations of leadership.”
– Debbie, reflecting on 44 years at Certified
One of my favorite memories was moving into our Anaheim office. Before that, we had completely outgrown our trailer space and offices were doubled up. At one point, I even shared an office with John Sr., the founder himself, with our desks facing each other only six inches apart. Cozy is one way to describe it. Moving into Anaheim felt like a major milestone. It showed how far we had come and where we were headed.
I am proud to have been part of this company through so many chapters, including watching all three sons join the business over the years. I am also proud of helping us reach our first 10,000-ton goal. John promised that if we hit it, every employee and a guest would go to Hawaii. At the time, we were a much smaller company, and for months we kept falling just short.
For a long time, I was the person opening the gate each morning and getting to know many of the hardworking recyclers who came through our yard. I would even learn a Romanian word each day from some of them. When I shared the Hawaii goal, they rallied behind us. Their support helped push us over the finish line, and we reached 10,000 tons on the 25th of the month.
When I first started, we focused largely on paper drives at schools and yard traffic. I would visit schools, hand out pencils and coloring books, and create friendly competitions between elementary schools. In my opinion, no one is more competitive than PTA parents.
As computers became more common, I started reaching out to offices. Back then, many people did not even know what recycling was or how the industry worked, and I was proud to help educate people.
At the time, we sold material exclusively to overseas markets and worked directly with our contacts there. Breaking into the export business as a young American woman came with challenges, and earning credibility was not always easy.
What helped most was building trust. I even gave international contacts my home phone number so they could reach me across time zones. By making myself available during their working hours, I was able to build trust and develop real relationships. Those connections made all the difference.
Debbie's story reflects the people-first foundation behind Certified's growth and the trust that continues to shape our work today.
People often underestimate how important relationships are in this business. Over the years, I got to know customers, recyclers, terminal employees, and brokers. Communication, trust, and teamwork made all the difference.
The job changed so much over the years that it feels like I worked for five different companies. Early on, I wore many hats and learned to do just about everything. As our team grew, I could focus more on where I added the most value. Then September 11 changed the industry in significant ways. New security requirements, regulations, and tracking processes transformed how we operated. Documentation requirements expanded, customs became a much larger part of daily operations, and the role evolved dramatically. Every chapter brought new challenges, which kept the work interesting.
This anniversary reminds me how much I value what we have built here at Certified. Over the years, I received outside opportunities, including an offer to represent an international brokerage expanding into America. It was flattering, but I believed in what we were building at Certified. In 44 years, that was the only time I seriously considered another path. I have never looked back.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that great leadership makes all the difference. Throughout my career, new team members would often remark on how fortunate I was to work for someone so supportive and respectful. That culture of care has been a constant at Certified across generations of leadership. When Shane Caswell came on board as CEO, he continued that tradition in his own way – leading with genuine respect for every single person on the team. That kind of leadership creates an environment where people feel valued, and it’s a big part of what has made Certified such a wonderful place to build a career.
Thank you for 44 years of heart, hard work, and dedication. You have helped shape Certified's story, and we are grateful to celebrate this milestone with you.
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