Leadership

John Nicklin, Managing Member

With more than 20 years experience in managing and growing business startups, developing business opportunities and strategic partnerships, and rolling out highly successful business models based upon creating sustainable environmental initiatives across multiple industries, John Nicklin is a pioneering entrepreneur who has succeeded in business because of a driving passion to improve our world and help other businesses thrive.

John successfully built his first business in 1985 and pioneered a comprehensive service model by combining equipment leasing, maintenance, waste collection, recycling, and disposal services all under one agreement. This client-first, service-centered model forever changed the landscape of the waste management industry and garnered him a reputation of being an advocate for businesses and an expert in the fields of collection, disposal, and re-use of hazardous and non-hazardous medical and non-medical waste streams.

He continued this client-first, service-centered approach again after spinning off the first venture to a preferred customer group in order to focus exclusively on the health care industry channel. Thus in 1995 Nicklin Associates was launched to deliver process design, turn-key equipment, and staffing models for the on-site collection, processing, and disposal of multiple waste streams including bio-hazardous waste. Bringing his regulatory background and expertise to the table, he quickly established long-term partnerships with some of the most prestigious health care systems in the United States.

Nicklin Associates then drew the attention of Stericyle, Inc. a publicly traded global company and the nation’s leading provider of medical waste services. Nicklin merged with Stericycle in 2005 and John has enjoyed continued success as the company’s Corporate Director of New Business Initiatives.

Today, John is the principal owner of WasteStrategies carrying on with his entrepreneurial focus by bringing turn-key zero waste, waste reduction, and recycling solutions to global businesses leaders.

In addition to his leadership duties at WasteStrategies, John possesses extensive public speaking experience and is a highly sought-after expert in the field of hazardous/non-hazardous waste reduction, recycling, and disposal.

Curtis Patton, Corporate Director of Operations

With more than 15 years experience in senior level positions at some of the nation’s leading health care systems and environmental management corporations, Curtis Patton brings a customer-centered waste stream management perspective to WasteStrategies.

Prior to joining WasteStrategies, Curtis spent 7 years as the Director of Operations for Nicklin Associates and Program Manager for Stericycle. From his experience, Curtis understands the unique industry challenges and has succeeded in designing, implementing and maintaining cost-effective and efficient waste reduction, recycling and environmental management programs nationwide.

Curtis’s significant experience includes:

  • Negotiating disposal and recycling agreements for hazardous and non-hazardous waste in compliance with all applicable local, state and federal regulatory jurisdictions.
  • Streamlining on-site management operations while expanding the scope of waste stream service solutions available to clients.
  • Managing multiple onsite waste processing facilities operating within a highly regulated environment.
  • Design and implementation of account specific SOP Manuals to ensure the success of ongoing Training and QA Programs.

In his role with WasteStrategies, Curtis applies his operational expertise to the management of both internal and external operations. His expertise in directing corporate operations ensures that WasteStrategies delivers the highest standards of service, continues to leverage cutting-edge resources, and exceeds customers’ expectations at every turn. He is dedicated to serving customer interests and to developing business models that achieve zero waste, waste reduction, and recycling targets at the lowest possible cost.

Gregory Ross, Regional President

Gregory Ross possesses more than 25 years of sales management expertise in solid waste, special waste and recycling waste stream management.  Having served senior level positions at Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI), Allied Waste and Republic Services, he was responsible for creating and successfully managing both inside and outside field sales organizations at the division, regional and corporate levels. This wide experience has given Greg the ability to understand and meet the specific needs of all customers, large and small, as well as how they are affected by the myriad of complex, ever-changing regulations.

Greg began his career with BFI in 1986 as a field salesperson and worked his way to Vice President of Sales, where he led the company’s marketing and sales initiatives for over 1 billion in revenue.  This included solid waste, special waste, medical waste, organics and medical waste for the northeastern United States and eastern Canada Provinces.  During his 14 years with BFI, Greg was instrumental in development of the corporate segmentation service model.  The model allowed for a customer to have their account managed by an expert for their particular business segment.  This ensured not only a better understanding of the regulations a customer faced, but enabled the industry to be pro-active on forecasts and upcoming trends to better serve the customer.  It was also an industry first at a turn-key approach to customer service.

With the acquisition of Allied Waste by BFI in 1999, Greg was promoted to Director of Special Waste for the corporation.  He was responsible for overseeing the corporation’s business development for landfill sales and marketing.   Instrumental in development of automated tools to make it easier for customers to do business with Allied, his contributions included an on-line automated waste characterization profile, web-based waste approval database and facilities map.  Greg’s passion to be on the cutting-edge of innovation has won him several awards and increased his sales price and volume to company record highs.

In 2008, Republic acquired Allied Waste and Greg was promoted to Director of National Accounts for the Fortune 400 industrial and recycling accounts of the corporation.  The historical focus of the team was to negotiate and maintain multi-million dollar special waste agreements for landfill disposal and commodities agreements for recycling facilities.  Greg expanded this focus to include landfill diversion, minimization and zero waste platforms.  He introduced the integrated waste model where Republic would source other waste streams they did not service directly.  This resulted in Republic becoming the sole source provider for all waste and recycling streams including electronic waste, universal waste, medical waste, hazardous waste as well as recycling of all commodities.  It was during this process that Greg was acquainted with John Nicklin and shared his vision.

In his role with WasteStrategies, Greg will continue to lend his executive management expertise as President of the Northeast operations.  He is dedicated to negotiate and retain long-term customer relationships that reduce operating expenses, mitigate risk and achieve specific environmental targets.  His expertise in directing sales organizations will ensure that WasteStrategies secure and grow the revenue, pricing and volume goals developed by the company while exceeding customer expectations.

Victoria Justus, Director Environmental Health & Safety

Often called upon by colleges and universities to facilitate audits, compliance assessments, presentations, and lead projects to bring these institutions into EPA compliance, Victoria has built a reputation as one of the foremost leaders in her field. A consultant with more than 20 years of experience, her expertise also includes work with national laboratories and state and municipal agencies.

Victoria is most notably recognized as a pioneer in the development of the Peer Audit Concept and her work under the EPA Audit policy. Serving as a liaison to EPA and state environmental protection groups, she trains staff in these institutions on best practice strategies and methods in changing operational procedures.

She presents a customized “how to guide” and strategic plan to bring institutions into compliance in multiple regulated areas including:

  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
  • Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures Plan (SPCC)
  • Pollution Prevention (P2) and Waste Minimization
  • Universal Waste
  • Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA)
  • Comprehensive Environmental Response
  • Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
  • Above Ground and Underground Storage Tanks (AST/UST)
  • Clean Air Act (CAA)
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • Storm Water Pollution Prevention (SWPP)
  • Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)
  • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
  • Federal Asbestos Management regulations
  • National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs)
  • Lead-based Paint Management (LBP)

Victoria’s far-reaching research and consulting work has placed her in great demand as an onsite consultant, writer, and speaker bringing subject matter expertise in developing methods and strategies for universities and colleges to meet EPA compliance and environmental health compliance measures. Her work in creating the peer audit/self audit programs on college campuses throughout the country set precedents within the EPA and is a preferred model for use by other institutions nationwide.

WasteStrategies Environmental Health & Safety Services division is lead by Victoria and her experienced team.

We invite you to learn more about our services by downloading our capabilities statement.