About Lakeshore Recycling Systems
Serving Chicagoland since 1999, and headquartered in Morton Grove, Ill., Lakeshore Recycling Systems is Chicago’s leading recycling and waste diversion services provider. LRS was born in 2012 by way of merger between two of Chicago’s strongest waste recycling companies: Lakeshore Waste Services and Recycling Systems, Inc.
Management Team
Alan T. Handley
Chief Executive Officer
Alan Handley sets the LRS vision into action, overseeing the company’s operations, financial direction, expansion initiatives and industry leadership.
Alan joined LRS as Chief Financial Officer in 2012 and was responsible for seamless integration of Recycling Systems, Inc. with Lakeshore Waste Services. Prior to LRS, Alan served as Executive Vice President and CFO at Aldridge Group, one of the nation’s leading civil and electrical contractors.
Before Aldridge, Alan served as Managing Director at Mesirow Financial/KPMG, where he led 140 staff members within the organization’s consulting unit. Before Mesirow, Handley held leadership positions at Heller Financial, Price Waterhouse and the United States Marine Corps. He also lectures at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management as an adjunct professor.
He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelors degree in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University. In addition to earning his CPA, Alan is a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including 2016 gold Stevie Award winner for Executive of the Year by American Business Awards, a Norman Award for outstanding business development from Mesirow Financial and named one of the top 50 senior managers at KPMG.
Having scaled to Mt. Everest’s Base Camp in the Himalayas, Alan is an avid mountaineer who also enjoys diving, sailing, traveling and skiing.
Joshua B. Connell
Managing Partner
Josh Connell leads the company’s municipal, residential and commercial sales and is an integral part of LRS daily operations. Josh brings to LRS more than 20 years experience in the waste industry. This dates back to the late 1980s when as a teenager, Josh spent his summers working as a helper on waste collection trucks. Josh’s sales acumen eventually led to him being named VP of Sales for Waste Management’s Chicago division in 1999.
Following his successful run at Waste Management, Josh founded Lakeshore Waste Services in 2001 with a passion to build a great waste and recycling business with dedicated people committed to providing outstanding customer service. Under his leadership, Lakeshore Waste Services grew from one-truck to a 60-truck operation. In 2013, Josh joined forces with Jerry Golf and Rich Golf and the trio formed Lakeshore Recycling Systems.
Josh earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kansas. In addition to spending quality family time, Josh is an avid follower of Kansas Jayhawk basketball.
Jerry J. Golf
Managing Partner
Jerry’s role with LRS is multi-functional. Aside from over-seeing the direction of the company’s fleet and maintenance division, Jerry’s responsibilities include all safety initiatives, IT infrastructure and facilities management.
In 2000, Jerry co-founded Recycling Systems, Inc. (RSI). From 2000 to 2012, RSI grew into one of Chicagoland’s most respected waste and recycling companies, built largely from the company’s state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility built on the City’s south side. Jerry earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern University. He resides with his family in Chicago’s Northwest suburbs and enjoys renovating properties in his spare time.
Richard Golf
Managing Partner
Rich oversees and directs all LRS Material Recovery Facilities and the roll-off division. No easy task considering the amount of material LRS moves each day.
In 2000, Rich co-founded Recycling Systems, Inc. (RSI). From 2000 to 2012, RSI grew into one of Chicagoland’s most respected waste and recycling companies, built largely from the company’s state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility built on the City’s south side.
Rich was recognized as the 2016 gold Stevie Award winner for Product Development/Management Executive of the Year by American Business Awards for his leading contributions with the successful build-out of Chicagoland’s single-stream recycling center. Rich holds a Bachelors degree from Loyola University Chicago, and resides in Chicago with his family, including his English bulldog, Oscar.
David Carlisle
Chief Financial Officer
David leads the financial efforts of LRS and maintains reporting and necessary financial capabilities as LRS continues to expand its service footprint throughout the Midwest.
Prior to joining the LRS team in October 2016, David served as Vice President of Finance at WCA Waste Corporate in Houston, Texas where he managed the financial organization and preparedness for over 20 acquisitions within four years.
Not only did David manage the financial side of the business, but he also developed essential reporting protocol for management reports and monitored the annual budget for the company and all business units.
David is a graduate of Auburn University, where he studied Business Administration and Accounting. Additionally, David has earned his CPA and CMA, and is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. LRS is excited to have such a versatile and talented individual join the management team and take the financial aspect of the business into new heights.
John Larsen
Executive Vice President — Collection Operations
John’s impressive 25-year background in the waste industry makes him a valuable asset to LRS and, more importantly, its valued customers. After joining LRS in 2014 with previous tenure at one of LRS’ largest competitors, John quickly became the driving force behind LRS’ revenue growth. His extensive production and operational industry knowledge resulted in a newly developed operations strategy and created a successful business model to create efficiencies across the company, including route optimization and general operations.
Passionate about ensuring LRS’ operational expertise is above industry standards, Larsen implemented a truck automation initiative. Since 2015, 90% of LRS’ residential fleet has been automated. Automating LRS’ residential fleet ensures that LRS drivers remain safe and healthy, reducing overall physical labor during routes. Knowing that LRS drivers are part of the life-force of the company, Larsen set up new methods to ease driver responsibility. One initiative included providing driver tablets for all commercial routes, which decreased program paper usage by 50%.
John was recognized as the 2016 Bronze Stevie Award winner for Executive of the Year by American Business Awards for his numerous contributions to LRS’ growth. John holds a Bachelors degree from University of St. Francis.
K.J. Loerop
Vice President of Temporary Services
K.J. Loerop is the newest member of the executive management team and acts as the Vice President of Temporary Services, the new department dedicated to LRS’ roll-off dumpsters, portable toilets, street sweeping, storage on-site and mulch. Nearly 20 years ago, K.J. Loerop and Ken Hoving began a startup business based out of West Chicago that focused on developing the Construction & Demolition recycling industry.
In that time, K. Hoving Companies increased their customer base of temporary services, eventually growing to be the second largest portable restroom provider in Illinois. In addition to K.J.’s exceptional work in growing K. Hoving and expanding services, he also served on the board of directors of the Illinois Recycling Association for six years promoting increased recycling throughout the state of Illinois.
K.J. had studied business and marketing at both Calvin College and University of Chicago.