Sales Manager at Waste Management, Inc
Air Force firefighter ignites his civilian career with Waste Management.
By Warren Duffie 

Marek Crabbs found his civilian career through drive, self promotion and a golf tournament.

As a business student at the University of Houston, the Air Force veteran was part of a sales program selling corporate sponsorships to campus events such as an annual golf tournament. Crabbs was tasked with getting money from Waste Management, Inc. – the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America.

“I called them again and again,” said Crabbs, a former airman 1st class. “When I finally secured the sponsorship, I told them I knew about Waste Management while in the military and was determined to work for them one day. I guess they liked my persistence because they offered me a sales position after graduation.” 

On the Job
Grabbing this opportunity, Crabbs, 28, climbed the ladder steadily. He is now a sales manager in charge of three salespeople in his Houston office and five in a Phoenix location. Crabbs’ team is developing Waste Management’s newest business sector – health and medical waste.

“We deal with waste items such as syringes and bandages, among others,” Crabbs said. “Waste Management has only recently entered this sector, but we already have several thousand clients and are the No. 2 waste disposal company in the U.S. This is a booming market and health care is one of the few industries projecting future growth.”

Crabbs’ main duties are ensuring top performance from his staff, mentoring them and providing necessary sales resources, and selling to and negotiating contracts with high-level customers. He estimates about 70 percent of his time is spent in meetings with clients and sales staff.

“Our department is like a start-up venture but with deep corporate pockets,” he said. “Our job is to build and market a superior product. It’s a daily challenge to build this brand, but I love it. The pride, work ethic and team spirit I developed in the Air Force help enormously.”

In Uniform
As a business student at Texas State University, Crabbs was horrified by the attacks of Sep. 11, 2001. He enlisted in the Air Force in 2002, completed boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, and was trained as a firefighter and hazardous materials technician. He was then shipped out to Spangdahlem Air Force Base in Germany.

In 2004 he deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. When he returned to Germany, Crabbs was told the Air Force had too many firefighters and was trimming the staff. Luckily, he landed a job with civilian contractor KBR and returned to Afghanistan as a civilian firefighter.

The Transition
Crabbs’ KBR contract ended in 2006. He decided to complete his business degree, enrolling at the University of Houston and getting a civilian firefighting job with the Air National Guard. While in school, he began thinking seriously of working for Waste Management, a G.I. Jobs 2010 Top 100 Military Friendly Employer.

“When I was stationed overseas, I began to study career paths in the waste industry,” Crabbs said. “I knew it wasn’t going away anytime soon. Waste Management emerged as a prominent name, and I realized this was a company I wanted to be a part of.

Crabbs’ Advice
Use all the resources available to you. “The military provides a lot of tools to have a successful transition. Ask around. Talk to people who have gone through it. Get all the advice you can.” 

Don’t be scared. It’s easier than it seems. “A lot of civilians respect military service. Your time in uniform can give you a leg up on those without it. Employers recognize your leadership experience and work ethic."

Did You Know?

• 1 in 12 Waste Management employees are military veterans or currently serve in the Reserve/Guard.
• On average, at least 1 military person or military spouse is hired at Waste Management every day of the year.
• Waste Management provides pay differentials to employees who are on involuntary military leave, which are equal to the difference between their current base pay and their military pay.
• Waste Management has a full-time employee who focuses on building positive relationships with the military and veterans through outreach, sponsorship and recruiting initiatives.