Dan Christensen steps down as CEO of Cards Recycling

Dan Christensen, founder and CEO of Fayetteville-based Cards Recycling, has left the solid waste collection company to pursue other entrepreneurial endeavors. Monday (Oct. 21) was his last day with the company, but he said he remains financially invested.

Dave Vaughn, chief operating officer, has been named interim CEO. Vaughn has more than 35 years of experience in the environmental services and waste collection industry. He joined Cards and relocated to the area this summer after working as CEO of Sarasota, Fla.-based Veransa Group Inc.

To ensure a smooth transition, Christensen said Cards also recently added a vice president of fleet, vice president of operations positions for its east and west regions, a vice president of people and culture, and a vice president of risk and safety.

Christensen said before February 2023, he had owned all the company stock and completed 15 acquisitions. Since he brought on New York-based equity firm Kinderhook Industries as a financial sponsor that month, Cards has completed 20 acquisitions, bringing the total to 35 acquisitions. He noted that a number of acquisitions will close in the next month or so.

Founded in late 2017, the company has grown from two trucks to more than 320 trucks and almost 500 employees. It has about 280,000 customers and operates hauling companies, transfer stations, recycling centers, recovery facilities and landfills in five states, including Arkansas.

Revenue is projected to rise from nearly $90 million last year to more than $125 million this year.

“We might be slightly better than that, with all the acquisitions and growth we have in the pipeline,” he added. “Last year, we won the city of Springdale municipal agreement. This year, we’ve had many wins, but the most notable are the city of Russellville and the city of Van Buren. We started the city of Russellville in September and are going to start the city of Van Buren at the beginning of 2025.”

With these agreements, Cards is the exclusive provider of solid waste collection services for about 65 cities.

The company’s headquarters is expected to relocate from Fayetteville to Springdale by the first quarter of 2025. The company recently opened a new material recovery facility, serving the recycling needs of area residents.

Christensen said he has multiple companies he’s working on, including diesel maintenance shop Advanced Diesel of Northwest Arkansas in Springdale, over-the-road trucking company S&E Transport in Fayetteville, luxury car condominiums Marque Collection Suites in Rogers and the 70-acre luxury fly-in park Teton Valley Airpark in Driggs, Idaho. He’s also involved in various multi-family, commercial and industrial developments.

“I’m an entrepreneur,” Christensen said. “I’ve got some other businesses and passions. I’ve really enjoyed building the company to where it is today. But just excited to go do some other things and felt like it was the right time. The business is doing well, it’s on stable footing and we’ve got a great team in place now.

“I really attribute a lot of our success to the momentum that our area has carried and will continue to carry and attract population and additional investment in the area,” he said. “It’s the beginning of a new chapter, but for me, I’ll never be able to give up the entrepreneurial spirit because I’ve got this never-ending fire in my belly that keeps me pushing and moving.”

Christensen plans to continue to reside in the area and has a house about 10 miles south of Fayetteville. He also has a townhome in the Pinnacle Hills area that’s under construction. He hopes to move into his second area residence early next year.