History
After doing business together for years, Mark Zachocki and Jack Lupas shared and appreciated each other’s professionalism and integrity. Jack was building and running recycling plants throughout the Southeast, and Mark was leading the fiber procurement team at a venerable paper and consumer products manufacturing company. Their business relationship was built on a shared belief in a quality, mutually beneficial supply-chain approach to business. It was based on the idea that for business relationships to be healthy and sustainable, they must be win-win relationships. Together, they founded American Fiber Services (AFS) in January 2001, and they pledged that their company would be unique in the brokerage and trading industry. It would not only be all about win-win and sustainable business relationships, but it would also be characterized by their shared intrinsic brand of quality, professionalism, and integrity.
Today, AFS is a best-in-class marketing and purchasing service provider for the paper, pulp, and plastics industries. AFS buys recyclables throughout the US and Canada and sells to mill clients in North America, South America, and Asia. AFS also services material recovery facilities and other industries that generate non-paper recyclable materials. AFS operates sales offices in Marquette, MI; Atlanta, GA; Houston, TX; Greenville, SC; Iowa City, IA; Knoxville, TN.
Leadership
founder/president
Mark Zachocki
Mark is a founding member of American Fiber Services. A graduate of Purdue University, Mark worked for 14 years in the pulp and paper industry. During his early career, Mark managed North American recovered paper procurement for a major tissue manufacturer, managed pulp sales and distribution from two nonintegrated virgin pulp mills, developed and implemented a virgin and recovered fiber sourcing strategy in addition to a multitude of mill fiber procurement duties. Among his many strengths, Mark excels in contract negotiation and developing longstanding supply relationships based on the needs of both the generator and consumer of fiber. Mark, his wife Kimberly, and their extended family of four children, a daughter and son in-law, and six grandchildren, all live in the greater Atlanta area.
Founder/board member
Jack Lupas
Jack Lupas is a 35 year veteran of the recycling industry and one of the founders of American Fiber Services. In addition to his experience in recovered materials brokerage and trading, Jack has expertise in plant operations, equipment installation and supply chain management. During his 35 year career in the industry, Jack has built and operated 13 recycling plants in several Southeast cities. Jack lives in the Atlanta area with his wife Jan. They have three daughters.
cfO
Cindy Lowe
Cindy Lowe has been with AFS since 2008 as the Controller and Human Resources Manager, in the spring of 2018 she accepted the position of CFO. She is a certified public accountant with a background in financial audits and banking. Cindy resides in Kennesaw, Georgia with her husband and two children.
Sales
Will Davis
Atlanta, GA
Will Davis joined AFS in 2022 after spending 10 years as a sales representative in the corrugated packaging industry. Prior to joining AFS, Will worked as a sales representative for Chief Container Company, a leading point of purchase display manufacturer serving CPG clients across the country. Will received a BA from Auburn University. He and his wife, Kaki, live in Marietta, GA with their two children.
Andy Grasty
Atlanta, GA
Andy Grasty joined American Fiber Services after serving in the pulp and paper industry for over 30 years. Most recently, Andy was North American Sales Manager for the Alabama River mills of Parsons & Whittemore Corp. Prior to P&W, he worked 17 years with Georgia-Pacific in pulp sales where he served as Director of Domestic and Export Sales for paper and fluff pulp and 5 years with Hercules Inc. as a Buyer for wood pulp and specialty cellulose. Andy brings to AFS vast knowledge and experience in sales and marketing throughout the paper industry and is recognized for his innovation in identifying customer needs and presenting solutions. He has a BA from the University of Delaware and resides in Marietta, GA with his wife Jackie and their two daughters.
Joe Hummel
Iowa City, IA
Joe Hummel is an Iowa native who started in the recycling industry in 2005 with City Carton Recycling. During his tenure at City Carton Recycling, Joe handled material marketing and brokerage sales and held several positions including Non-Fiber Marketing Specialist, Regional Sales Manager, and Recovered Material Sales Manager. Joe also spent time as a buyer for a plastics recycling facility prior to joining AFS. Joe has a BA in History from the University of Northern Iowa. Joe and his wife Emilia reside in Iowa City, IA.
Jim Jenkin
Marquette, MI
Jim Jenkin earned his undergraduate degree and MBA from Northern Michigan University where he has also served as President of the Alumni Board of Directors and continues to work with the College of Business. In addition to his University credentials, Jim is also a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM). Jim has over 20 years of experience at both the corporate and mill level in Recovered Fiber Procurement, Pulp Procurement, Pulp Sales, Pulp and Tissue Manufacturing Chemistry and Major Equipment Procurement. During his career he has lead Supply-Chain Optimization teams and coordinated global procurement efforts. He possesses extensive experience in both virgin and recovered fiber properties and in optimizing Recovered Fiber Operations at the mill level. Other outside interests have included serving as President and board member of Fox Valley Trout Unlimited and coaching youth hockey. Jim and his wife, Debbie, have two children and live in Marquette, MI.
Clark Lindsey
Knoxville, TN
Clark Lindsey is a Tennessee native who started in the recycling industry with Rock-Tenn Recycling in 1990. Over the years, Clark has purchased and sold recyclable commodities and recovered paper and has managed recycling facilities in eastern Tennessee. Clark has a BS in Organizational Management from Tusculum College. Clark and his wife Angela have 3 children and live in Knoxville, TN.
Steve Minor
Houston, TX
Steve Minor is a native of Green Bay, WI who’s recently relocated to Texas. He’s been in the Recycling and Paper Recovery industry for 28 years working for companies such as Georgia Pacific and Sustana Fibers all in the Fiber Procurement Management role while recently exploring the Export world with VIPA USA. Steve managed all aspects of the wastepaper purchasing process for several of the GP mills (Both Green Bay WI mills, Muskogee OK, and Plattsburg NY) as well as Sustana Fibers DePere and Quebec mill operations before moving to the export world where he was responsible for buying and selling into SE Asia and India. Steve has a BA in Business and Marketing from UW-Green Bay and currently resides in the Northwest part of Houston with wife Mary.
Ron Moore
Greenville, SC
Ron Moore is a 25 year veteran of the recycling and recovered paper industry. His experiences include fiber procurement for several 100% recycled fiber consuming mills as well as opening and operating multiple recycling operations in South Carolina and North Carolina. He is a member of SERDC and the Carolina Recycling Association and actively works to promote recycling awareness in the region. Ron graduated from UGA and is an avid Bulldog fan. He and his wife, Renee, have two children and live in the Greenville, SC area.
Operations
Sandra Andrews
Sr. Logistics Coordinator
Sandra Andrews is native Atlantan who joined AFS in 2013 in a logistics role. Previously working for another major recovered materials trading company, she uses her skills to provide excellence in service to all of her accounts. She received a degree in Business Administration from St Leo University. Sandra enjoys spending time with her Yorkie (GiGi), going to the Theatre, attending festivals and dining out with friends.
Hayden Bowers
Project Manager
Hayden Bowers is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in English: Editing, Writing, and Media. She joined the AFS Smyrna team in 2017 and, as of 2020, works remotely from Sarasota, FL. Along with her logistics responsibilities, Hayden is also the freight manager for AFS. Hayden and her husband Matt love spending time with their son and two dogs.
Brooke Haney
Logistics Coordinator
Brooke Haney joined AFS in 2022 after graduating from Georgia Highlands College. She received a BBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and is now a Senior Logistics Associate for AFS. She is a Georgia native who loves her animals and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs and the Braves. Outside of work, you can find Brooke spending time with her friends, family, and fur babies.
Brooke Harbin
AP/AR Coordinator
Brooke Harbin joined AFS in 2020 after spending ten years in customer service. She has a Business Management degree from University of West Georgia. Outside of work Brooke enjoys attending sporting events and concerts with her husband and relaxing at home with their dog Nash.
Kate Katkalov
Sr. Accountant
Marcia Pierre
Sr. Logistics Coordinator
Kate Katkalov was born and raised in Russia and moved to the United States at the age of 20. She lived in Brooklyn, New York for ten years, got her Bachelor’s degree from the City University of New York, and spent the first few years of her accounting career working as an auditor and a corporate accountant in Manhattan. Kate joined AFS after moving to Georgia. She currently resides in Marietta with her husband Viktor, her daughter Joanne and their two fur kids.
Marcia Pierre, a New Orleans native, joined AFS in 2014 as a Logistics Specialist. Before joining AFS, Marcia served with the US Marine Corps for 15 years and her last 5 years in the National Guard where she gained her logistics background. She currently specializes in export logistics and helps send recovered materials around the world. Marcia currently resides in Smyrna, GA.
Nick Zachocki
Accounting & Logistics Coordinator
Nick Zachocki is a Georgia native new to Recycling that is excited to learn from and serve the recovered materials market. He enjoys watching college football and grilling out with his extensive family in his free time.
Alex Zaganas
Account Coordinator
Alex Zaganas joined AFS in 2018 after spending the last ten years in customer service and the fleet washing industry, where he manufactured and maintained fleet washing chemicals and machines. Alex currently lives in Cartersville, Georgia, and enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as pursuing his passion of the outdoors through fishing and hunting.