Staff
A Cohesive Team Dedicated
to Customer Satisfaction
Headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania, Elk Environmental Services has been providing turnkey environmental services since 1988. Our staff is committed to Elk’s core values of honesty, integrity, accountability, reliability, teamwork and leadership to ensure an exceptional customer experience. We have the experience and expertise to handle all your environmental needs.
Russell L. Mountjoy, Jr.
Vice President
With over 30 years of experience in demolition, dismantling, environmental remediation, and waste management, Russell L. Mountjoy, Jr. serves as the Vice President of Operations at Elk Environmental. Mr. Mountjoy is responsible for the coordination, scheduling, and management of Elk projects. Russell’s principal area of expertise is in remediation and demolition with extensive experience managing large-scale projects and a record of working under OSHA supervision on jobs with no recordable accidents. He has managed multiple projects, including a large-scale dismantling and cleanup of a collapsed casino parking garage and a rail yard remediation project. Russell holds numerous regulatory certifications, including OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER, Heavy Equipment Operator, First Aid/CPR, NIOSH 501 Asbestos Air Monitoring Technician, Licensed Asbestos Abatement Supervisor in multiple states, and Certified Spectro Analysis Technician.
Nick Shade
Controller
Nick Shade is the Controller for Empire Group and has over ten years’ experience in the finance industry. Mr. Shade has vast experience in financial project management ranging in value from $500 to $220 million in several industries, including construction, HVAC, industrial refrigeration, demolition, and environmental services. Nick is responsible for overseeing all accounting functions to ensure accuracy and performance. He works closely with the Operations and Sales Teams to review company and job performance, where he identifies potential inefficiencies and lost opportunities. Nick also works with senior leadership to keep them informed and assist with business decisions. Prior to joining Empire Group, he was an Accounting Manager at Devault Refrigeration, where he was also the Acting Controller. Nick has a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Business Management from DeSales University.
James Ralech
Sales Manager
James Ralech serves as Sales Manager with 15 years of experience in the waste management industry. His hands-on expertise spans multiple sectors, including residential services, special waste, and oil and gas operations. Throughout his career, James has managed books of business ranging from $80 million to $210 million. He brings a strong focus on customer service, revenue growth, customer retention, accounts receivable collections, and waste compliance. Prior to joining Elk, James spent seven years as a Sales Manager at Republic Services overseeing oil and gas exploratory and production operations across Wyoming, North Dakota, and Texas. In this role, he led sales efforts for six landfills and managed key functions including revenue generation, accounts receivable, transportation, and equipment rentals. James takes a proactive, collaborative approach, working closely with operations teams to prioritize safety and drive successful outcomes. His well-rounded background enables him to develop effective solutions for complex environmental challenges from start to finish. At Elk, he partners closely with account managers to deliver comprehensive waste management and industrial cleaning solutions to customers. James holds certifications in OSHA 40-hour training, DOT compliance, Hazmat, and Hazardous Materials.
Brian Hinkal
North Branch Manager
Brian Hinkal is our North Branch Manager with an extensive background in project operations management. Brian oversees our Wysox location on projects, personnel, and equipment within our Energy Services Division. He is responsible for design implementation, execution of all activities, and ensuring consistency with company strategies, commitment, and goals. Brian also completes and reviews project schedules, budgets, and project progress as well as assesses and resolves inter-functional conflicts. Prior to Elk, he spent 14 years at Eureka Resources, LLC, in various positions: Lead Operator, Plant Manager, Director of Operations, and Director of Supply Chain. Brian is a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He has earned 40-hour HAZWOPER, OSHA-30, Biosafety Hazardous Waste Handling and Disposal, Incident Investigation, Recurrent Hazmat Ground Shipper Certification (DOT), and Conducting a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) certifications.
David Skrocki
Technical Manager
David Skrocki is an innovative and driven environmental professional with nearly 20 years of experience in managing hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal. Mr. Skrocki serves as the Technical Manager, where he leads a team to provide customers the best alternatives and cost-effective ways to manage, recycle, transport, and dispose of waste in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Dave strives to exceed customers’ expectations by applying his meticulous knowledge of waste regulations and his experience gained as a Lab Pack Chemist and Project Manager. He received his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Drexel University and has received extensive environmental and safety training, including DOT, RCRA, and HAZWOPER.
Glenn Oesterling
Transportation Manager
Glenn Oesterling is a Transportation Manager and is responsible for scheduling and dispatching equipment to support field services and hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal. Mr. Oesterling supervises and coordinates support to all vehicles and equipment activity, company drivers, owners/operators, brokers, and subcontracted work to affiliate companies. He also maintains and updates interstate and intrastate commerce licenses and permits, waste permits, CDL driver management, electronic logging devices, payroll, and invoicing approvals. Glenn holds regulatory certifications, including OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER and DOT Hazardous Materials Training.