Celebrating Our Veterans at Heritage Environmental Services 

At Heritage Environmental Services, we’re privileged to work alongside veterans who have served our nation with courage, honor, and resilience. This Veterans Day, we want to spotlight the incredible individuals on our team who once wore the uniform and now continue to serve, bringing the skills, values, and discipline they learned in the military to their roles here at Heritage. 

Reflections on Service and Sacrifice 

Veterans Day is a time of reflection for many of our team members who have served. Ryan Snow (Environmental Service Coordinator), who served in the Navy with the HSC-84 Red Wolves, shares a powerful perspective: “Veterans Day to me is about the Vets that gave the ULTIMATE sacrifice for their country and its freedom. It’s a time to remember them as heroes.” His words capture the spirit of remembrance that resonates with so many veterans who remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

For Mark Noon (Healthcare Services Operations Manager), a former U.S. Marine, Veterans Day offers a moment to “reflect on my service and the service of so many others who sacrificed themselves for our great country.  (It is also significant as the 10 of November is the birth date of the Marine Corps).” Mark’s experience as an Intelligence Analyst with the Marines provided him with an analytical mindset and a keen attention to detail—skills he brings to his work every day. 

Sam Trapanese in Iraq in 2007 at the birthplace of Abraham near a Ziggurat outside the base.

Sam Trapanese (Indianapolis Field  Services Supervisor I) served in the United States Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician (AWV3/AC) on the P-3 Orion. Sam shared that he “did a surge and deployment to Iraq in 2007/2008 where our primary mission was surveillance for ground forces. We were the first Naval Aviation fixed wing squadron deployed in support of OIF/OEF. My squadron was VP-47 Golden Swordsman and we had 100% mission completion.” Sam reflects, “Veterans Day is a day to remember all of the sacrifices made by military members for the freedoms we enjoy.” His military experience taught him the importance of leadership, which he now applies at Heritage, enjoying the wide variety of projects and responsibilities. 

With nearly 22 years of service in the Coast Guard, Scott Swope (Southeast Area Manager) takes this day as “a time to reflect on my tours and shipmates and appreciate all my brothers and sisters that came before me, as well as the ones currently on active duty.” His extensive experience in the military gave him a strong foundation in environmental work, which he brings to Heritage as he embraces the challenges of the industry. 

Michael Washington (Driver), a U.S. Army veteran, reflects on how the military taught him how to handle high-pressure situations. At Heritage, Michael finds joy in the “great working environment” and in knowing that “everyone is a team player.” 

A Legacy of Strength and Family 

Top photo: Niki Samborski at 18 yrs old  
Bottom photo: Niki’s brother left (Air Force), Niki middle (Navy), and dad right (Marines)

For Niki Samborski (Talent Acquisition Specialist), a U.S. Navy veteran, Veterans Day means honoring both those who served and the families that support them. As Niki explains, Veterans Day is about “honoring my brothers and sisters and our families who are willing to sacrifice everything-including their lives for our country. We not only go to work 24/7 but we are also deployed days, weeks, months, and even years away from our families to help protect the freedoms we have and to help other countries have the same. Our families make the same sacrifice. We leave and go without our families and are left with a hole in our hearts and sometimes that hole will be forever. Our families share the same burden when we deploy.” This sense of unity and dedication continues in her work with Heritage, where she values the close-knit, family-like environment that helps her feel at home.

Austin Jackson performing post-assembly inspections on a GBU-12 guided bomb

For Austin Jackson (Project Manager I), a former Marine in Aviation Ordnance, Veterans Day holds a special significance. “I have spent my entire life around Marines, working with Marines, deploying with Marines,” he says. “My father, a current active-duty Marine, enlisted in 1999 and I followed suit in 2019. Veterans Day is a reminder of those who sacrificed everything for us. It is also a day that reminds me of just how grateful I am for the friends and family I have made during this journey.” As a project manager at Heritage, Austin finds a familiar sense of teamwork and respect, valuing the commitment of his Heritage colleagues. 

James Pittman (right) and his father (left) in 1984. He was fresh out of Basic and his dad would retire as a Chief Petty Officer USNR.

Air Force veteran James Pittman (Truck Driver II), a truck driver with nearly nine years at Heritage, reflects about his time, “I don’t put myself on the same level as those who were deployed in recent times, especially in the Middle East, or those who served in Vietnam, etc. I was peacetime/Cold War and stayed stateside. I was proud to don a uniform for the short time I was in, but I have the ultimate respect for those who did it for longer, whether they volunteered or were chosen at random. Veterans Day is a day we should honor all those who served and fought to liberate not only our nation but other nations from tyranny and terrorism, whether we agree with the cause or not.”  

Richard McCormack (Account Manager II), a former Air Traffic Controller with the U.S. Air Force, brings precision and independence to his role in outside sales. With seven immediate family members in the military, Richard’s commitment to service runs deep. “My father was a B-24 Liberator Heavy Bomber pilot and spent six months in a German POW camp. My older brother is a Vietnam Vet, and one brother and I were Vietnam Era Vets. So, this is the day we thank our brave men and women who run toward the loud noises. It means more to me than most will understand,” Richard says.  

Serving in New Ways 

Patrick Hill (Field Chemist I), who joined Heritage as a field chemist eight months ago, served in the Army and values Veterans Day as “a day set apart to honor everyone who has served and to remember the sacrifices they made.” His military training instilled a dedication to problem-solving and integrity, a mindset he brings to Heritage every day. 

Jerel Thompson (10 Day Coordinator HES), who served in the Army as a Human Resources Specialist, considers Veterans Day “Veterans Day to me is a time to not only reflect, and reminisce the soldiers that have fallen and sacrificed, but to honor and appreciate being a part of a group of people that come together from all walks of life to protect, defend, and serve.” His military background helped him develop empathy and diligence—qualities he channels into building a strong, inclusive culture at Heritage. 

Angela Rice, US Navy, 2000-2004

Angela Rice (Billing Specialist II), a Navy veteran, served as an Aviation Boatswain Mate and views Veterans Day as “a day to celebrate and honor those who have served.” Her military experience taught her adaptability and resilience, skills she now applies in her role at Heritage. “I am proud to work for a company who actively improves the health and safety of our planet and started doing so during an era in which environmental health was of little concern,” says Angela

Seth Baize (Truck Driver II), a former Navy Master-at-Arms, reflects on Veterans Day as “a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that all Americans maintain our freedoms granted by the US Constitution.” This sense of integrity and responsibility continues in his work at Heritage. “The people I work with in Kansas City have a camaraderie that reminds me of my time in the military,” says Seth. “We all work together well to accomplish the company’s mission.” 

Robert Killian (Transport Mechanic), an Army National Guard veteran, views the day as “a time to be proud and to remember those that came before us.” Robert brings a legacy of dedication and respect to his role as a mechanic at Heritage, where he finds fulfillment in both the work and the supportive environment. “I enjoy the people I work with and the peace of mind that the work that I do keeps the drivers and all the people on the road safe,” says Killian.

Photo of Brandon when he came back to the states from Germany

Brett Brandon (HT Maintenance Manager), who served as an Army light wheel vehicle and power generation mechanic, finds meaning in the recognition that comes with Veterans Day. “I think that it is nice to be honored for serving,” he shares. The discipline and teamwork he learned in the military have become key aspects of his role as a Maintenance Manager, where he values the camaraderie and support from his colleagues. “Everyone that I have worked with has been very helpful and nice,” Brett adds, highlighting the positive environment at Heritage that helps him continue his commitment to service.  

Honoring Our Heroes Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow  

As we celebrate Veterans Day this year, we’re grateful for the dedication and experiences that our veterans bring to the team. Their stories remind us of the courage and strength that continue to shape our community, both at Heritage and beyond. Today, and every day, we thank them for their service—and for the many ways they make a difference.