Norris Graves started WasteSolutionsLLC as a waste consulting business in 2002. He helped businesses figure out where to cut out excess efficiently and economically. “Anything that doesn’t add value is trash,” he said. Within 5 years, more people were leaving the waste consulting business than entering. So, Norris decided to expand his business into services and assets. Since then, he has expanded to leasing equipment such as washers, dryers and dumpsters to military bases and businesses. He also has service contracts to pick up trash and manage recycling. Norris finds that his business is more than a trash business, it’s a saving client’s money business.

In 2013, Norris graduated from the SBA Emerging Leaders program. He worked closely with mentor, Gene Hopper, from The Mettise Group. Through this mentorship, WasteSolutionsLLC has grown 1,000 percent. He found that instead of over-analyzing issues. He can now concentrate on the core values of his company. It’s helped him gain confidence to grow. He plans to branch out into city and commercial business. In 2016, Norris was named Small Business Person of the Year by the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber.