TCI of New York Celebrates 30 Years of Service for Mike Shutts

COEYMANS — On Aug. 15, TCI of New York hosted a barbecue to celebrate driver Mike Shutts and his 30 years with the company.

A third-generation farmer turned veteran trucker

For Shutts, the journey began in August 1995 when TCI was looking to expand its fleet. The Columbia County native had already built a life centered on farming and trucking. As a third-generation farmer, Shutts grew up working long hours on the land, learning the value of determination and responsibility at an early age.

That ethic translated easily into his role on the road. Driving equipment “as soon as his feet hit the pedals,” Shutts said trucking felt like a natural extension of the skills he grew up with. Before joining TCI, he worked for a local transportation company, but the opening at TCI offered a chance to take on larger challenges.

In his three decades with the company, Shutts has hauled equipment up and down the East Coast, logging countless miles through cities, mountain passes and coastal routes. He recalls some of the more memorable assignments fondly: transporting transformers from military installations, nuclear plants, hospitals, schools and hydroelectric dams. Some routes even required boarding ferries to reach destinations such as Nantucket and Swans Island, Maine.

“It’s been great working with TCI and seeing all the places this work has taken me,” Shutts said. “I’ve hauled from sites people might never imagine — and every job has its own story.”

His influence extends beyond his own career. Both of Shutts’ sons followed him into the trucking business, carrying on the family tradition of transportation and hard work.

A culture of longevity

While the Aug. 15 event was focused on Shutts, his milestone also reflects a broader culture at TCI. Lisa Leone-Beers, who marked her 30th anniversary in March, and Bill Sultan, who will be recognized in October for 30 years of service, exemplify the same kind of long-term dedication.

Together, the three are affectionately known within the company as the “Three Amigos.” With a combined 90 years at TCI, they embody the loyalty, skill and commitment that define the business.

From Marine to mechanic to seasoned hauler

Bill Sultan grew up in Rensselaer with trucking in his blood. His father owned a trucking company, and Sultan spent much of his youth around heavy equipment, while also working on area farms.

After high school, Sultan joined the Marine Reserves, serving six years while also training as a diesel mechanic. He put his skills to use as a mechanic for a local business before joining TCI in 1996.

His first assignments with the company came under the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office contract managed by a TCI sister company in Alabama. Sultan’s early years were spent traveling the East Coast, collecting hazardous waste from government facilities. It was demanding work, but he embraced the responsibility.

Over the years, Sultan built a reputation for steady professionalism. Today, in addition to driving, he lends his mechanical expertise to maintaining TCI’s fleet, ensuring the equipment that keeps the company moving remains in top condition.

A leader in the office and the community

While Shutts and Sultan keep TCI’s trucks moving, Lisa Leone-Beers has helped steer the company’s broader growth. Leone-Beers started in 1995 as secretary to the president and steadily rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming the company’s first female vice president.

Her career is defined not only by her advancement within the business but also by the support she’s provided others along the way.

“If it wasn’t for the support from my peers and leaders and their faith in my ability to grow within my job, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today,” Leone-Beers said. “I love to surround myself with those like me.”

A Catskill resident, she is deeply involved in community service. She has co-chaired fundraising events for the Fortnightly Club of Catskill, including the Rip Van Winkle Wine, Brew & Beverage Festival and the annual Festival of Trees. She is also a member of the Greene County Women’s Cancer League, where she co-chairs the Cabin Fever fundraiser, and served on the Catskill SplashGround Committee, which oversaw the creation of a popular community recreation site.

A culture of commitment

TCI President Brian Hemlock said both Shutts and Sultan have built reputations for skill and dependability over nearly three decades.

“When we send them to a site, we know the work will be done 100 percent correctly and then some,” Hemlock said.

Leone-Beers, he added, has been equally vital to TCI’s growth and leadership team, helping guide the company through an era of expansion while also breaking ground as the first woman to hold a vice president role.

About TCI of New York

TCI of New York is a family-owned, independently operated business and part of the G&S Family of companies, which together employ more than 500 people. Based in Coeymans, TCI specializes in the recycling of transformers and other oil-filled electrical equipment. More than 99 percent of the material processed at the facility is recycled, refurbished or reused, keeping harmful materials out of the environment and returning valuable resources back into circulation.

The company’s work is overseen by multiple regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health. Operations are subject to scheduled and unannounced inspections, and TCI emphasizes strict compliance with health, safety and training standards.

A milestone worth celebrating

The Aug. 15 barbecue for Mike Shutts was also a chance to acknowledge the depth of experience among TCI’s longest-serving employees. For employees, friends and families who gathered under the sun, it was a reminder of the people behind the company’s success and the culture of dedication that continues to define TCI of New York.