Custom Ecology

Custom Ecology

George Lockhart started Custom Ecology in 1994, initially serving municipal and industrial waste clients in the Southeast. His son Derk Lockhart now runs the company as President & CEO; Eric Jones serves as Vice President & CFO. The firm describes itself as a family-oriented operation, though no public records detail its capital structure or ownership beyond the Lockhart family. The company provides solid-waste transportation, transfer station management, and industrial and hazardous waste hauling. It operates a fleet of more than 600 tractors and 1,000 specialized trailers, handling liquids, semi-liquids, sludges, solids, and drums across the United States. Revenue comes from service contracts rather than investment returns, and the firm does not disclose asset-management figures or deployment activity. Custom Ecology is headquartered in Smyrna, Tennessee, with offices throughout the Southeast. The company employs a team of named executives including a Director of Industrial Waste, Corporate Maintenance Director, HR Director, and Controller. It does not manage external capital or maintain investment vehicles; its business structure resembles an operating company rather than a family office. The firm’s distinguishing feature is its vertically integrated fleet and safety program. Custom Ecology maintains a dedicated safety department that uses technology to monitor driver and vehicle performance. Unlike investment-oriented family offices, Custom Ecology generates its wealth through service operations and does not deploy capital in financial markets.