Meet Our Team

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Jim DeGrado

Founder/President

Founded in 1995 – After graduating from Colorado State University in Pueblo, Jim took the traditional path and worked for a Fortune 500 company. In 1995, during the mid ‘90s housing boom, Jim left corporate America to start CDI. Jim coupled his prior experiences from working in the family landscape contracting business, in rural Colorado, with his formal education in Business Management to start his new venture. His hard work and perseverance quickly blossomed his business model into CDI servicing all of Colorado, with seven different environmental divisions. Jim has extensive field experience in every aspect of CDI’s service offerings. He has personally performed and trained at every position at CDI. Extremely active in day-to-day operations, Jim brings guidance, inspiration and dedication to the fast-paced atmosphere of a company experiencing healthy growth. Today, even though CDI has become one of the Rocky Mountain’s largest Environmental Services companies, Jim pledges “CDI is big enough to serve you BUT small enough to know you”.

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Steve Jones

CFO

Hired in 2019 – Steve is focused on the efficiency and accuracy within CDI’s Accounting, Administrative and Human Resources groups. He has redesigned CDI’s systems and procedures that drive results through proven principles. Steve is well-connected within the commercial banking and financing world, providing an uncommon level of expertise in a company of CDI’s size. His 20+ previous years’ work experience has primarily been in construction with an emphasis in manufacturing and distribution… a perfect fit for CDI.

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Zacc Wair

Vice President/COO

Zacc started at CDI in the Landscape Maintenance Division chasing a lawn mower.  He showed his dedication and ability to learn CDI’s business as he climbed the ranks: Foreman, Superintendent, Estimator until he earned his Manager stripes in CDI’s Erosion Control Division.  Then, during the housing boom of 2013, Zacc recognized CDI needed to start a new division coordinating Civil & Soil Management offerings which has grown into CDI directly managing/hauling hundreds of thousands of cubic-yards of soil each year.  Now, after all his experiences throughout CDI, Zacc has earned the title of Vice President/COO and is responsible for all day-to-day construction operations for all seven divisions.

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Rick Michalak

Director of Special Projects

Hired in 1997 - Rick’s career has ascended nearly every rung of CDI’s operations’ ladder during his long tenure: Operator, Foreman, Superintendent, Estimator, Division Manager, and now Director. In addition to his experiences in Colorado for CDI, Rick ran CDI’s Oil/Gas Operations that covered North Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma and Texas.  He now primarily focuses on our Reclamation Division (amassing over 100,000 acres of personal seeding experience) and will run any project CDI deems “special” meaning high-priority or involving multiple divisions.

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Jamie Salisbury

Director of Estimating

Hired in 2008 – Jamie was hired to run CDI’s Northern Colorado Oil/Gas branch during the energy boom. His comprehensive experience required him to know everything from estimating to operations to billing. Now, Jamie reports to the main office and is responsible for CDI’s Estimating Department that services all seven of CDI’s divisions. His field experience makes Jamie an excellent mentor for all of CDI’s divisions. Jamie is proficient in CDI’s estimating software and is responsible for the entire estimating process starting with RFPs and concluding in contracts

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Ken Castellano

Safety Manager

Hired in 2012 – Ken had already tallied 35 years of professional experience working for Fortune 200 companies when CDI asked him to run our extremely important Safety Division. Ken is responsible for making sure all of CDI’s 200+, full-time employees work safely every day. He has developed CDI’s safety procedures, proctors our regulation-compliance trainings, teaches first-aid/fall protection/equipment training classes and more. His efforts have paid off; CDI has earned the lowest MOD-rate possible for our industry.