Quest Resource (QRHC) 2024 Southwest IDEAS Conference summary

Business overview and market position

• Provides national waste and recycling solutions to large, diverse clients, mainly Fortune 500/1000 companies.

• Operates an asset-light model, coordinating a vast vendor network to serve all U.S. zip codes.

• Offers comprehensive data reporting and ESG measurement through a proprietary customer portal.

• Differentiates from asset-heavy competitors by focusing on customer alignment and flexibility.

• Revenue is diversified across sectors, reducing risk from economic downturns in any single industry.

Technology and operational strategy

• Invests heavily in both customer-facing and internal technology platforms for data accuracy and operational efficiency.

• Data analytics enable clients to identify operational trends and compliance issues across locations.

• Vendor management platform automates AP processing, achieving 60-70% zero-touch invoice processing, with a goal of 80-90%.

• Automation accelerates proposal generation and improves margin certainty.

• Technology investments support scalable growth with minimal SG&A increases.

Growth, sales, and M&A

• Pursues a "land and expand" strategy, growing organically by increasing services and locations with existing clients.

• Added nine new customers this year, the highest ever, attributed to revamped sales force and new Chief Revenue Officer.

• M&A strategy targets founder-owned businesses that have outgrown their infrastructure, with continued opportunistic approach.

• Private equity interest has increased M&A multiples but hasn't affected core business.

• Pipeline for new customers is strong, with sustainable growth expected.