On Tuesday, July 23, New Braunfels, Texas-based Comal Iron & Metals celebrated its first-ever ribbon cutting, hosted by the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce. For over 55 years, the company has served New Braunfels, but never formally marked its beginning.
According to Marcie Rodriguez, CEO of Comal Iron & Metals, the company wanted the event to serve as a tribute to its legacy and the dedication of her father in-law, Johnnie, whose hard work laid the foundation for the company’s success.
“We were asked why we were holding a ribbon cutting ceremony after 55 years in business,” she said. “When my husband’s grandfather started the business in 1969, he didn’t have the luxury to do a ceremony. Then when he tragically passed away at the age of 36 and my father-in-law took over to provide for his family, he was also too busy growing the business to think about a ribbon cutting ceremony.”
As someone who married into the family, Rodriguez believes she was in a good position to recognize all that the family had accomplished for Comal Iron & Metals and for the community.
“It’s harder for my husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law to recognize the great work they’ve done because they’re in it,” Rodriguez said. “It’s like asking a fish how the water is; it’s just what they do. So, for our 55th anniversary, I wanted to tip my hat to the previous generations and their hard work and sacrifices.”
Comal Iron & Metals invited nearby businesses, friends, family, customers, and employees to the event. Rodriguez began the ceremony by providing a history of the company and then her father-in-law gave a walkthrough of recycling and the company’s process. According to Rodriguez, there was a good mix of attendees who had never heard of the company along with regulars.
“It was a great moment to honor the past and celebrate the future,” Rodriguez said. “And it was a good opportunity to educate our neighbors about us and the work that we do.”
In addition to the ribbon cutting, the company shared a cherished family tradition—enjoying ice-cold soda with peanuts. According to Rodriguez this nostalgic treat is a beloved part of the family’s heritage.
“Grandpa Pasqual would have this treat while driving his truck,” she said. “It helped him get the necessary sugar and proteins to stay on the go. It’s called a farmer’s drink. Grandpa Pasqual would share this treat with his son, and my father-in-law would share it with my husband when he was a child. It just made sense to include this treat at the ceremony so that attendees could have a piece of Grandpa Pasqual to hold in their hands.”
After the treat, Rodriguez’s husband Roger and her brother-in-law Johnnie Jr., who oversees the nonferrous department, took attendees on a tour of the facility and gave a demo of the company’s baler and shear.
“We refer to our machines as our ‘gentle giants,’ and that’s how we introduced them to our visitors,” she said. “Attendees were able to watch a demonstration of a truck cab go through the baler and come out as a compact bale, which they all thought was cool.”
Inside the company’s nonferrous warehouse, Rodriguez’s husband Roger, Comal Iron & Metals’ director of operations, demonstrated the valuable materials inside of an air conditioning unit while the company’s safety and compliance director spoke about the importance of recycling from an environmental perspective.
“As a recycling center we look rather industrial, but we are open to the public, so we do focus on everyday households,” Rodriguez said. “The industrial businesses know that we’re here but we’re also here to recycle your everyday household appliances like AC units, washers, and dryers.”
Opening the facility to the public gave Comal Iron & Metals the opportunity to not only honor its history but also be purposeful in how to share its story to people who didn’t know about the company or the industry.
“We had people who previously didn’t know who we were come up and tell us that they felt we were a staple of the community,” Rodriguez said. “We showed them who we were on our terms and demonstrated the beauty of our roots. Educating the community means they know who we are and what we do, so if there is a call to action, we’ve already laid the groundwork and know that folks will respond.”
Images Courtesy of Comal Iron & Metals.
