Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcie Rodriguez
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Brownsville, Texas, in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. As a first-generation Mexican American, my roots run deep in resilience and hard work. My father, who had a high school education, and my mother, who only had an elementary education, both shaped my understanding of perseverance. Spanish was my first language, and I didn’t learn English until I started school.
From an early age, my father instilled in me a strong work ethic and a deep respect for others. He taught me that life is hard, but no matter what, I always have a choice: I can change my circumstances or let them define me. That mindset, paired with the encouragement of teachers and coaches who saw something in me that I didn’t yet see in myself, changed the course of my life.
My elementary teachers encouraged my parents to enroll me in advanced classes and sports. That foundation allowed me to dream beyond my hometown, imagine college, and even consider playing volleyball at the collegiate level.
At 16, I got my first job at H-E-B as a bagger. My life was a balancing act from then on—advanced classes, practices, and part-time work. I did my homework on bus rides to away games, using a flashlight to study, knowing I was scheduled to work the next day. I was a straight-A student, a dedicated athlete, and someone who understood that financial independence was necessary. My parents never asked me to contribute to the household only that I didn’t ask them for money.
I was blessed with teachers who pushed me to be more, including my high school volleyball coach, who personally drove me to tryouts at the University of the Incarnate Word. The moment I stepped on that campus, I knew I belonged there. My grades earned me a partial scholarship, and financial aid covered the rest. When it came time to drop me off, my sister and I loaded up the car and headed north. My parents couldn’t bring themselves to do it —I was the youngest and the first to leave home. I arrived with $250 in my checking account, no car, and no safety net- just God’s blessing from my parents before getting in her car.
When I left Brownsville, I didn’t know much, but I did know one thing: failure was not an option. I committed myself fully to class, practice, and studying. I had no social life and ate on campus to stretch my financial aid as far as possible. Calling home for money wasn’t an option. My parents lived paycheck to paycheck, and I understood the assignment: if I was going to make it, it was up to me.
By my second year, I chose to step away from volleyball to focus on my academics. I rejoined H-E-B, this time working at Central Market, conveniently within walking distance of UIW since I still couldn’t afford a car.
I graduated in 2002 summa cum laude with a major in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. I continued my career with H-E-B until 2004, when my soon-to-be mother-in-law invited me to join the family business Comal Iron & Metals. She planned to mentor me in the “back office.” At the same time, I transitioned into a role that would provide the flexibility only a family business could offer. At just 24, I had already chosen my future—my husband, our future children, and a career that would allow me to be present for them, just as my father had been for me.
I started working alongside my mother-in-law at Comal Iron & Metals in the spring of 2004. She was my best friend, and we even planned “our” wedding together… ours as in hers and mine. Tragically, in January 2005, just months before the wedding, we lost her to stomach cancer. Roger and I considered postponing the wedding, but countless friends and relatives reassured us: “MaryAnn told me to make sure you two got married.” So we did.
The following 15 years were a blur—mourning, navigating life without the heart of our family and business, and raising our children. In July 2010, we welcomed our first baby, and in February 2013, we had twins. When people ask me for an interesting fact about myself, I tell them, “At one point, I had three children under the age of two and a half.” Then, I wait for their reactions.
Fast forward to 2020—COVID hit. I turned to my father-in-law and asked, “Pops, what do we do?” His response: “I don’t know.” At that moment, the reins were unofficially handed over. That night, my husband asked me to be his right hand.
By the end of 2021, we restructured the company from an owner-led business into a corporate model, establishing a CEO, directors, and management teams. We sat down and mapped out what Comal Iron & Metals needed. When it came time to assign roles, I was chosen as CEO—something I hadn’t seen coming. It was an honor to be trusted with the legacy of our family business. Although I was scared, I knew that I would figure it out. I was very aware that I was jumping into a leadership position in a very male-dominated industry. And so I jumped in and made great friends with incredible knowledge of the metal recycling industry. They have taken me under their wing and allowed me to learn from them.
Today, I lead with lessons life has taught me:
-Respect matters.
-I choose my choices, no matter the circumstances.
-Be grateful for the angels along the way who help move your journey forward, and remember to be THAT person for someone else.
-Hard work beats talent every time.
-People matter.
-Own your results.
-Do it scared.
-Pay forward, God’s goodness.
-Do your best, then give yourself grace.
-Enjoy the journey. The goals will always be there, but the moments won’t.
-Ultimately, no matter how many wins you have at work, none of it matters if you don’t have loving people to come home to.
-When in doubt, Pray.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh no! It’s been anything but a smooth road. Transitioning from an owner-led business to a leadership-driven organization has meant shifting a 55-year-old culture at CIM—something that doesn’t happen overnight. Just because it’s right for the business doesn’t mean it’s easy. And just because it’s the right thing for the family doesn’t always mean it’s the right thing for the business. Change takes time—whether it’s with people, finances, or company culture.
Then, add in the challenges of COVID—supply shortages, business closures, kids learning from home—all while navigating one of the lowest metal markets we’ve seen in years.
On a personal level, I had to fully step into my leadership role. I went from working behind the scenes, supporting my husband in their family business, to being at the forefront, making decisions that would shape our future. The learning curve has been steep, and the growth has been exponential. It hasn’t been easy—but it’s been absolutely worth it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Comal Iron & Metals, we’ve proudly served the New Braunfels community and beyond since 1969. As a family-owned and operated metal recycling center, we specialize in responsible, sustainable, and community-driven metal recycling. We buy and process ferrous and non-ferrous metals, ensuring that valuable resources like steel, copper, aluminum, and more stay in use rather than end up in landfills.
**What Sets Us Apart?**
Our legacy spans 55+ years, but what truly makes us different is our commitment to relationships with our customers and our community. We aren’t just a recycling center; we’re a trusted partner for individuals, businesses, and industries looking to turn their scrap metal into something valuable.
We believe in making recycling accessible, efficient, and rewarding for everyone. Whether it’s through our drop-off container that helps the community recycle more easily, small businesses bringing us their unused metal to add to the bottom line, or our roll-off services for larger jobs, we believe in the customer-first approach at our facility. We are always looking for ways to make metal recycling simple and impactful.
**What We’re Most Proud Of**
Our brand isn’t just about metal recycling—it’s about impact. We take pride in being a small business and making a big difference for the planet, our customers, and the next generation. We are proud of our deep roots in New Braunfels, our commitment to honest and fair business, and our ability to adapt and grow while staying true to our values.
At the heart of it all, we believe that metal recycling is more than a transaction—it’s a responsibility. At Comal Iron & Metals, we take that responsibility seriously while also making it a rewarding experience for our customers.
**What Readers need to know**
Recycling is More Than the Blue Bin
Many people think of recycling as what goes into their blue bin, but metal recycling is an entirely different game. The blue bin is very limited regarding what metal items it can recycle. Curbside municipal recycling programs are estimated to recycle 1.9 million tons of metal from mainly used beverage cans and food cans. HOWEVER, the metal recycling industry processes over 70 million tons of metal annually composed of larger, heavier items such as cars, structural steel, and appliances that have reached their end of life.
Understanding that metal is infinitely recyclable is quintessential, meaning it can be reused repeatedly without losing quality. Yet, millions of tons of metal end up in landfills every year because people think the blue bin is the end all be all of recycling.
The U.S. throws away more than $11 billion of recyclable materials annually, including valuable metals like aluminum, steel, and copper, in everyday items such as broken washers, Christmas lights, water heaters, power cords, lawnmowers, and refrigerators.
Recycling just one aluminum can save enough energy to power a TV for three hours. This is an incredible fact, considering it is estimated that in the United States alone, 172 million aluminum cans per day! In one day alone, we throw away enough aluminum cans to do the following, assuming that the aluminum cans are of standard size:
172 million cans stacked end-to-end would stretch over 13,000 miles—that’s more than half of the Earth’s circumference.
Steel is the most recycled material in the world, with over 80 million tons processed annually in North America alone—yet so much still goes to waste.
Recycling 80 million tons of steel annually is like keeping every single car in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio out of landfills more than SIX times over!!
As incredible as these stats are, we need our community to take action. Our community and businesses take their discarded metal to a metal recycling facility to ensure their materials get recycled. Could it be an inconvenience, perhaps? Would you guarantee the metal is recycled instead of ending up in landfills? One hundred percent!
Recycling metal conserves natural resources, reduces energy consumption, and decreases landfill waste. At Comal Iron & Metals, we make it easy for our community to be part of the solution, ensuring that scrap metal is processed correctly and put back into use.
**Beyond Recycling: Investing in Our Community**
At Comal Iron & Metals, we believe that education is key to building a more sustainable future. That’s why we are out in the community, visiting schools, educating students, and partnering with local organizations to teach the importance of metal recycling. We are passionate about spreading awareness and helping young minds understand the environmental and economic benefits of recycling.
And our commitment to giving back doesn’t stop there. We support numerous nonprofits in our area through volunteer time, financial donations, sponsorships, and metal recycling drives as their fundraisers. We are also proud Pink Warrior Advocates’ supporters, helping raise awareness and funds for local breast cancer fighters and survivors. We understand that real impact goes beyond business—it’s about supporting the people in our community who need it most.
**We Pay it Forward**
At a metal recycling center like Comal Iron & Metals, we pay people for their unused/discarded metal based on weight and market prices, turning what might seem like junk into money. Recycling scrap metal can help boost the bottom line by offsetting costs for small businesses. For households, it can mean extra money to cover expenses—a little extra for groceries or just enough for a morning coffee. But the greatest impact goes beyond the immediate payout. Every piece of recycled metal helps conserve resources, reduce landfill waste, and create a more sustainable future that our children and grandchildren will inherit and benefit from for generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://comalironandmetals.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/comalironandmetals
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/comalironandmetals
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/comal-iron-and-metals-inc
- Other: https://instagram.com/marciesaves
