John Magee Wins EY Gulf South Entrepreneur Award

VLS Environmental Solutions CEO John Magee has been named an EY US Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Gulf South Award winner. Magee joined the industrial waste management, railcar cleaning and repair, and marine services company as CEO and president in 2020. Since then, VLS has grown to more than 50 locations and 1,500 employees across North America, completed 12 acquisitions, expanded into Mexico, and reported more than 200% growth. The award places Magee in consideration for EY’s national awards in November.

Growth At VLS

VLS provides industrial waste management, railcar cleaning and repair, and marine services. The company says it has maintained an industry-leading safety record while expanding its operations and pursuing sustainable solutions.

“I am an entrepreneur at heart — what energizes me is that constant pursuit of learning in service of building something great. I've always believed you can have a grand vision and still be humble enough to know you don't have all the answers, which is why I surround myself with the smartest people I can find. Whether I'm founding a company from scratch, as I did with Crane Worldwide in 2008, or stepping in as a transformational leader, as I have at VLS, the focus is the same: question conventional wisdom, empower people to lead, and hold each other truly accountable. That spirit is what I believe has driven our growth from historic single digits to the 40%+ CAGR we've sustained since I joined — and more importantly, it's what has changed not just VLS, but the environmental services industry at large.”

National Award Consideration

EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year program is in its 41st year and recognizes founders, transformational CEOs, and multigenerational family business leaders. Regional winners are selected by an independent panel of past winners, CEOs, and business leaders, with candidates assessed on long-term value creation, entrepreneurial spirit, purpose-driven commitment, growth, and impact.

John Magee accepting his award EY EOY.

As a Gulf South winner, Magee will be considered for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 National Awards, due to be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®. The national overall winner will compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in May 2027.

The VLS Team EY US Entrepreneur Of The Year.

A Repeat Recognition

Magee was also named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 Gulf Coast Area in the Manufacturing and Distribution category. He is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Texas, where he served on the board of the Center for Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

John Magee VLS Environmental Solutions EY EOY.

For VLS, the latest recognition highlights a period of rapid expansion under Magee’s leadership, with a larger North American footprint, acquisitions, and entry into Mexico among the milestones cited by the company.