T.J. Walker was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. He held down several jobs through high school before attending Colorado State University and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2001. Immediately following college, T.J. joined the professional world, taking a position at a local startup. He moved to the Chicago area in 2004 after accepting a role in technology sales at CDW. During his time with CDW, he earned several accolades for his work in sales and customer service.

In 2005, T.J. Walker began to work for his family’s business, Elgin Recycling. He took the time to learn every facet of the business, from running the retail stores to managing office support and sales. He also started a brand new division at Elgin Recycling that buys and sells electronics which now accounts for a substantial amount of the company’s business. T.J.’s current title is Sales and Purchasing Director, but he contributes to all aspects of operations.