Founder William Horner grew up on a family farm in Iowa. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree from North Park University in Chicago, he taught junior high school while earning a Master’s degree in Education from Indiana University. In 1966 he founded Experience Education, a non-profit educational corporation which has operated continuously since that time. In the 1980s, he established educational and agricultural businesses in Africa and the Caribbean. In 2003 he started Naturally Iowa, an organic dairy processing plant where the first PLA-plastic bottles for dairy products were pioneered. After taking Naturally Iowa public, he joined with Tulsa-based businessmen in 2010 and the company name was changed to Totally Green, Inc. To better target the growing market for plant-based bottles, Totally Green Bottles and Caps, LLC, was created in 2012. To take the “closed-loop” concept for water bottles to commercial scale, Horner now heads Single Use Solutions LLC, whose mission is to establish model sites around the world to serve as “proof of concept” for the successful replacement of petroleum water bottles with plant-based bottles.
Mike Cothran Chief Operating Officer
Brewmaster, developer, and entrepreneur, Mike Cothran brings a diverse background that has helped him to build leading teams in production and manufacturing, brewery consulting, team training coordination, brand product development, project management, systems commissioning, business start-ups, angel investing, and sustainable land development. Mike is interested in creating secure and transparent systems of operation that are mutually beneficial to his industry partners and affiliates.
Bruce Kucera Chief Technical Officer
Raised in various locations throughout Nebraska, Bruce Kucera earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Communications from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri. Following a decade-long professional basketball career along with other marketing activities, Bruce became passionate about the bottled water profession. In 1995 he joined Norland International, Inc., a bottled water equipment and supply firm located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and continues to serve as company Vice President for Sales. Bruce has served as an advisor on the Technical Review Committee for the Water Conditioning & Purification International Magazine.
Joey Mason Chief Manufacturing Officer
In addition to being head of manufacturing for Single Use Solutions, Joey runs a successful Plastic Injection Molding and building company called NGM. NGM is a complete custom molding house capable of designing, building, molding and troubleshooting any injection molding project from start to finish as well as taking over “problem molds” to create a solutions for their customers. Joey's in-depth knowledge of blow and injection molding and the complex equipment that is needed to achieve world class results makes him a highly valued member of the Single Use Solutions team.
Gerco Leeflang European Projects Coordinator
Gerco Leeflang was born and raised near Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As a business owner of a chain of supermarkets, in the Netherlands, he also took partnerships in businesses overseas in 2002. Gerco assisted companies who wished to establish business in the European Union, using his own base of personal experiences in business to bring them to profitability. Since 2018, Gerco has specialized in bio-based packaging, and it was in that connection that he became the European Projects Coordinator for Single Use Solutions LLC. His knowledge of the European marketplace adds a significant dimension to selecting locations where “closed-loop” model sites are being established.
Steve Horner Chief Communications Officer Steve graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from North Park University in Chicago and soon after joined Experience Education, a non-profit educational organization located in Omaha, NE. He set up a production division within that organization that created media materials for schools and universities throughout North America. In 1990 he founded Horner Music, which specializes in custom music for film, advertising and other visual media.
Lawrence Cohen Chief Government and International Affairs Officer A native of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Lawrence Cohen obtained a BA degree from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and a MA in International Relations from the University of Chicago. For 27 years Larry was a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Department of State. He served overseas in Mexico, Honduras, India, Hungary, Nigeria, Brazil, and Afghanistan, as well as assignments in Washington, DC. His substantive experience included economics, commercial affairs, development finance, energy, environmental, science & technology affairs, and trade. Following retirement in 2007 from the State Department, Larry created Lawrence Cohen Associates, Inc., a small business consultancy and training enterprise, and assists companies expand opportunities overseas.
Brian Funk East Coast Project Coordinator
Brian holds a dual degree from the University of Pennsylvania Management and Technology Program, majoring in environmental systems engineering with a technology management/marketing degree from the Wharton Business School. His work with nonprofits, utilities, start-ups, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies focuses on energy, environment, zero-waste, green building, CO2 analysis, LEED, sustainability strategy, and program development. He has also consulted for numerous events to incorporate comprehensive sustainable practices into their operations, including JamCruise, Allgood Festival, Baltimore Green Week, Herreshoff Marine Museum, Atlantic Cup and Volvo Ocean Race.
