Gaines Garrett, CSDS

Gaines Garrett is the Chief Operating Officer of Secure Shredding and Recycling (SSR) and Dunlap Government Solutions (DGS). Since joining the family business in early 2017, Gaines has helped grow revenues more than 1000% and established SSR as one of the Southeast United States’ largest independently owned shredding companies.  

In 2021, Gaines led the acquisition of Landshark Shredding via the formation of a joint venture between SSR and DGS. DGS now holds more than 50 federal government contracts and works with more than 20 i-Sigma certified teaming partners throughout the country to service our VA Hospitals. Gaines also holds the designation of Certified Secure Destruction Specialist.  

In addition to his work in the secure destruction industry, Gaines has been an entrepreneur since his time in graduate school at Louisiana State University. He is a partner in several companies developing products and services across multiple industries. Gaines graduated from LSU with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 2008 then went on to complete his MBA with a focus in Finance and Entrepreneurship in 2010. He and his wife Lauren have two children, Mai Frances (5) and Park (2).