Micro-Bac International Inc.

By Mary Tuma Friday, 05 February 2010

ROUND ROCK — In 1977 J.M. Morales was ready to semi-retire. With a 20-year career as an engineer behind him, he set forth to relax and scale back his workload. Yet Morales’ growing interest in the environment and microbiology steered him in another direction. Just two years later he started Micro-Bac International Inc., meshing both of these newfound passions.

The large contemporary-designed building off IH 35 and Chisholm Trail Road reflects the company’s modern mission. Highly conscientious about the environment, the company provides green solutions to fields such as oil production, bioremediation, wetlands conservation, hazardous waste management, wastewater treatment and food processing. By using naturally occurring bacteria to fix problems, rather than harsh chemicals that can pollute the soil and water, Micro-Bac aims to preserve the planet’s health.

“Let’s say there is hazardous waste: A client will bring a sample of this in and we will identify and reproduce the right bacteria to clean up the mess and speed up the process,” he said.

He talks excitedly about bacteria, highlighting its environmental benefits and refutes the notion all bacteria is “bad,” one of the most pressing challenges for the company. Morales said roughly 99 percent of bacteria is beneficial, a fact many clients and interested partners are surprised by.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is when people think bacteria is bad for you,” he said. “Just think about your digestive system, for instance, without bacteria it would fail. But we have been raised to watch out for bacteria, so trying to convince people otherwise is very hard.”

The company caters to a wide range of clients around the world, and it has served companies including Disney, Chevron, Ben & Jerry’s and Tyson.

Dr. Dennis Ray Schneider, vice president and director of research and development, has worked at Micro-Bac for 22 years. Having worked in the past for large chemical companies that often resisted innovation, Schneider enjoys the ability to think creatively at the biotechnology company. The Texas native who earned his two degrees from The University of Texas recounts his globetrotting adventures.

“This job has taken me all over the world,” he said. “I’ve been to the rainforests of Ecuador to the remote deserts of Kazakhstan.”

For Schneider, part of the incentive to come to the company more than two decades ago was rooted in Micro-Bac’s inherently green mission.

“The concept of using a naturally occurring substance is in itself a green concept,” he said. “And really before its time.”

In his 30 years as president of Micro-Bac, Morales stays busy by trying to keep up with the ever-evolving science of microbiology. If he leaves his desk for a week, paper starts piling up. Through it all, he enjoys seeing the successful outcomes and is glad he never made the decision to retire.

“It’s fun seeing the results,” he said. “We are trying to do good for the environment, and I think there is a great need for what we do.”