Resource 1 Names Kaitlynn Harenza Chief Operating Officer
The Chattanooga data destruction firm has promoted its former chief auditor to vice president and chief operating officer.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People
Resource 1 Tier 3 Data Security has appointed Kaitlynn Harenza vice president and chief operating officer, effective November 3, 2026. Harenza, previously chief auditor, will oversee the company's daily operations.
Why it matters
The promotion places a compliance-focused executive in charge of operations at a Chattanooga company that provides on-site NAID AAA certified data destruction across the United States. It comes shortly after the death of Corporate Vice President John Brien Bush in August.
Harenza brings six years of experience in data destruction, data security and audit compliance to the role. Bush had served the company since 2020 before his death in August, and the announcement does not address any replacement for his position.
The players
Resource 1 Tier 3 Data Security
A Chattanooga-based data destruction company founded in 2007 that provides NAID AAA certified on-site data destruction services nationwide and was honored by the Better Business Bureau for ethics and integrity in 2024.
Kaitlynn Harenza
A certified data security and audit compliance professional with six years of experience who previously served as chief auditor before her promotion to chief operating officer.
The details
Harenza, who is NAID AAA and iSigma certified, previously served as chief auditor before taking on the operational role. The company continues to focus on end-of-life data security, destroying confidential and proprietary data on retired corporate IT systems, a focus it adopted in 2015.
Timeline
August: Corporate Vice President John Brien Bush died.
November 3, 2026: Kaitlynn Harenza was appointed vice president and chief operating officer.
Industry Standards
Resource 1 operates under NAID AAA certification, the accreditation standard administered by the National Association for Information Destruction for on-site data destruction providers. Harenza's NAID AAA credential places a certified professional in charge of daily operations at the firm.
Clients who rely on Resource 1 for certified end-of-life data destruction should see continuity in service under the existing operational focus. The promotion does not indicate any change to pricing or service terms.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions in compliance-driven industries often reflect the value companies place on certified expertise in day-to-day operations. Harenza's rise from chief auditor to chief operating officer illustrates how audit discipline can translate into operational leadership.
Further reading
Explore more Chattanooga business leadership coverage to see how local companies are shifting their executive teams.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Chattanoogan.
