On the Move

This year is all about forward motion for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), Washington, as the association celebrates its 20th anniversary. Robust markets for many materials have energized the industry, and Chuck Carr, ISRI’s vice president of member services, meetings, marketing and communications, says the 2007 ISRI Convention & Exposition is poised to reflect that sense of vitality.

"The scrap recycling industry has seen record years," Carr says. "We’ve seen growth in the industry, growth in ISRI and growth of the services offered to the industry. We’ve developed a momentum that’s going to take us through the next couple of years."

"Momentum" is the defining theme of the 2007 show, which also marks ISRI’s return to New Orleans after 2005’s devastating hurricane season.

As one of the event’s organizers, Carr has been to New Orleans some half-a-dozen times since February 2006 to gauge the Crescent City’s state of readiness to serve as the convention’s host city. He is quick to address any potential concerns about returning to New Orleans. "The news continues to talk about the problems that New Orleans faces, and there’s no question that some of the problems still exist," he says. "But the parts of the city that are traveled by tourists are not only back to normal, but cleaner and safer [than ever]."

According to the convention Web site, www.isriconvention.org, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has been completely remodeled, as has Harrah’s Casino downtown. ISRI will also augment the city’s efforts to increase security with off-duty police and other security at its hotels and the convention center. "The city is ready," says Carr.

The 2007 ISRI Convention & Exposition will be April 18-21 at the Sheraton New Orleans and the convention center. According to Carr, the event’s organizers have strived to pull together the largest exhibit hall, most informative programming and most valuable networking opportunities possible.

HIGHER LEARNING. One of the first big changes attendees will notice in the conference lineup for 2007 is that ISRI has moved its governance and leadership meetings, which usually take place in the days right before the official start of the show. These meetings were held at a different location in February to give ISRI Convention attendees more of a chance to enjoy the event in full, according to Carr.

The educational programming begins Thursday, April 19, with the Chair’s Breakfast, where J.C. Watts will give the keynote address. Watts, chairman of the J.C. Watts Cos., was elected to Congress representing the fourth district of Oklahoma in 1994. He served on several House committees, including the Armed Services Committee and the Select Committee on Homeland Security.

The sessions scheduled for the 2007 ISRI Convention cover a wide range of topics currently on the minds of scrap industry professionals. On the program this year is a two-part series on metal theft that will look at the issue from the perspectives of law enforcement and the scrap industry, offering successful ways to fight the crime and new technologies to prevent theft.

Transportation remains a hot topic in the industry, and ISRI is giving the issue its due attention with two separate sessions, with one focusing on rail transportation and the second discussing trucking.

The programming will also include the popular commodity spotlights on paper, aluminum, nickel/stainless and ferrous. The ferrous spotlight will discuss shredded ferrous scrap and its impact on the future of other commercial grades as well as overall domestic supply. Peter Kramer of Greenfield Recycling Co. will moderate this panel made up of representatives from the scrap consuming side of the market as well as processors and brokers.

Alasdair Gledhill of ELG Metals will moderate the nickel/stainless spotlight panel, which will discuss price trends, end-use markets and demand, product substitution and potential supply response.

Stephen A. Moss of Stanton A. Moss Inc. will moderate the aluminum spotlight. Panelists representing the primary and secondary aluminum industries as well as a private analyst will explore issues facing the market in 2007.

In addition to individual commodity spotlights, ISRI 2007 programming includes discussions on emerging markets. While China and India have established themselves as big news in the scrap industry, other countries and regions are emerging as powerful forces as well. Two sessions will explore the expanding markets of Vietnam and South America. Attendees will learn more about the economic forces driving their economies and what to expect when buying or selling into these emerging markets.

On the final day of programming, Saturday, April 21, Gen. Tommy Franks will address attendees of the General Session Luncheon as part of ISRI’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

In addition to the nearly three dozen workshop and session opportunities, ISRI attendees will also have access to the largest exhibit hall in ISRI history.

MEETING AND GREETING. The exhibit hall for the 2007 ISRI Convention & Exhibition offers more than 250,000 square feet of exhibits. More than 150 companies will be on hand displaying some of the latest scrap industry products and services.

The Gala Opening for the exhibit hall will be Wednesday, April 18, beginning at 6:30 p.m. April 19-20, the exhibit hall will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., with conference luncheons from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. each day to give attendees additional opportunities to explore the hall when sessions are not taking place. The hall will not be open Saturday, April 21, but several sessions will be held.

Exhibit hall hours are just some of the networking opportunities offered at the 2007 ISRI Convention. The convention will feature ISRI’s largest ever golf tournament on April 18. Proceeds will benefit the Recycling Research Foundation. The annual Meet Your Consumers Reception will be Friday, April 20, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., giving recyclers the opportunity to network with consumers and to possibly find new markets for their commodities.

The final night event—A Taste of New Orleans—gives attendees the opportunity to explore the city’s culture and cuisine, network with colleagues and raise money for a good cause. The event will be at Mardi Gras World on the west bank of the Mississippi, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the final day of the convention, Saturday, April 21. The food will be provided by some of New Orleans’ most famous restaurants, including Antoine’s, K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen, Muriel’s at Jackson Square and Commander’s Place. A Taste of New Orleans will also serve as a fundraiser to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina from the city’s hospitality industry.

Carr says the programming, exhibit hall and networking events are some of the best ISRI has had to offer in its 20-year history. "This is going to be ISRI’s biggest, best and most informative [convention]," he says. "Clearly, we believe it’s the best value we’ve ever provided."

More information, including how to register and the most up-to-date schedule, is available at www.isriconvention.org.

The author is associate editor of Recycling Today and can be contacted at jgubeno@gie.net.

ISRI 2007 Schedule At-A-Glance

Golf Tournament

Exhibit Hall Setup—

Convention Center

Registration—

Sheraton New Orleans Street Corner

Gala Opening in Exhibit Hall—

Convention Center

Thursday, April 19

Exhibit Hall Registration

The Chair’s Breakfast

J.C. Watts

Exhibits Open

Sessions and Workshops

Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall

Commodity Spotlights and Sessions

Exhibitor Cash Bar

Women’s Council Reception

Exhibit Hall Registration/Hall Open

Sessions and Workshops

Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall

Commodity Spotlights, Sessions, Electronic Workshops

Meet Your Consumers Reception

Registration

Sessions and Electronics Workshop

General Session Luncheon

ISRI Distinguished Speaker

Series: Gen. Tommy Franks

Design for Recycling Award

PAC Raffle

Sessions and Electronics Workshop