People

Vecoplan LLC, High Point, N.C., has announced two staff promotions.

Mike Wilhoit has been promoted to the newly created post of vice president of operations. He previously served as the company’s operations manager, overseeing the recently completed expansion of Vecoplan’s North Carolina headquarters.

In his new position, Wilhoit oversees all aspects of manufacturing and daily facilities operations for Vecoplan, which is a leader in size reduction technologies.

"Over the last six years, Mike has proven his leadership abilities, and we’re fortunate to have someone of his caliber in a position to head up our production operations," Len Beusse, Vecoplan COO, says.

Vecoplan also has promoted Todd Carswell to the position of vice president of technical services.

Carswell has been with the company for 10 years, most recently heading technical development, where he oversaw Vecoplan’s R&D team.

In his new position, Carswell is responsible for overseeing all technical aspects of Vecoplan’s continued growth as well as the company’s service department.

"As the sheer number of customers, machines and systems that we have in the field has grown and the sophistication of our technology has increased, the need for VP-level management of our customer support assets has also increased," Beusse says. "Todd brings extensive knowledge and expertise to this department, having been the designer of several of our products and control packages."

More information is available at www.VecoplanLLC.com.

Jack West, co-founder of Mobile Auto Crushers (MAC) Corp., has died at the age of 77.

West started MAC in 1971 with partners Robert Flanagan and Norman Kramer, helping to introduce the concept of a mobile auto flattener to the scrap industry. As executive vice president of MAC Corp. (later to become a division of Granutech-Saturn Systems, Grand Prairie, Texas), West helped shape the technology of auto flattening.

"For most in auto recycling today, Jack West was the face of MAC Corp. and a powerful advocate for anything that could benefit those in the business," says Mike Hinsey, Granutech sales manager. "He felt strongly about the equipment he provided to his customers, and it was a testament to his long-standing presence that, throughout the years, his customers would deal solely with him."

West is survived by his wife Evelyn, a son Jackie and a daughter Kathy, plus many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Melinda Uerling, CEO of Recycling Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Mich., has been elected chair of the board of directors of the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) during the group’s Annual Congress and Expo in Denver in September.

Uerling will serve in the position through 2010. She previously served as a director on the board from 2004 to the present.

"It’s an honor to serve in a leadership position for the organization that is the national advocate for recycling, reuse and waste reduction," Uerling said. "The Ann Arbor community has a very high recycling participation rate, and my goal is to promote our local success as a model for other communities across the nation."

Uerling has held the position of CEO of Recycle Ann Arbor since 2000. Prior to joining Recycle Anne Arbor, she served as assistant director of the Lucas County, Ohio, Solid Waste Management District.

The NRC is a national nonprofit advocacy group with more than 3,800 members throughout North America involved in all aspects of waste reduction, reuse and recycling. More information on the organization is available at www.nrc-recycle.org.