Personnel Notes

In Memoriam: Bernard Goldstein

Bernard (Bernie) Goldstein, chairman of the board of the Alter Cos., St. Louis, passed away on July 5, 2009.

Goldstein built Alter Co. into a multi-state scrap recycling business, and remained chairman of the board until his death.

A news release from Alter Cos. says his operating philosophy focused on his co-workers, customers and communities, and that during his career Goldstein created thousands of jobs, producing lifelong careers for many of his employees.

In 2008, Goldstein received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc.

During his life, he also earned recognition from various organizations for his community spirit and charitable works.

In Memoriam: Ben Sacco

Bernard "Ben" Sacco, founder of Sierra International Machinery and Sierra Recycling and Demolition, Bakersfield, Calif., has died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 87.

In 1947, Ben and partner Morris Rosenberg founded Sierra Bag Co. in Bakersfield to provide produce containers to area growers. In 1959, Ben also founded Sierra Iron and Metal to recycle scrap metals, which evolved into Sierra Recycling and Demolition, a metal processing and building demolition company.

The bagging company was sold in 1987, and Ben used the proceeds to launch Sierra International Machinery, which manufactures and sells processing and material handling equipment used in the scrap and demolition industries.

"He was 65 years old at the time," says his son John Sacco. "At an age when most people are looking to retire, he was entering another phase of his entrepreneurial life."

Ben’s two companies remain family owned. John is president of Sierra International Machinery, and son Philip is president of Sierra Recycling and Demolition.

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. honored Ben with a lifetime achievement award in April. He is survived by his wife, four children and six grandchildren.

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Nonmetallics

August 2009
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