Personnel Notes

Amp Robotics adds managing director of enterprise sales

Denver-based Amp Robotics Corp., a supplier of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to the recycling industry, has announced that Brent Hildebrand has joined the company as managing director of enterprise sales. In this role, he is responsible for sales and business development into new geographies and applications within the recycling industry.

Hildebrand brings more than 20 years of recycling and waste management industry experience to Amp, having held management roles at Waste Management, Tri-R Recycling and Browning Ferris Industries. Most recently, he served as vice president of recycling for Alpine Waste & Recycling, Denver, owned by GFL Environmental, Vaughan, Ontario.

At Alpine, he was responsible for developing the company’s vertically integrated recycling business and modernizing its operational infrastructure. He deployed the first Amp Cortex AI-powered robotics system for sorting and expanded recycling programs for new materials, including disposable coffee cups.

Hildebrand also has served as president of the Colorado Association for Recycling (CAFR) and received the Sustainability Champion award from the Colorado Environmental Partnership and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for promoting recycling in Colorado.

“I am a strong believer in the transformative impact that the Amp technology has on the economics of recycling by experiencing it directly in my previous role,” Hildebrand says, referring to his time at Alpine. “I am thrilled to join the Amp team and help the industry modernize its operations with increased efficiency, better quality and lower cost.”

ARA hires new director of member relations

The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), Manassas, Virginia, appointed Vince Edivan as its new director of member relations.

In his new position, Edivan works closely with ARA leaders and Senior Director of Member Services Kelly Badillo to grow the association’s membership and communication to ARA members.

“Vince has a proven history of being a results-oriented team leader with over 15 years of experience in the auction and insurance industries,” says Executive Director Sandy Blalock. “We look forward to putting his insight and talents to use for the ARA membership.”

Edivan worked as director of vehicle management with Copart, Dallas, from 2016 to 2018.

He will travel around the country to meet with existing and prospective ARA members as well as engaging with the current membership through multiple communication platforms, ARA says.

Edivan says, “My goal will be to work directly with members and nonmembers to share ARA’s exciting changes and hard-fought victories that continue to enhance its ability to serve and protect the recycling industry at large, as well the individual recycler.”

Coretex appoints new CEO

Coretex, a New Zealand-based company that is focused on fleet safety and management technology with a U.S. subsidiary, Coretex USA Inc., based in San Diego, announced the appointment of a new CEO June 12, following a global search.

William Payne, the former chief information officer at Boral, took over as CEO Aug. 1. Retiring CEO and founder Selwyn Pellett remains on the board as a nonexecutive director.

Payne comes to Coretex with experience as a chief information officer and chief strategy officer for companies in Australia, Europe and the United States. He most recently led the creation and implementation of a digital strategy at Boral, reshaping the company’s information technology function into Boral Digital Solutions and making it a pivotal element of the organization’s future business strategy.

Mark Giles, Coretex chairman, says Payne’s appointment is a significant move for the company. “Coretex is positioned strongly for international growth in our key markets, and we believe William has the skills, experience and vision to drive that growth,” he says.

“William’s strategically focused vision and personal passion for optimizing transportation and supply chains made him the unanimous choice,” Pellett says. “We are excited that we have found a visionary leader for the next stage of this journey.”

Payne says, “I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead Coretex on the next phase of its growth.

“Access to key information, for the right people, at the right time, is more important than ever for businesses seeking to keep their employees safe, drive productivity, all the while delivering great customer service,” he adds. “I believe my real-world experience driving this value across numerous industries will significantly help accelerate the company’s vision of a safer, greener, more productive world.”

Coretex provides compliance and fleet management solutions to more than 70,000 vehicles in the construction, mixed fleet and waste and recycling industries.

AF&PA hires Heidi Brock as president, CEO

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), Washington, has appointed Heidi Brock to serve as its new president and chief executive officer. She previously served as president and CEO of the Aluminum Association, Arlington, Virginia.

In her new position, Brock succeeds Donna Harman, who announced her intention to retire earlier this year.

According to a news release from AF&PA, Brock brings extensive experience to the position, having served as CEO of the Aluminum Association for almost eight years and having worked for nearly 20 years as a senior executive for one of the paper and wood products industry’s largest companies.

“I look forward to leading the American Forest & Paper Association, a notable manufacturing trade association representing an industry that is unquestionably committed to significant sustainability goals and targets,” Brock says. “I am excited to return to the industry at a time when the association will be updating its outstanding work ‘Better Practices, Better Planet 2020,’ developed under Donna Harman’s leadership. This work is one of the most extensive sets of sustainability goals established for a U.S. manufacturing industry. In addition, I look forward to working with the highly regarded team at AF&PA on its robust public policy agenda.”

Brock resigned from her position at the Aluminum Association, with Aug. 16 being her last day. The Aluminum Association reports that its board of directors has started a search for Brock’s successor.

Since joining the Aluminum Association in 2011, Brock has helped the association to strengthen its advocacy mission and role as the key policy voice for the aluminum value chain in the U.S., AF&PA reports. Under her leadership, the organization also launched the Aluminum PAC (political action committee), collaborated with Congress on the creation of the Aluminum Caucus and increased the engagement of its member companies with government stakeholders. Additionally, the Aluminum Association recently led two trade enforcement cases for the industry while also achieving record membership levels.

Before joining the Aluminum Association, Brock served as vice president of federal and international affairs for Weyerhaeuser, based in Seattle, where she was an active member on AF&PA committees. While at Weyerhaeuser, she worked as vice president for e-business, director of strategic planning and manager for government affairs.

Federal International Recycling and Waste Solutions appoints new president/CEO

Federal International Recycling and Waste Solutions, a division of Federal International Inc., St. Louis, has named Sam Still its new CEO and president. Still replaces John Daniel, who after 13 years with Federal, is leaving to pursue other opportunities.

Claire Newton, president of Federal International, says, “We are sad to see John leave but thank him for his knowledge, guidance and humor as we have grown.”

She continues, “Federal International Recycling is thrilled to bring Sam on board to continue the culture that John created over his tenure. Sam will continue our vision of becoming the largest independent recycler in the United States.”

Still has more than 25 years of experience in all aspects of the recycling industry, including operations, sales, trading and fiber procurement, having worked for some of the largest integrated paper companies, Federal International notes.

The company worked with Tyler Frisbie of Global Recruiters of McKinney, based in McKinney, Texas, to fill the position.

Exodus appoints new vice president of finance

Exodus Machines, headquartered in Superior, Wisconsin, has announced the addition of James Bendas as vice president of finance and human resources. Bendas previously worked for various steel fabricators. In his new role, he will assist the Exodus team in growing the company.

Kevin Boreen, CEO of Exodus Machines, says, “We are honored and excited that Jim has chosen to join the Exodus team. His strong financial background, coupled with years of industry experience, make him the perfect fit to help move our company forward.”

Prior to moving from Chicago to Minnesota in 1996, Bendas worked for companies in the chemical, construction and heavy machinery industries, according to a news release from Exodus. Working as a consultant, he was instrumental in numerous startups and in assisting owners of distressed businesses in returning to profitability. He has been involved in manufacturing his entire career.

Established in 2009, Exodus Machines manufactures and distributes products under four divisions—ShearCore, BladeCore, Connect Work Tools and Oil Quick USA—for the domestic and international scrap, demolition and construction markets.

NWRA announces new vice president of state affairs

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has added Abby Blocker as vice president of state affairs. In this role, Blocker will work to identify trends affecting the waste and recycling industry across various states and to steer policy in a favorable direction.

“Many of the issues facing our industry are at the state and local level,” says Darrell Smith, NWRA president and CEO. “The addition of Abby Blocker to our state government affairs team will only make NWRA a stronger voice for the waste and recycling industry with the tremendous skills and experience she brings with her.”

Blocker is an experienced lobbyist with a history of working in state politics, grassroots lobbying and environmental compliance, the NWRA says. She comes to the association from the Washington-based Madison Coalition, where she was the director of political relations. In that capacity, she led state and federal lobbying and advocacy efforts and conducted fundraising campaigns. Prior to working for the Madison Coalition, she worked at Atlanta- based Enercon Services, supporting state compliance, and served as a consultant for the Environmental Protection Agency. Her career began as a lobbyist at St. Louis- based Arch Coal.

Regarding her new role, Blocker says, “I’m excited to join NWRA’s prestigious team advocating for our members in the waste and recycling industry. I look forward to helping advance NWRA’s legislative and educational efforts on the state level.”