Personnel Notes

Metso appoints two business relations managers

Metso Outotec Inc., with headquarters in Finland, has appointed Vicki Fenton and Lisa Shimek as business relations managers for its North American team. The company says the business relations manager positions are designed to offer a higher level of contact and support to its customers.

Fenton has more than 33 years of experience in the industry, beginning with Universal/Hammermills and then with Metso. She has developed expertise in numerous areas over the years, but her knowledge of shredder parts, Lindemann shear and baler parts and the N-Series shear and baler parts makes her an asset, according to the company. She is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Mark Haire, Metso America’s market area head, states, “Vicki has a great reputation in the industry, and her continued drive to support the North American customer base is outstanding. We are confident that in her new role she will continue to improve our customer support in all areas.”

Shimek has rejoined Metso after leaving in 2014. She is based out of the company’s San Antonio office and has 33 years of experience, primarily with Texas Shredder and other shredder brands.

“We are extremely excited that we have gained Lisa’s expertise and customer relations in the industry, and we are confident that customers will also be excited to see her back with Metso,” Haire says.

Matt Kripke assumes CEO title at Kripke Enterprises Inc.

Kripke Enterprises Inc. (KEI), headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, has announced that Matt Kripke has been named CEO of KEI in addition to his role as president. Matt Kripke’s father, Larry Kripke, will assume the title of founder.

Larry Kripke and his wife, Joanie Kripke, started the nonferrous brokerage company with one other employee in 1993. KEI operates from its Toledo headquarters as well as from Coconut Creek, Florida, and Jackson, Tennessee. The company’s three divisions include aluminum coil distributor Mid South Aluminum Inc., which KEI acquired in 2017. KEI employs 60 people.

“My father’s calm and steady guidance allowed our company to thrive and overcome adversity in our early years,” Matt Kripke says. “The continued success of Kripke Enterprises is a credit to Larry’s skills as a teacher, mentor, trader and leader. Working with my father and growing our company together has been the business highlight of my life.”

Matt Kripke began working at the family business in 1994 and became president of KEI in 2012.

“I am truly honored to carry on my parents’ legacy and excited to be leading the best team in the aluminum industry,” Matt Kripke says. “My parents believed in me, even when I doubted myself. They laid the groundwork for our company’s growth, and I am grateful to both of them.”

According to a news release from the company, Larry Kripke set the foundation for the core values that KEI practices daily. The company says it prioritizes relationships, being solution-oriented and being true to its word.

ISRI presents safety awards

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, has presented its Driver of the Year and Golden Wrench awards during ISRI2021, its convention and exposition that was online April 20-22 and April 27-29.

ISRI presented Anthony Tillman of United Scrap Metal with its Driver of the Year Award. He received the honor for completing more than 26 verifiable years of safe driving.

Tillman began his truck-driving career in 1995. He joined United Scrap Metal, Cicero, Illinois, in 2002.

“Anthony has over two decades of safe driving experience,” says ISRI Senior Safety Director Commodor Hall. “His track record illustrates [his] unwavering commitment to safety, as well as the commitment of his entire organization. ISRI is proud to recognize Anthony as the 2021 safe driver of the year, and we thank him for his commitment to safety in the industry.”

ISRI’s Safe Driver of the Year Award, now in its ninth year, recognizes outstanding drivers who have driven commercial vehicles for at least 20 years without incurring a preventable accident.

During the online event, ISRI also presented its Golden Wrench Award to Mike Hickok, lead truck technician at Holland, Michigan-based Padnos. Hickok was recognized for demonstrating what the association calls outstanding efforts, achievements and contributions to ensure commercial vehicles are safe on the road.

“ISRI is very proud to honor Mike with its Golden Wrench Award,” ISRI’s Hall says. “Mike’s commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring vehicles are safe on the road is paramount to the overall success of his company and positively reflects the recycling industry’s commitment to safety,” he adds.

ISRI says Hickok has 36 years of industry experience and expertise. He has been involved in promoting Padnos’ safety culture and setting up its preventive maintenance program.

“Mike has a direct impact on his company’s CSA (Compliance Safety Accountability) vehicle maintenance score,” says Padnos Fleet Manager Brian Plowman.

Genesis Attachments’ Frahm enters NDA Hall of Fame

Curt Frahm, the co-founder of Superior, Wisconsin-based Genesis Attachments, has been inducted into the National Demolition Association (NDA) Hall of Fame.

Inducted during the recent 2021 NDA virtual convention, Frahm was recognized as an industry leader whose commitment, ingenuity and devotion have significantly affected the demolition industry, according to Genesis Attachments.

Frahm also was recognized for contributing to the fast start of Genesis and for helping to build the company “into a world-class, industry leader of attachments,” the firm says.

After co-founding Genesis in 1997, Frahm spent 17 years with the company, serving as a regional sales manager, before retiring in 2014.

Genesis Attachments has been part of Japan-based NPK Construction Equipment since early 2019. Genesis designs and makes shears, grapples, concrete processors and specialty attachments for the scrap processing, demolition, material handling and offshore decommissioning industries.

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas adds western region sales manager

Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas Inc., Norcross, Georgia, has hired Matt Brown as district sales manager of the company’s western U.S. region. In this position, he will be responsible for assisting Hyundai dealers across the territory.

Brown joins Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas with more than 11 years of varied territory sales experience, most recently working as a regional sales manager for another construction original equipment manufacturer.

Originally from Calhoun, Georgia, Brown currently resides in Dallas.

“We are excited to welcome Matt on board with us at Hyundai,” says Mike Ross, vice president of construction equipment sales, Hyundai Construction Equipment Americas. “Matt’s customer focus and sales management skills will make him a significant asset to support our western district dealers and their customers.”