Personnel Notes

Braidy Industries names president of Braidy Atlas

Braidy Industries Inc., headquartered in Ashland, Kentucky, has named Thomas Modrowski president of Braidy Atlas, its subsidiary that has plans to build a $1.6 billion aluminum rolling mill in Ashland. The Braidy Atlas mill has plans to open with 300,000 tons per year of capacity, producing series 3000, 5000 and 6000 aluminum sheet products.

Modrowski, who has served as executive vice president of construction for Braidy Industries since June 2017, will head Braidy Atlas’ operations, overseeing mill completion and integrated aluminum sheet production. He brings nearly 40 years of experience in aluminum and steel processing and unique experience with greenfield construction in the steel industry.

Braidy Industries CEO Craig Bouchard says, “Tom’s expertise is ideal to lead Braidy Atlas to rapid automotive qualification with our OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partners. He is a proven contributor to our executive management team and has kept us on track and on budget in our ongoing construction.”

Modrowski says, “I am honored to step into the opportunity to shepherd the Braidy Atlas mill into its next phase as the nation’s leading low-cost producer of aluminum sheet for the automotive industry. I serve alongside an incredible team of co-invested managers working toward a common goal of quality customer service as we bring first-class advanced manufacturing to Appalachia.”

Scrap recycler elected to Minnesota Senate presidency

Minnesota State Sen. Jeremy Miller has been sworn in as the youngest Minnesota Senate president in the state’s current format, with the state senator—who also is a scrap recycler—having begun his term Jan. 2. Miller is part of the Winona, Minnesota-based Wm. Miller Scrap Iron & Metal Co. business. The company was profiled in the November 2016 edition of Recycling Today magazine.

Miller says of his new senate duties, “I am constantly overwhelmed with gratitude in this job. Every day, I cherish the fact that the residents of Fillmore, Houston and Winona counties continue to trust me as their voice at the Capitol, and now I am equally grateful to my colleagues for trusting me to preside over the Senate with the respect and dignity Minnesotans deserve.”

Minnesota’s lieutenant governor formerly served as the senate president, from the state’s founding in 1858 until 1973. That year, the Minnesota Senate began electing its own presidents. While younger lieutenant governors served as senate president, at 35 years old, Miller is the youngest state senator in Minnesota history to serve as the body’s president. Miller, who was 26 when he won his first election, also became the second youngest state senator in Minnesota history.

Miller also will be on the senate’s Capital Investment Committee, the Higher Education Committee, the Rules Committee and the Taxes Committee.

BACE expands sales staff

Charlotte, North Carolina-based BACE LLC has hired Steve Martz, a recycling equipment industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in the recycling and waste sector.

“Steve has a unique background that covers technical service, manufacturing, equipment repairs, preventive maintenance programs and new product development,” says Gregory Leon, BACE senior vice president of sales and marketing. “With our national service offering tripling in growth this year, we are fortunate to be able to bring in someone of Steve’s caliber and accelerate our 2019 growth plans.”

Frederick Waite, BACE CEO, says, “We exceeded our growth expectations in 2018, and I am confident 2019 will be another banner year for BACE. Significant growth requires the right leadership components, and Steve fulfills an important role for BACE. We are excited to welcome him to the BACE family.”

American Baler hires sales representative

American Baler Co., Bellevue, Ohio, has appointed Sean Gertsch as a key account sales representative.

In his new position, Gertsch is responsible for developing national and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) accounts. Prior to this position, Gertsch served as a sales representative for Hoosier Machinery Solutions, where he specialized in sales of capital equipment for recycling and material recovery facilities.

American Baler manufactures recycling balers used in distribution centers, manufacturing and recycling centers worldwide.

Steinert US adds business development manager

Sorting and separation technology provider Steinert US, Walton, Kentucky, has added Scott Jable as its new business development manager, waste materials. He has 25 years of experience in the global recycling and material handling industries, focusing on capital equipment consulting and system engineering and design.

Prior to joining Steinert, Jable’s career included key roles at some of the top recycling, waste and material handling companies in North America, where he was instrumental in establishing new territories and achieving significant revenue growth, according to a new release from Steinert about Jable’s appointment.

Sonoco names chief financial officer

Sonoco, a diversified global packaging company based in Hartville, South Carolina, has appointed Julie Albrecht as its vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective March 1, 2019.

The company’s previous Senior Vice President and CFO Barry Saunders announced that he would retire in March, a company news release states. Albrecht will assume CFO duties for the company’s 2019 financial year and will report to Rob Tiede, president and CEO. She also serves as a member of the company’s executive committee.

Saunders stepped up as Sonoco’s CFO in May 2011, leading the company’s financial and accounting operations on a global basis and then taking over leadership of the company’s business technology function.

Albrecht joined Sonoco in March 2017 and has served as its corporate vice president, treasurer and assistant CFO, holding responsibility for the company’s relationships with the credit rating agencies and commercial banks. She has handled financing for four acquisitions totaling about $690 million, Sonoco says. Prior to this position, Albrecht spent nearly 20 years at Goodrich Corp./United Technologies Aerospace Systems.