Personnel Notes

Photo by George Kamper

In memoriam: Joe Winters

Joe Winters, owner of West Babylon, New York-based Winter Bros. Waste Systems, died of COVID-19-related complications Jan. 5 at the age of 54.

He was born Dec. 28, 1966, into a waste family. Winters’ father, James (Big Jim) Winters, started the hauling company with his brother Joe and one truck in 1950.

Beyond being a leader in the waste industry, Joe Winters was a former professional heavyweight boxer with a passion for the New York Jets. He also was an advocate for those in the autism community.

Joe Winters’ son Sean was diagnosed with autism in 1996 when he was 2 years old. Joe Winters became a champion for those with developmental disabilities. Beyond hiring employees with disabilities at Winters Bros., he founded the Winters Center for Autism in 2020.

According to the Winters Center for Autism website, the nonprofit was formed to “enhance the lives of adults with autism through job creation, training and placement to address the excessive unemployment rate among people with autism. … The center also provides fitness, recreation and social programs to assist participants in achieving their goals.”

The Winters family released a statement after Joe Winters’ death:

“Our family has lost a loving, caring and dedicated husband, father, brother and uncle. Long Island has lost a true icon and philanthropist. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Joe have lost a dear friend and source of inspiration. Joe leaves behind a company and a team that only he could have built with such determination and direction of excellence that would make anyone proud. Joe’s spirit and vision will continue to guide us. No words can adequately express our sadness and loss associated with Joe’s passing or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. We will honor his memory by dedicating ourselves to continuing the work he loved so much.”

He is survived by his wife, Michelle, as well as by two sons, Patrick and Sean.

Nucor announces executive changes

Nucor Corp., Charlotte, North Carolina, has announced that Executive Vice President of Raw Materials Craig A. Feldman plans to retire this June after 35 years of service with Nucor and the David J. Joseph Co. (DJJ).

According to a news release from Nucor, Feldman began his career as a brokerage representative for DJJ in 1986. Other positions he has held at the company include district manager of DJJ’s Salt Lake City brokerage office and commercial vice president and president at DJJ’s Western Metals Recycling LLC subsidiary. Feldman served on the operational staff of DJJ’s then-owner in the Netherlands from 2005 until 2007, when he was appointed as DJJ’s executive vice president of recycling operations. He was later promoted to president of DJJ in 2013 and became a vice president and general manager of Nucor when DJJ was acquired by Nucor in 2008. He was promoted to executive vice president of Nucor in 2018 and continued to serve as president of DJJ until the end of 2020, when Mark D. Schaefer, another 35-year veteran of DJJ, took over as president.

“With a career that spans three and a half decades, Craig’s leadership has contributed significantly to the success of DJJ and Nucor,” says Leon Topalian, Nucor president and CEO.

In related news, effective Feb. 1, Daniel R. Needham was promoted to executive vice president of bar and rebar fabrication products at Nucor.

Needham began his career with Nucor in 2000 as controller at Nucor Steel Hertford County. He later served as controller of Nucor Steel Decatur LLC and Nucor Steel Utah. In 2011, Needham became general manager of Nucor Steel Connecticut Inc. The company says he later served as general manager of Nucor Steel Utah and was elected vice president in 2016. In 2019, Needham was promoted to vice president and general manager of Nucor Steel Indiana.

“Craig’s retirement and Dan’s promotion are the product of the robust and thoughtful succession planning process that has been a top strategic initiative throughout the Nucor organization in recent years,” Topalian adds.