Personnel Notes

In memoriam: J.P. Simms III

Accent Wire Tie has announced that its founder, Junius Pickett (J.P.) Sims III, died in late February.

Sims, who was born in 1940, is described by Accent Wire, based in Tomball, Texas, and the Sims family as “a man of great character, integrity, loyalty and dignity” who “had a boundless love for his family, close friends and the company he founded.”

He started Accent in 1986 in a “small, two-person office,” the company says. Subsequently, Accent grew “into the world’s leading supplier of baling wire to the recycling and waste industry,” the firm adds.

“The culture J.P. created attracted the industry’s best and most talented people to Accent, and many are with Accent still today,” the company says in its announcement.

“A visionary and risk-taker, J.P. was known for his quiet dignity and unexpected sense of humor. J.P. Sims will be forever remembered for his passions, honesty, kindness and the countless lives he positively impacted,” the company adds.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of Sims’ favorite charitable organizations: Camp Hope | PTSD Foundation of America and Abandoned Animal Rescue.”

In memoriam: E. Lee Ronnel

E. Lee Ronnel, founder of Metal Recycling Corp., Little Rock, Arkansas, died of natural causes earlier this year.

Ronnel was born June 16, 1936, in Shanghai. His parents were professional musicians who fled Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution.

In 1979, Ronnel founded Metal Recycling Corp. in Little Rock and guided the company for more than four decades with the help of his sons, Mike, who joined the family business in 1989, and Steve, who joined in 1999.

During Ronnel’s tenure as president, Metal Recycling Corp. grew to 90 employees at three metal recycling centers in Little Rock, North Little Rock and Searcy, Arkansas, and two metal commodity trading companies in Little Rock.

Ronnel gave back to the recycling industry by serving on the board of directors of the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, which honored him with its Israel Proler Lifetime Achievement Award. He also served as chairman of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Association of Purchasing Management and was a member of its national board of directors.

Steel Dynamics announces executive team changes

Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI), Fort Wayne, Indiana, has appointed Miguel Alvarez as executive vice president of North American Metals Recycling.

Alvarez joined SDI in 2019 as its senior vice president of Southwest United States and Mexico. His role was to support steel and metals recycling growth strategies in that region. Before joining SDI, Alvarez served in various leadership roles within the steel industry since 2009.

Alvarez replaces Russell B. Rinn, who is retiring in July but will report to CEO Mark D. Millett in the interim.

“Since joining Steel Dynamics over 10 years ago, Russ has played a key role as part of our senior leadership team and has been instrumental in our metals recycling strategy,” Millett says. “Russ came to us with an already impressive resume within the steel industry, with over 30 years of leadership.

“I, along with our board of directors and the entire senior leadership team, recognize and appreciate his contributions to Steel Dynamics and our success,” he continues.

Additionally, the company is promoting James Anderson from his current position as vice president of steel fabrication operations to a senior vice president, retaining the same responsibilities.

“As we look forward, we see a meaningful opportunity for Steel Dynamics, our customers, our teams, our communities and our shareholders,” Millett says. “We are excited to continue successfully executing our strategic growth plans with sustainable value creation.”

NWRA announces 2022 hall of fame inductees, elects new chairman

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), based in Arlington, Virginia, has announced its Hall of Fame inductees for the class of 2022: Willie K. Goode, founder and CEO of Goode Cos., Washington, and WB Waste Solutions LLC, Hyattsville, Maryland; Don Slager, former CEO of Republic Services, Phoenix; and the late Joe Winters, former chairman and CEO of Winters Bros. Waste Systems of Long Island, New York.

According to a news release from the NWRA, the organization’s board of trustees chose the inductees from a list of finalists compiled by its awards committee.

“This year was especially difficult for the board of trustees and the awards committee with so many distinguished nominations submitted to them,” says Darrell Smith, NWRA president and CEO. “Ultimately, the leadership and contributions exhibited by Willie, Don and Joe were deemed to have reached the iconic status required to be a member of the Hall of Fame. I congratulate the class of 2022 inductees on this prestigious recognition of their lifetime works.”

Hall of Fame inductees are selected based on scores in various categories, including recognition in the industry as a founder, pioneer, visionary or icon; enduring legacy; and impact of contributions to the industry for a minimum of 25 years. An inductee also must exhibit integrity, respect, courage, mentorship, volunteerism and inclusiveness. Finally, inductees are judged on leadership at an NWRA service provider or supplier and on issues important to NWRA. All inductees must have an active association engagement and service as an ambassador of the industry.

The 2022 Hall of Fame inductees were recognized at WasteExpo 2022 in Las Vegas alongside inductees from the classes of 2020 and 2021.

The NWRA also has elected Don Ross, vice president of McLaughlin Family Cos., Scranton, Iowa, to serve as chairman of the board of trustees and has reelected Dave Call, senior vice president for business development at Republic Services, as its treasurer. Their terms commenced at the conclusion of the board meeting at WasteExpo.