Personnel notes

Upstate Shredding adds to staff

The scrap metal recycling company Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling, Owego, New York, has named James Land its chief operations officer/chief security officer. Land, who spent more than 27 years in law enforcement working for the New York State Police, will head the company’s operational improvements and security protocol. He began his new position Dec. 1, 2014.

“As we have continued to expand our footprint in New York and Pennsylvania, it is important that every yard operates to the highest level of standards for both our customers and the local community,” says Adam Weitsman, CEO of Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling.

He adds, “The experience at every one of our yards, from the minute a customer walks in until the minute they leave, needs to be exceptional, and Mr. Land will help us to continue to achieve this for every one of our customers despite our aggressive growth strategy and plans over the next several years.”

In his position, Land is responsible for all aspects of the company’s operations and security. He also serves as a member of the company’s corporate management team and contributes to the development and implementation of organizational strategies, policies and practices.

Land also develops, implements and manages the company’s corporate security strategy and programs and the security of physical assets and physical and digital information in addition to working with law enforcement to prevent the sale of stolen scrap metal and assist in the apprehension of those selling stolen goods.

NRT names outside sales manager

National Recovery Technologies (NRT), Nashville, Tennessee, has named Travis Curtis to the newly created position of outside sales manager. Curtis will report to company President Matthias Erdmannsdoerfer.

NRT provides optical sorting equipment for a variety of industries, including material recovery facilities, secondary plastics, electronic scrap and mineral separation.

“This addition reflects NRT’s growth in U.S. markets. We’re fortunate to be in a position to hire someone with Travis’ background to strengthen our current customer relationships and continue to increase our domestic presence,” says Erdmannsdoerfer. “NRT has long led the industry in technology innovation and customer service. I feel confident that with Travis in place, we will continue to provide our customers with custom solutions and comprehensive customer service.”

In this role, Curtis will be responsible for planning and executing sales strategies in the Midwest and Southeast regions. He also will identify and resolve technical issues to ensure customer satisfaction through all stages of the equipment life cycle, according to NRT.

“We have big plans for 2015 and beyond to further develop our market share in the U.S. In this position, I look forward to that expansion as we build upon NRT’s industry momentum,” Curtis says. “We are working to redefine modern sorting applications to dramatically improve our customers’ operational productivity.”

Prior to joining NRT, Curtis worked as the regional director of FLIR Systems where he created strategy, managed sales targets and provided technical support and sales guidance for the direct sales team. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Clemson University.

Curtis can be contacted via email at tcurtis@nrtsorters.com or by cellphone at 615-945-3553.

Sims executives join BIR Ferrous Division

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), Brussels, has elected Bill Schmiedel president of its Ferrous Division. Schmiedel is president of global trade for Sims Metal Management Ltd. (SMM). He also will serve on the BIR’s advisory council.

Christian Rubach of Germany’s TSR Recycling, who served as chair of the BIR’s Ferrous Division for eight years, officially passed the reigns to Schmiedel in late October, during the organization’s Autumn Round-Table Sessions in Paris.

According to SMM, in his current role as president of global trade, Schmiedel is responsible for all of the company’s ferrous export sales of deep-sea and container shipments, representing nearly 10 million metric tons traded annually across six continents.

SMM also has announced that Autumn Gallello, one of the company’s executive account managers, was elected as a general delegate to BIR’s Ferrous Division board. Gallello, who has been with SMM for 13 years, will be the first woman to hold that position with BIR.

“It is a great achievement to be recognized at such high levels within our industry,” says Galdino Claro, SMM CEO. “I am proud of Sims Metal Management’s exceptionally talented management team. Our colleagues have repeatedly proven themselves as leaders in the metals recycling industry. They continue to drive positive change, not only within the company but across the entire industry.”

BHS names new technology director

Bulk Handling Systems (BHS), Eugene, Oregon, has named Thomas Brooks to the position of director of technology and product development. Brooks assumes the newly created position after serving as engineering manager for BHS subsidiary National Recovery Technologies (NRT).

In his new role, Brooks will focus on leading new technology and product development efforts throughout the company.

“Since launching Zero Waste Energy and acquiring Nihot and NRT, BHS has offered advanced technologies and integrated solutions,” says BHS CEO Steve Miller. “Our combined experience and collaboration make us greater than the sum of our parts. Our customers value not only the performance advantages but also the ability to have one group stand behind its results and provide long-term expertise and support. By forming this position, we continue to strengthen this value. Thomas has a history of successfully leading cross-functional new product development teams, a skillset that we’re excited to add to our group,” Miller adds.

“My goal is to yield technology that is relevant and impactful to the industry, striving to create the building blocks to maximize the value from our material streams as we work towards zero waste,” Brooks says.

“It’s fulfilling to advance equipment and processes that have such a real, daily impact on society,” he continues. “It’s equally exciting to work with a group that has been a catalyst in this industry.”

Brooks has served in management and new product development roles in the aerospace, industrial and automotive industries, among others, according to BHS.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a focus on controls and fluid dynamics from Tennessee Tech University.

BHS designs, engineers, manufactures and installs sorting systems and components for the solid waste, recycling, waste-to-energy and construction and demolition industries. The company’s subsidiaries include Nihot (Amsterdam), NRT (Nashville, Tennessee) and Zero Waste Energy (Lafayette, California).

BACE announces appointment

BACE, Charlotte, North Carolina, a manufacturer of balers and compactors for the recycling and waste management industries, has named Paul Domanico director of sales, Northeast and Midwest. Domanico will be responsible for sales and marketing in this region, as well as for developing business with national accounts, Fortune 1,000 companies, haulers, recyclers and international customers.

“We’re very excited to welcome Paul to our team,” says Gregory Leon, BACE senior vice president of sales and marketing. “His entrepreneurial spirit will bring a refined focus on customer relationships, and he’ll be an ideal role model for our employees and partners who interact with him. His innate ability to uncover core issues, resolve situations and grow our sales/marketing efforts will help affirm BACE’s position as a worldwide leader of recycling and waste-disposal equipment and services.”

Domanico has more than 25 years of experience in sales, marketing and distribution in the technology and manufacturing industries throughout North America.

“I’m thrilled to join the BACE team,” Domanico says. “My entire career has been spent providing quality equipment and services to a wide array of clients. I’ve always taken the initiative in providing customer service, and I enjoy partnering with clients to ensure their complete satisfaction.”

Steel Recycling Institute names new vice president

The Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Washington, has announced that Mark Thimons will succeed Gregory Crawford as vice president of the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), Pittsburgh, who has retired.

Thimons joined SMDI in November 2010 as director of construction sustainability and has more than 25 years of experience in steel construction products and steel product sustainability. He took over as vice president Oct. 1, 2014.

As part of this transition, SRI says it will focus its efforts in two core areas: recycling programs and life cycle research. The recycling focus will include national and regional recycling initiatives, outreach and growth. SRI’s life cycle research will include life cycle assessment studies as well as other sustainability-related initiatives relevant to the North American steel industry.