March/April 2014
ISRI will elect a new slate of national officers in April to lead the association for the next two years, with a contested election for secretary/treasurer adding excitement to the proceedings.
Sure, the U.S. elections this fall could determine which political party has control of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, but the real action—for scrap recyclers, at least—is the ReMA election slated for April 10 at the annual convention and exposition in Las Vegas. That’s when the ReMA board of directors will elect four new national officers to lead the association for the 2014-2016 term. By tradition, the candidates for the top three positions—chair, chair-elect, and vice chair—run unopposed and move up one rung from their previous national leadership positions. The current chair-elect, Doug Kramer of Kramer Metals (Los Angeles), is in line to become ISRI’s next chair; Vice Chair Mark Lewon of Utah Metal Works (Salt Lake City) is slated to become chair-elect; and Secretary/Treasurer Brian Shine of Manitoba Corp. (Lancaster, N.Y.) will become vice chair.
The incoming secretary/treasurer race is a contested affair, with three candidates nominated to run so far: Gary Champlin of Champlin Tire Recycling (Concordia, Kan.), Matt Kripke of Kripke Enterprises (Toledo, Ohio), and Andy Wahl of Newell Recycling (East Point, Ga.). The nomination process will remain open until the ReMA election meeting on April 10, so additional candidates could still join the contest to become a national ReMA officer. The following profiles of the three current secretary/treasurer candidates offer a snapshot of their professional qualifications and personal characters. May the best candidate win!
Gary Champlin
General Manager, Champlin Tire Recycling (Concordia, Kan.)
Current ReMA positions: Director-at-large on the national board of directors, chair of the safety and operations committee, member of the RIOS™ board of directors, and Tire & Rubber Division representative to The JASON Project.
Past ReMA positions: Chair and two-term director of the Tire & Rubber Division and member of the ReMA leadership committee.
In my view, the biggest challenge facing U.S. scrap recycling companies is… our industry’s safety record, which has improved recently but remains a challenge. There is no priority more important than the health and well-being of our employees, vendors, and customers. Together, we can and will change so our industry is one of the safest.
In the next two years, ReMA must focus on… raising safety to the highest level of association leadership attention and support our members and owners to do the same in their organizations, leading safety from a top-down approach throughout the entire industry. Safety is the core value of ISRI.
ISRI’s greatest benefits to members include… giving them a platform to articulate their challenges and concerns, then form national policy that moves the recycling industry forward. Every member has the opportunity to be heard and participate in this process.
I personally value ReMA for… what it gives back to its members. Where else could we meet individually and as an industry with common goals and aspirations to better ourselves and grow from
others’ experiences?
If elected national ReMA secretary/treasurer, I’d like to help ISRI… expand its opportunities with its membership by giving the smallest ReMA member in the smallest ReMA chapter a direct channel of communication with ISRI’s executive committee. After all, our chapter membership is the heart of ISRI.
My strengths as a leader are… the ability to listen to opposing views and build a consensus among diverse parties. No single opinion will capture all the views on an issue. Together we can accomplish what we cannot do alone.
My greatest professional achievement has been… successfully leading our family business into its third generation and helping to prepare and develop the business for the fourth generation and beyond.
If I ran the world, I would… need a lot of help from my fellow ReMA members. Ultimately, we need to achieve sustainability in all things and protect our natural resources by extending their practical life. It’s great that our member companies do that every day.
I’d like to improve my… ability to be in the moment and enjoy more of what life has to offer. We pass through this life only once, and it is a blessed person who can focus on what is truly important.
In my free time, I like to… do any outdoor activity with family and friends. I’m an avid hunter, fisherman, hiker, and gardener, and I enjoy scuba diving with my wife, Debra.
Matt Kripke
President, Kripke Enterprises (Toledo, Ohio)
Current ReMA positions: Director-at-large on the national board of directors, chair of the investment subcommittee, chair of the audit committee, second vice chair of the Nonferrous Division, and member of the finance committee.
Past ReMA positions: Member of the Northern Ohio Chapter board of directors, president of the Northern Ohio Chapter, co-chair of the Council of Chapter Presidents, chair of the nonferrous specifications committee, and member of the audit committee and Nonferrous Division.
In my view, the biggest challenges facing U.S. scrap recycling companies are… tight margins in an environment of increased regulation, rising health-care costs, and more local and state legislation on materials theft, but limited enforcement of existing laws.
In the next two years, ReMA must focus on… safety, safety, and safety, as well as establishing and enhancing our relationships with local, state, and federal legislators. We also need to improve our industry’s public image.
ISRI’s greatest benefits to members include… the Safety Blueprint program, the Superfund Recycling Equity Act due-diligence report program, networking opportunities, educational programs, and lobbying on the state and federal levels to prevent unfair legislation.
I personally value ReMA for… helping my company grow and prosper. I directly attribute a high percentage of our growth and success to ISRI. Kripke Enterprises would be a much smaller company without the association.
If elected as national ReMA secretary/treasurer, I’d like to help ISRI… help the chapter boards of directors feel like a bigger part of the national structure. I’m also in favor of ReMA buying an office building for its headquarters staff to eliminate rent and reduce its overhead.
My strengths as a leader are… listening to my team members, waiting before reacting, and delegating authority. I’m extremely organized and task-oriented. I set a good example for others in and out of the office. I’m also financially knowledgeable, having served on several ReMA finance-related committees as well as the board of a bank in Toledo.
My greatest professional achievement has been… helping to build our business into an industry-recognized leader in nonferrous metal trading. Working with my father has been the business highlight of my life. I also feel our staff is the best in the industry.
If I ran the world, I would… mandate that all five-star-rated high school football players must attend the University of Michigan—and oh, yeah, eliminate war and poverty, too.
I’d like to improve my… vertical jump (currently 2.6 inches).
In my free time, I like to… spend time with my family; vacation with my wife, Jill; and attend University of Michigan football games.
Andy Wahl
Vice President, Nonferrous Division, Newell Recycling (East Point, Ga.)
Current ReMA positions: Director-at-large on the national board of directors, chair of the membership committee, member of the finance committee, and chair of the container theft task force.
Past ReMA positions (highlights): Chair of the trade committee (one year), member of the membership task force, member of the electronics task force, and member of the nonferrous specifications committee.
In my view, the biggest challenges facing U.S. scrap recycling companies are… continued government interference in our businesses through state and federal regulations, along with the economic impact of overcapacity in certain sectors of our business, such as shredding.
In the next two years, ReMA must focus on… safety and educating members to comply with all state and federal laws. ReMA also must reach out to the younger generation and the public through initiatives such as The JASON Project that educate people about our industry—including how recycling conserves natural resources—and improve its reputation.
ISRI’s greatest benefits to members include… having the ReMA staff available to help them with all kinds of issues, such as safety, transportation, training, legislation, and environmental compliance. ReMA also gives our industry a single, strong voice to lobby for free and fair trade for its members, and it provides excellent events at the chapter and national levels where members can meet, trade, and explore exhibitions.
I personally value ReMA for… the spectrum of services it offers and the opportunities it offers at its board meetings to actively participate in any issue. All members can make their voices heard at those meetings. I also value the numerous friendships I have developed from the initial business relationships I formed at ReMA events.
If elected as national ReMA secretary/treasurer, I’d like to help ISRI… continue to make its voice—and the voices of its members—heard in Washington as legislators try to interfere with a vibrant, environmentally compliant industry that serves our local, state, and federal communities.
My strengths as a leader are… being action-oriented with excellent follow-through. My ability to facilitate in group environments—by listening to stakeholders and fairly directing paths forward—achieves sustainable improvements.
My greatest professional achievement has been… having the pleasure to meet and work with industry visionaries to jointly develop new and innovative technologies.
If I ran the world, I would… implement a referendum governing system in which the electorate directly accepts or rejects proposals. Politicians have increasingly become ineffective, and the technology today exists to implement such a voting regimen efficiently for citizens in many countries.
I’d like to improve my… travel balance, spending more time taking personal trips with my family. Although I’ve had many opportunities to bring family with me on global business trips, our family is close, and we enjoy dedicated vacations together.
In my free time, I like to… spend time with family on vacation, host friends at our house, and participate in many summer and winter sports, such as running, windsurfing, and skiing. I enjoy staying busy in my free time because life is too short.
ISRI will elect a new slate of national officers in April to lead the association for the next two years, with a contested election for secretary/treasurer adding excitement to the proceedings.