Personnel

LRS names new CEO

Morton Grove, Illinois-based LRS, a leading independent waste, recycling and portable services provider serving the Midwest, has appointed Matt Spencer as the company’s new CEO, effective Sept. 12.

He will oversee all aspects of LRS’ operations, including strategic direction, business development and customer relations.

With a strong background in safety and sustainability, Spencer is poised to drive LRS’ mission of providing innovative waste management solutions that promote a cleaner and greener future, the company says.

Spencer replaces Alan Handley, who served as CEO from 2014 until his departure earlier this year.

Prior to joining LRS, Spencer was CEO of Sweeping Corp. of America and chief operating officer at Waste Corp. of America (WCA). WCA doubled in revenue and profits during the six years under his leadership, which was driven by a significant merger and acquisition strategy.

“I am honored to join LRS as the new CEO,” Spencer says. “LRS has a well-earned reputation for its unwavering commitment to safety while delivering cutting-edge waste and recycling solutions, and I am excited to build upon this legacy.

“I look forward to leading the organization with an employee-first mindset to ensure we continue to redefine waste diversion and recycling practices and contribute to a more sustainable future.”

Smith exits NWRA

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) of Arlington, Virginia, has announced that Darrell Smith left his position as president and CEO of the organization, effective Aug. 4. He led the association since 2017.

Smith came to the NWRA from the Industrial Minerals Association–North America, which represents the mining industry, and previously served as an industry advocate for the petroleum and chemical industries. Before entering public policy, he worked in several industries, including hazardous waste.

“On behalf of NWRA, we wish to thank Darrell for his commitment and contributions to our industry,” says Don Ross, chair of NWRA’s board of trustees. “We appreciate Darrell’s leadership of the association through the pandemic, driving financial improvements for the association and continuing our industry’s focus on improving the safety of this industry. We wish Darrell well in his future endeavors,” he adds.

The NWRA says its membership represents nearly 70 percent of the North American private waste and recycling services market.

“NWRA’s mission is to promote and advocate for the waste and recycling industry,” Ross says. “As part of that mission, it’s important that NWRA continues to evolve with our members by continuing to build the strategic vision of the organization.”

The NWRA board of trustees will begin a search for the association’s next leader, Jim Riley, NWRA chief counsel and senior vice president, will assume the day-to-day responsibilities in the interim.

BGL adds to capital markets staff

Cleveland-based investment banking firm Brown Gibbons Lang & Co. (BGL), which has established an ongoing presence in the waste and recycling financing sector, has hired David L. Koch as a new managing director.

Koch, who will be based in New York, will lead the firm’s activities in equity capital markets (ECM) and will co-lead the company’s Capital Markets Group along with Jason F. Sutherland, who also leads the firm’s Debt Capital Markets staff.

BGL says the addition of Koch also will facilitate BGL’s Capital Markets Group’s drive to “offer an enhanced suite of capital markets solutions addressing corporate financing needs across client capital structures and life cycles.”

Koch has more than 23 years of investment banking experience, focusing on equity and equity-linked transactions in the U.S. and Europe in numerous sectors and industries.

Previously, he was head of Equity Capital Markets at London-based GP Bullhound, leading the firm’s ECM activity for clients globally, BGL says. Before that, Koch was a managing director and ECM head of southern Europe at Barclays in London.

“I’m excited to join BGL and bring new equity capital markets products, capital formation solutions and advisory support to all of our clients as they look to navigate an increasingly dynamic market environment,” Koch says.

Serco Loaders director of sales retires

Serco Loaders, Two Harbors, Minnesota, a fabricating and machining company that supplies loaders and grapples, has announced the retirement of Dale Williamson, director of sales, after more than 18 years of service. In conjunction with his retirement, the company has announced the appointment of Mark Shukla as director of sales to continue driving Serco’s growth and success. 

Serco Loaders says it considers Williamson’s retirement “the end of an era,” but his impact and legacy will continue to resonate. The company expresses gratitude for Williamson’s dedication, professionalism and service throughout his tenure.

Skula is an accomplished professional with an extensive background in material handling in truck-mount loaders, stationary-mount loaders and large material handlers, according to Serco. He brings knowledge of a wide range of applications to his position with the company, including storm cleanup, waste, scrap, logging and rail. 

“Dale’s retirement is a bittersweet moment for Serco. We are immensely grateful for his countless contributions and the legacy he leaves behind,” Serco Division Manager Charles-Étienne Simard says. “At the same time, we are excited to welcome Mark as his successor.”

Toyota Material Handling names new vice president

Toyota Material Handling (TMH), a Columbus, Indiana-based leader in material handling equipment, has promoted Cesar Jimenez to vice president of regulatory affairs, product planning and product assurance. In this role, he is responsible for Toyota’s product line throughout its life cycle.

“Cesar’s knowledge of our products, commitment to our customers and dedication to quality make him the ideal person for this position,” says Tony Miller, Toyota Material Handling senior vice president of operations, engineering and strategic planning.

Throughout the last 27 years, Jimenez has worked in various capacities before joining the Toyota executive team in 2015. Jimenez has played a role in the launch of more than 50 material-handling products.

As a member of the Industrial Truck Association for more than 10 years, Jimenez has served as the vice chair and chair for the Energy Storage Systems Subcommittee and the General Engineering Committee.

“I am humbled by this opportunity and grateful to have spent my entire career with Toyota,” Jimenez says.

Patriot Environmental brings on new vice president of operations

Patriot Environmental LLC has added Ryan Bunch as the company’s vice president of operations.

Before joining Patriot Environmental, which has offices in Meeker, Oklahoma, and Odessa, Texas, Bunch worked at Environmental Specialties International (ESI), a large installer of geosynthetic lining materials in the United States.

In 2019, ESI acquired Patriot Environmental. Since then, the two companies, while operating independently, have worked together at times and have learned from one another and adopted best practices.

While working at ESI, Bunch managed large-scale, multiyear projects in the coal ash and mining industries. During the past four years, he has overseen the installation of more than 90 million square feet of geosynthetic material.

Bunch started his career at Southern Co., headquartered in Atlanta, where he worked for 14 years. During his time there, he worked in the company’s engineering and construction services department, managing contracts and the construction of capital projects for the company’s generation facilities. Bunch has experience managing capital projects involving ash pond closures, dry ash landfill closures and power-generating facility assets, Patriot says.

“Ryan brings a different skill set. I’ve had the pleasure to collaborate with him over the last few years on different things, so when the time came to bring in a true-blue operations guy, he was my first choice,” Patriot Environmental President Cody Smithson says. “Ryan is going to be pivotal to our continued growth over the next few years. I’m excited to see a new approach and perspective to how we operate, and even better service our valued customers.”

Patriot Environmental provides geosynthetic liners, pit construction, secondary containment and field asset mapping and monitoring to the power, waste, mining, oil and gas and water industries.