BUSINESS/ORGANIZATIONAL BRIEFS

Metzger hired as new communications director

Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) president and CEO, Bruce Parker, announced the appointment of Thom Metzger as its director of communications and public affairs.

Metzger will be responsible for developing a strategic communications and public affairs strategy to enhance the voice of the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) in the local and federal legislative and regulatory arenas, in which its members have significant financial and reputational interests. NSWMA is a part of EIA.

Metzger, who brings more than 17 years of public affairs, media relations and marketing experience, also will develop plans for issue communications and media relations, and build effective relationships with media, opinion leaders and EIA’s members.

Most recently, Metzger served as director of marketing and public relations for the American Chemistry Council (ACC), where he helped oversee a $20 million public education campaign to increase awareness of the chemistry industry’s contributions to modern life.

Biofuels association appoints board members

The Florida Biofuels Association, Inc. has seated its first board of directors. The Florida BioFuels Association is an association of private and public sector professionals dedicated to increasing the demand, distribution infrastructure, and capacity for locally produced and distributed ethanol, biodiesel and other agriculturally and waste derived fuels.

New board members and officers include:

•Dana Weber, executive director

•Ron Silver, chair

•R.B. “Buzz” Hoover, vice chair

•Eugene B. Jones, treasurer

•Ray Moreau, secretary

•Representative Doug Holder represents District 70 along the Gulf Coast.

•Senator Mike Bennett represents District 21 along the Gulf Coast.

•Ted Hill directs the Biomass and Alternate Fuel Group of CQ, Inc.

•Charles Fletcher is a partner with the law firm of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.

•Honey Rand, Ph.D., APR is President of the Environment PR Group in Tampa.

Advanced Disposal buys assets of waste company

Advanced Disposal Services, Inc. announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Advanced Disposal Services North Georgia, LLC, has purchased the assets of Appalachian Waste Services, LLC and of its affiliate Mountain Convenience Center Properties, LLC. The acquisition furthers Advanced Disposal’s footprint in northern Georgia with collection and transfer station operations in four new counties, as well as Clay and Cherokee Counties, North Carolina and Polk County, Tennessee.

The Appalachian Waste assets will secure additional volumes for the landfill and ensure long-term, quality collection, transfer, and disposal services for the North Georgia communities.

Kinsley named director of materials for East Trailers

East Manufacturing promoted David Kinsley to director of materials, announced Mark Holtz, vice president of sales and marketing.

Kinsley previously was a partner in Ohana Ventures in Cleveland, Ohio, and executive vice president of international sales and marketing for Toy Biz in New York City. For 20 years prior, Kinsley worked for Kay Bee Toys in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, ultimately serving as vice president of divisional merchandise.

Michael Ott appointed to BioGold Fuels’ board

BioGold Fuels Corporation announced the appointment of Michael Ott to their board of directors.

Ott has worked for over five years in development and funding for renewable fuels and bio-mass companies. He is currently the executive director of BIOWA, a trade organization and consulting group. He is also a governor of the American Biofuels Council and an advisory board member of the Clean Tech Law and Business Journal.

John Garner joins SmartDrive as VP of sales

SmartDrive Systems, Inc. announced that John Garner has joined the company as vice president of sales. With extensive expertise in sales and business development, Garner will broaden SmartDrive’s current customer base in order to expand market share and increase overall sales.

Garner joined SmartDrive with nearly 15 years experience in the sales and marketing of high-tech products and has extensive experience in selling. Most recently, Garner held the role of vice president of client development at Tellme Networks, a subsidiary of Microsoft, helping to grow the company to over $100M in annual revenue.

Aleris announces new Aleris Europe executive

Aleris International, Inc. announced that Roeland Baan will join Aleris as executive vice president and president, Aleris Europe, reporting to Steven J. Demetriou, chairman and CEO. In this role, Baan will be responsible for all activities in Aleris’s European region as well as its European headquarters.

In 2004, Baan worked for Mittal where he most recently served as executive vice president and chief executive officer, Mittal Steel Europe and served on Arcelor Mittal’s Management Committee. Prior to joining Mittal, Baan served as the senior vice president of SHV Gas BV, a member of SHV NV, a privately held international conglomerate with activities in retail, energy and venture capital activities.

Gerdau Ameristeel acquires Century Steel

Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation announced that Pacific Coast Steel (PCS), a majority owned Gerdau Ameristeel joint venture, has acquired all the assets of Century Steel, Inc. (CSI), a reinforcing and structural steel contractor specializing in the fabrication and installation of structural steel and reinforcing steel products, for approximately $152 million.

CSI, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, operates reinforcing and structural steel contracting businesses in Nevada, California, Utah and New Mexico. With fabrication facilities that have an annual capacity in excess of 250,000 tons per year, CSI participates in virtually all segments of the marketplace in the western United States.

Gerdau Ameristeel also announced that, concurrently with the acquisition of Century, Gerdau Ameristeel will pay approximately $68.0 million to increase its equity participation in the PCS joint venture to approximately 84%.

Aladwani accepts position with Sharps Compliance

Sharps Compliance Corp. announced the appointment of Al Aladwani to the position of senior vice president of operations. Aladwani joined Sharps from Generic Medical Devices (GMD) where he served as vice president of operations.

Prior to GMD, Aladwani served in various operational roles with Cyberonics, Inc., Creos Medical and Ohmeda Medical.

His research projects were aimed at optimizing and improving biodiesel reactions and production.

China Solar appoints Yihai Yang as new CEO

China Solar & Clean Energy Solutions, Inc. headquartered in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), announced the appointment of Yihai Yang to the position of the acting chief financial officer.

Yang replaces Gary Lam, who resigned the position of chief financial officer to pursue other interests.

Yang has accountant, controller and CFO experience gained over the past seven years working for several PRC-based companies. From September 2006 until the present, Yang served as financial controller of China Diagnostics Medical Corporation. From April 2005 to August 2006, Yang served as the chief financial officer of Beijing Tanglewood Tour Development, Ltd.

Allied Waste elects Abney to board of directors

Allied Waste Industries, Inc. announced the election of David P. Abney to the Company’s board of directors, effective April 7, 2008. In conjunction with joining the Board, Abney has been appointed to serve on the Governance Committee.

Abney is currently chief operating officer for UPS. Prior to his current position, Abney served as senior vice president and president, UPS International from 2003 to 2007, and as UPS/Fritz Companies integration manager from 2001 to 2002. Abney served in various positions of increasing responsibility since the start of his career with UPS in 1974. Abney also serves as a trustee of the UPS Foundation.

ChromaScape, Inc. names new president

ChromaScape, Inc., headquartered in Twinsburg, Ohio named Joseph Majewski as its new president effective March 1, 2008. Majewski succeeds George Chase, who will remain as chief executive officer and chairman.

Majewski has been vice president of operations for ChromaScape, Inc. for the past three years and previously worked as operations manager, plant manager, regional director and sales manager for several specialty chemical companies, including Technor Apex, M.A. Hanna Company and Allied Color Industries.

Covanta names Nooy as Asia Pacific president

Covanta Holding Corporation announced the appointment of Allard M. Nooy to the position of President Covanta Asia Pacific for its principal subsidiary, Covanta Energy Corporation. Nooy’s appointment is effective immediately.

Nooy has extensive experience working with municipal governments to develop infrastructure projects throughout Asia. He was previously regional director of Infrastructure Development for Leighton Asia Limited. Prior to his appointment with Leighton, Nooy was Thames Water International’s regional director of Greater China. Before joining Thames Water, Nooy was the general manager of the international EPC group Vermeer - Ballast Nedam’s Southeast Asian operations, based in Vietnam. Nooy will be based in Shanghai.

Metal Recycling Services acquisition finalized

Nucor Corporation has completed the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Metal Recycling Services, Inc. (MRS) based in Monroe, North Carolina. MRS, founded in 1999, operates a full-service processing facility (including an automobile shredder) and two North Carolina feeder yards. MRS will operate under the Metal Recycling Services, LLC name.

MRS will become part of Nucor’s wholly owned subsidiary, The David J. Joseph Company (DJJ). Nucor and DJJ welcome the Metals Recycling Services management team and employees to the Nucor family.

This acquisition represents a step in Nucor’s utilization of DJJ as a platform for continued growth in the industry.

Environmental Power opens new headquarters

Environmental Power Corporation has completed its move to its new corporate headquarters in Tarrytown, New York. The company’s relocation from its previous headquarters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, positions Environmental Power to execute on a deep pipeline of renewable energy facilities through greater access to the region’s financial community.

The company will initially employ approximately 20 people at the headquarters but expects to grow to 30 full-time employees over the next year.

Smurfit-Stone names VP and division controller

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation has named Ken Kushibab vice president and division controller for the company’s recycling division.

Kushibab is returning to Smurfit-Stone after serving with Altivity Packaging since 2006. Prior to the formation of Altivity, Kushibab served 26 years with Smurfit-Stone and its predecessor companies in a variety of financial roles.

Universal Stainless names David Kornblatt to board

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. announced that M. David Kornblatt has joined the Company’s board of directors, increasing the number of Company directors to five. As an independent director, Kornblatt will serve on each of the established committees of the board.

Kornblatt brings diverse industry and in-depth financial experience to his position as a director. He currently serves as senior vice president and chief financial officer of Triumph Group, Inc.

Prior to joining Triumph, Kornblatt held the post of senior vice president and chief financial officer of Carpenter Technology Corporation. From 2002 until its acquisition by Johnson Controls, Inc. in December 2005, Kornblatt was with York International Corporation serving as vice president finance for York Americas and then as vice president and chief financial officer of the corporation.