Exclusive: Q&A with ISRI Chair Mark Lewon

Exclusive: Q&A with ISRI Chair Mark Lewon
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Mark Lewon has been involved with industry trade group the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, for almost as long as he has been working with his family business.

Lewon, the president of Utah Metal Works, based in Salt Lake City, had volunteered for positions in his region’s ISRI chapter before he began getting involved in ISRI national committees.

The volunteer efforts resulted in Lewon becoming part of ISRI’s slate of national officers earlier this decade, and since April 2016 he has served as ISRI’s national chair.

In this excerpt from an interview with Recycling Today that appears in the April 2017 issue, Lewon talks about some of the issues he considers to be priorities for ISRI and for the scrap recycling industry. He also shares what he is looking forward to at the ISRI 2017 Convention & Exposition, which will be April 22-27 in New Orleans.

Recycling Today (RT): Promotional material for this year’s ISRI convention urges attendees to “get plugged in” by attending the event. In your career, how has the association helped you and your company stay plugged in to industry changes and opportunities?

Mark Lewon (ML): No matter how many times I go to the convention, I always learn something new. While there are always top industry speakers and the latest in equipment and technology, networking is always the No. 1 reason why people go to the convention. Given that, there is no question in my mind that I always learn something from the others I talk to there. I also learn things in board meetings that precede the convention. It’s a different kind of learning, but I’m still learning. For those who have never been, it is a great way to gain insights into some of the issues or problems others in the industry are facing and how ISRI is working to solve them.

RT: What are some ISRI initiatives you consider your top priorities during your time as a national officer and why?

ML: The increased focus on safety initiatives and resources that has been ongoing is for sure going to continue under my administration. We consider safety to be a core value, and there is no question in my mind there are still some advances to be achieved in that area.

Given who I am, involvement in local and state politics is a clear theme. I’d like to see people be more proactive in their states and cities. As an industry, we have a lot at stake, especially at the state and local levels. This is the case both legislatively and from a regulatory standpoint. Issues such as metals theft, one-bin collection, extended producer responsibility and using recycled rubber are constantly popping up all over the country. If the recycling industry does not take a proactive approach to educating lawmakers and other stakeholders, there could be serious harm.

The first step is recognizing we have a voice, and we can make a difference. For example, here in Salt Lake City, when the mayor was not supportive of our issues, Utah Metal Works took note of it. When it came time for the election, we helped another candidate out with resources, and I believe we were among those who helped her to get elected. It’s not like it doesn’t help—it does happen. This is a clear example of the importance of developing strong grassroots advocacy at all levels of government and encouraging recyclers to become part of the political process.

Advocacy doesn’t just take place during election time either. It is year-round, constantly educating lawmakers about our industry, what we do and the many environmental and economic impacts we have on our communities. To this end, one of my goals is to strengthen ISRI’s outreach at the state and local levels while further advancing our federal efforts.

RT: Are you looking forward to ISRI2017 in New Orleans in late April?

ML: We are preparing for what I think will be one of the best conventions we have seen in years. We are returning to New Orleans for the first time since 2007 and have a great program planned. The speaker lineup is fantastic. So many people have already come up to me to say how excited they were that Mike Rowe of “Dirty Jobs” fame will be speaking. We have a strong focus on world markets and exploring new revenue opportunities for recyclers of every commodity.

As always, we try to mix up some things. One thing that is new this year is commodity-specific networking events. These will tie in to the different Spotlight sessions and allow attendees more opportunity to network directly with those in their field.

We have also added MRF (material recovery facility) programming. I’m also really excited that the Paper Stock Industries Chapter of ISRI will be holding its Paper Summit SPECtacular in conjunction with the convention this year. (Recycling Today’s Editor Brian Taylor will be speaking during this event.)

And, of course, the exhibit floor—the largest in the world when it comes to recycling [featuring] hundreds of exhibitors and service providers with the latest equipment and technology; it cannot be beat.

Early registration numbers and renewal membership numbers look very good. Markets appear to be headed back in the right direction. I look at the industry landscape and I think this is the time to consider the convention as an investment. After essentially two or three years of difficult markets, it is time to come out of hibernation!

Mark Lewon is chairman of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and president of Salt Lake City-based Utah Metal Works. He can be reached at [email protected].

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Source: Recycling Today
Exclusive: Q&A with ISRI Chair Mark Lewon
<![CDATA[Mark Lewon has been involved with industry trade group the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, for almost as long as he has been working with his family business. Lewon, the president of Utah Metal Works, based in Salt Lake City, had volunteered for positions in his region’s ISRI chapter before he began getting involved in ISRI national committees. The volunteer efforts resulted in Lewon becoming part of ISRI’s slate of national officers earlier this decade, and since April 2016 he has served as ISRI’s national chair. In this excerpt from an interview with Recycling Today that appears in the April 2017 issue, Lewon talks about some of the issues he considers to be priorities for ISRI and for the scrap recycling industry. He also shares what he is looking forward to at the ISRI 2017 Convention & Exposition, which will be April 22-27 in New Orleans. Recycling Today (RT): Promotional material for this year’s ISRI convention urges attendees to “get plugged in” by attending the event. In your career, how has the association helped you and your company stay plugged in to industry changes and opportunities? Mark Lewon (ML): No matter how many times I go to the convention,…