Alice P. Jacobsohn

CONTINUING A tradition spanning two decades, the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA) will induct several industry leaders into its Hall of Fame at the Inspirational and Awards Breakfast at this year's WasteExpo. “It's a dream to go into the Hall of Fame,” says Denny Pool, president of Hopkins, Mich.-based SP Industries and one of this year's inductees. “I have known so many people in the waste business that have made a difference, and for me to go into the Hall of Fame beside them is just awesome.”

In addition to Pool, five others will be inducted this year, including Felix “Andy” Crawford, chairman and CEO of Advanced Disposal Services, Jacksonville, Fla.; Paul F. Hardiman (retired), Bank of Boston, Westwood, Mass.; Ralph G. Mastrangelo, Sr. (posthumously), Browning Ferris Industries, Fairview, N.J.; Robert J. Riethmiller, president and CEO of PTR Baler & Compactor, Philadelphia; and Gordon C. Shaw, president of Marathon Equipment, Vernon, Ala.

To enter the Hall of Fame, nominees must have more than 20 years of experience in the waste industry and be leaders in their communities. Each Hall of Fame inductee has done one or more of the following: established companies, created innovations in manufacturing and equipment/product design, created jobs, invented new methods of marketing and conducting business, built better employer-employee and community relations, ensured safer operations, developed industry standards, protected the environment, engaged in the legislative and regulatory processes, and participated in the EIA, the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and/or the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC), all of which are based in Washington.

The Hall of Fame was established in 1986 when 32 leaders were inducted. When the Class of 2006 is included, the Hall of Fame will boast 137 people. As in the past, the newest members' careers vary. The inductees include owners and operators of small and large waste management companies, waste equipment manufacturers and a financial innovator.

Felix “Andy” Crawford

Andy Crawford's management philosophy is simple. “We are clear on our expectations and we treat people with respect.” Crawford entered the waste business in 1971 when he was asked to work with the small, struggling Orlando, Fla., division of Jacksonville, Fla.-based Industrial America. In 1977, he purchased a small garbage company with six trucks, and, 19 years later, he became one of the first to merge his company, Southland Waste Systems, into Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Republic Services.

After leaving Republic, he became chairman of the board of a private investment company, and, in 2000, created another waste service company, Advanced Disposal Services. Currently, his company operates nine collection facilities, seven landfills and seven transfer stations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Crawford has been an active member of NSWMA's Board of Governors and EIA's Board of Trustees, and now serves on EIA's Investment Committee.

Paul F. Hardiman

“In the mid-'70s working for Bank of Boston, I became quite interested in the banking potential of the solid waste and environmental industries,” says Paul Hardiman, former managing director at Bank of Boston, now Bank of America. Hardiman began his banking career in commercial lending, specializing in finance.

Unlike many of his banking colleagues who feared the potential liability from investing in waste industry businesses, Hardiman raised capital for companies remediating hazardous waste clean-up sites and funded many consolidations involving such firms as Waste Management and Browning Ferris Industries. Retired, he remains on the board of Waste Industries USA in Raleigh, N.C.

Ralph G. Mastrangelo Sr.

Ralph Mastrangelo Sr. started his career in the waste business in the early 1950s working for United Carting, Fairview N.J., a company founded by his grandfather. He served as president of the firm from 1954 to 1973 and expanded the business, using new types of equipment to provide services to municipal, commercial and industrial customers. Mastrangelo was one of the first in New Jersey to use roll-off trucks and stationary compactors.

After he sold his company to SCA Services, he eventually became president of SCA's operations in New Jersey, Connecticut and Westchester, N.Y. Mastrangelo died in 2003, having sold United Carting to Browning Ferris Industries in 1995. Mastrangelo served as vice-chair of NSWMA's New Jersey Chapter, was a member of NSWMA's Board of Governors and participated in many policy-making groups within the association. He also was the first to challenge New Jersey's flow control system.

Dennis C. Pool

Denny Pool began his waste industry career as a child, going for a ride in a garbage truck with his uncle to help hook chains. He continued to help after school and on weekends throughout junior and senior high school before working full time for his uncle's company. Later, he started manufacturing recycling and waste handling equipment. Eventually, Pool became the head of SP Industries, continuing his career producing waste handling equipment.

“If you believe in what you're doing and you want to make changes, you need to be involved and stay involved,” says Pool, describing his work since the late 1980s developing American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines at WASTEC. Pool chaired the compactor standards committee and was instrumental in establishing the ANSI committee for materials handling facilities. He also served on the WASTEC Board of Governors for several years.

Robert J. Riethmiller

Shortly after Bob Riethmiller became president and CEO of Philadelphia Tramrail — now PTR Baler and Compactor — in 1968, the market for the company's main product line vanished. Refusing to send away employees who had worked for his family's business their entire lives, Riethmiller began making balers and compactors, now sold worldwide. “We have always driven to be the best in our field from the standpoint of quality and service and that has helped us to grow over the years,” Riethmiller says.

Membership in WASTEC has increased significantly under Riethmiller's term as membership chair for the group's Board of Governors. He also is the scholarship chairman for the Alexandria, Va.-based Environmental Research and Education Foundation. Riethmiller previously was president of the Crane Manufacturers Association of America and chairman of the Materials Handling Institute of America.

Gordon C. Shaw

Gordon Shaw joined Vernon, Ala.-based Marathon Equipment in 1981 as a salesman and was promoted to president of the company in 2003. His time in the waste industry, though, began earlier in his life when he and a college roommate started a hauling company soon after graduation.

Shaw is active in his local community. “I believe a large part of our corporate responsibility is to become involved in community activities,” Shaw says. “I've worked for the Mark Mitchell Shelter for battered women for years and supported the Catch a Dream Foundation for children with life threatening diseases who want to catch a fish or go hunting.”

Shaw currently serves on the EIA Board of Trustees and has been WASTEC's chairman for two terms. In addition, he helped develop ANSI standards for waste equipment safety at WASTEC and guided organizational changes, including EIA's sale of WasteExpo.

Alice Jacobsohn is director of public affairs and industry research for EIA.