Born Scrappy

In this week's episode I chat to Jessica Alexanderson, known to many in the industry as “Scuba Jess”. Jess started out in shipping with Evergreen, where she was responsible for helping scrappies ship their recycled metal around the world. In her free time, Jess cleans up the ocean on her diving expeditions.Jess has always been passionate about the environment and when the opportunity presented itself, she transitioned into educating the net generation of recyclers. She partnered with Brad Rudover of Detroit Scrap and educator Shaziya Manji Jaffer to publish their first kids book, The Girl Who Recycled A Million Cans.They have since published a second book, A Recycling Adventure To The Scrapyard, and are about to publish their third kids book on recycling, Recycled Lava.Just this week Jess launched an NGO, The Recycling Society, to help students learn how recycling works, raise funds for their schools, and take real action to create lasting impact in their schools and communities.Jess' mission is one that every single scrappy can get behind, and if you don't know about all the great work she is already doing, I hope that after listening to this episode that you buy in hook, line and sinker!If you ever see Jess at an industry event, you absolutely have to meet her in person. She is a ray of sunshine and brings exactly the energy and enthusiasm we need to inspire the next generation!In this episode, we talk about:

In this week's episode I chat to Tyler Adams, COO of SA Recycling. Tyler was born scrappy and has emerged into one of the most forward-thinking leaders in our industry today. He started boots on the ground, degree in hand, and was given permission to fail. The way he thinks about leadership, culture, finance, and operations is steeped in intergenerational wisdom, deep personal experience, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.In this episode, we talk about:

In this week's episode, I chatted to Brian Shine (CEO at Manitoba Corporation), Sam Desai (VP at RM Metals) and international trade attorney Camelia Mazard (Partner at Doyle, Barlow & Mazard).This episode was recorded at the recent ReMA Joint New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic, & New York Chapter Atlantic City Meeting. It was my first time attending their chapter event, and it definitely won't be the last time! I've added it to my list of must-attend annual events and if you're doing business or looking to break in to the region, then so should you.The panelists shared their experiences, challenges, and the strategic adaptations needed to navigate the unpredictable trade landscape we currently find ourselves in.In this episode, we talk about:

In this episode, I chat to Atilla Widnell, Founder & Managing Director of Navigate Commodities.Navigate Commodities monitors commodity supply chains in real time through the use of satellites. They monitor production at steel mills and analyse metal flow in specific regions.We discuss the latest developments in the steel industry, particularly focusing on China's recent National People's Congress and its implications on global steel markets. This episode is a deep dive into understanding the major forces shaping the global steel industry and what to expect in the coming months.In today's episode, we talk about:

In this episode, I chat to Dr. Salam Sharif, the Chairman of Sharif Metals Group, one of the largest scrap metal exporters in the Middle East. Dr. Sharif is the former Chairman of BIR, the Founding President of the BIR, and the Director of Advocacy for the Dubai Recycling Business Group at the Dubai Chambers.He's a civil and metallurgical engineer, with an executive MBA and a doctorate degree in Engineering and Economy. There are few people in this industry as experienced, educated and accomplished as Dr Al Sharif.In today's episode, we talk about:

In this episode, I chat to Brian Shine, CEO of Manitoba Corporation, Chairman of the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries (CARI) and a former Chairman of the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA).With all the turbulence around tariffs, this is a point in time conversation where we explore how the latest US and retaliatory tariffs are impacting metal recyclers and consumers across the US, Canada and Mexico, and how they may be impacted in the long term if this is the new status quo.In today's episode, we talk about:

In this episode, I chat to Andy Cohen, Vice President of Raw Material Purchasing and Sales at Metal Conversions. More importantly for this episode, Andy is Event Chair for REMA's The Show 2025 taking place this May in San Diego.Andy has been in the scrap metal industry for nearly two decades and has attended countless ReMA events and held various different roles as part of ReMA. He's introducing whole lot of new things to this year's event and is looking to break all the records!Whether you're a regular at the annual event, or you're thinking about going for the first time - this episode is for you!In today's episode, we talk about: 

In this episode, I chat to Amy Hinton, North American Scrap Editor for Fastmarkets.She has her finger on the pulse when it comes to price reporting and has become a familiar face in the industry.Amy has a background in both financial services and journalism, and holds a Masters degree from University of Bath.In today's episode, we talk about:

In this episode I chat to Zohra Shroff, Director of Operations at Sealink International.Zohra has been in the freight game for 20 years and let's just say she knows a thing or two!In today's episode, we talk about:

In this episode, I chat to Jonathan Ross, Vice President at John Ross & Sons, a large metal recycler in Eastern Canada. The company has 14 yards, including a large auto shredding operation, and a very impressive cable granulation plant. Jonathan is a fourth generation metal recycler, and by the sounds of it, there'll be a lot more generations running this company in the future.  In today's episode, we talk about:

In this episode, I chat to Adam Schaffer, AVP of International Trade and Global Affairs at the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA).He has over 15 years of experience in trade policy, government relations, and international affairs, with a focus on the metal and recycling industries, including as Director of Trade and Economic Policy at the American Iron and Steel Institute.He has a Master of Public Policy from George Washington University and a BA in International Studies.Who better to walk us through the potential impacts of the new US administration's policies on the recycling industry?!In today's episode, we talk about:

In this episode, I chat to Kristen Hildreth, AVP of Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships at ReMA.Drawing on her extensive policy expertise from the National Conference of State Legislatures, Kristen provides a front-row perspective on the expected impact of the newly elected Trump administration on the metal recycling industry. This is a two-part series, with the focus of this week's episode on how these changes could affect the US domestic market. In today's episode, we talk about:

In today's episode, I chat with Dave Klein, Senior Vice President of Nonferrous Marketing and Trading at Alter Trading, one of the largest privately owned metal recyclers in the US with over 75 locations across the country.He has spent the better part of three decades in the metal recycling industry, and has years of hard-won wisdom from his experience.In today's episode, we talk about:

In today's maintenance masterclass, I chat with Justin Trentadue.Justin is Vice President of Operations at Coastal Waste and Recycling in Florida, but more related to this special episode, he's also the founder of Uptime PM, an innovative tech solution for vehicle and plant maintenance management.Justin is a problem solver and is currently solving a problem he has experienced first hand as a scrappy.In today's episode, we talk about:

In today's episode, I chat with Abhijay Goenka. He is the Vice President of Steelbro International, the Co-Chair of ReMA's Young Executives Council and is on the Young Traders Committee at the BIR.Abhijay has an MBA from Wharton and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Accounting from NYU Stern. He is the perfect example of the very impressive next generation coming into the industry!In today's episode, we talk about:

In today's episode, I chat with Andy Golding. He is the friendliest face at every conference you'll attend, and he also knows a thing or two about metal recycling!He was the VP of Sales and Marketing at Kripke Enterprises for 16 years, and is now their Chief Strategy Officer. He's also the incoming chairman of ReMA.In today's episode, we talk about:

In this week's episode, I chat with Marc Schupan, the CEO of Schupan & Sons. The business was started in 1968 and it has remained a family business all this time and now employs over 600  people.Marc has spent 50 years in the metal recycling industry and has been recognised in the industry and beyond for his extraordinary achievements. He was shortlisted as a national finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2022 and he won the prestigious Harbour Aluminum Gene Greenberg Award for the world's top aluminum executive in 2023.In today's episode, we talk about:

Born Scrappy x Mike's Mic.Live from Scrap Expo 2024.With special guest Seth Alter.In this special episode, which was recorded live at Scrap Expo, we bring you the first ever collaboration between Born Scrappy and Mike's Mic.Michael Goldstein and I got to talk about all things metal recycling. We also had the pleasure of being joined on the stage for some of the show by our good friend, Seth Alter.In today's episode, we talk about:

In today's episode, I'm joined by Nidhi Turakhia. Nidhi is the CEO and Partner at Allied Alloys and the Vice President at Titan Metals Corporation.She has an MBA, a double bachelor's degree in Economics and Spanish, a real estate certificate,  and a yoga teaching certificate. There's not much Nidhi can't do!  In today's episode, we talk about:

In today's episode, I'm joined by Joel Fogel, Executive Vice President at Cohen Recycling.Cohen has been around for more than 100 years and is a fourth generation metal recycling business. Although Joel wasn't there from when it started in 1924, he's been there for almost a third of its time and was definitely born scrappy!In today's episode, we talk about:

In today's episode, I'm joined by Sandy Brooks.Sandy is Vice President of Finance at SA Recycling, the largest privately owned metal recycler in the US.Sandy has been an integral part of SA's growth, from 17 to over 140 recycling facilities.Sandy started her career at Ernst Young, was CFO of four companies, had her own accounting and tax practice, and wrote a tax guide.She's currently chair of ReMA's Audit Committee, sits on the ReMA National Board, and is President of its West Coast chapter.In today's episode we talk about:

In today's episode, I'm joined by Cliff Nance.Owner and CEO of Tungco Inc. Companies. Not only is Tungco Inc a global leader in the tungsten recycling industry. They have a world-class culture and are customer-obsessed.It's no secret that Cliff likes to work hard and play hard. He even has his own gastropub, The Crowded House

In today's episode, I'm joined by Beatriz Landa.As the VP of Metal Procurement and Recycling for Novelis North America, she holds one of the most influential roles in recycled aluminium.Not only is she a big player in our industry, she also has an MBA and played professional soccer. She's an all round overachiever!In today's episode we talk about:

In today's episode, I'm joined by David Dodds.David is the owner operator and CEO at Sackers. Sackers is a UK based metal recycler operating a shredder as well as a copper granulation plant.He was born scrappy and has decades of experience under his belt.In today's episode we talk about:

Hi! I'm Stu Kagan, welcome to Born Scrappy.My goal is to spark more industry collaboration through sharing the experiences and learnings of industry greats through my podcast.So if you are a scrap metal exporter and you're ready to up your game by standing on the shoulders of giants - this one's for you!SEASON 2 | EPISODE 19FEATURING GUEST ALDO JORDANIn today's episode, I'm joined by Aldo Jordan.Aldo is President at The Metals Agency and has spent 20 years in the industry, from commercial purchasing and commercial sales to operations and international logistics.For 12 years, he worked for metal recycling giant Schnitzer Steel in various executive management positions, most recently as Director of Non-Ferrous Sales.Not only is Aldo highly experienced in global B2B metal recycling commodity trading, he also holds a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering and an MBA from Loyola University in Chicago.In today's episode we talk about:

In today's episode, I'm joined by Tim Ridderbos.Tim is the GM of Circular by Shapiro, and was previously the Director of National Accounts for there. So he definitely knows how to look after our recycling customers!He's learned how to make a customer a client for life by adding huge value through sustainability reporting, and he gives us some great tips we can implement immediately.In today's episode we talk about:

In today's episode, I'm joined by Garrett Tracey.Garrett is the former Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at Sims Brothers Recycling, and has recently gone on his own and started Recycling Revenue Partners.Garrett is a super knowledgeable guy and there is heaps to be learned from his years of experience.In today's episode we talk about:

In today's episode, I'm joined by Pablo Colucci.Pablo is the Founder and Managing Director of US-based brokerage firm Compass Metal Trading.Pablo started out young, scrappy and hungry. He said "yes" to all the opportunities that came his way. And he transitioned from ops to trading, from employment to ownership.His story inspired me, and I think you might find that too.In today's episode we talk about:

In today's episode, I'm joined by Vishal Jatia.Vishal is the owner of Greenland, a third generation family-owned trading company.Vishal is one of the most recognisable figures at every conference and seems to be buying from every metal recycler in the world. You'll never hear a bad thing about him, And for good reason. He's a great guy and a pleasure to do business with.In today's episode we talk about:Changing industry perceptionsNavigating regulatory changeThe power of a handshakeKnowing your consumersThe 3 Cs of partnershipAnd much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's episode, I'm joined by Sean Daoud.Sean started out as a scale operator and has worked his way up through the ranks to become the Vice President, Treasurer, Director and Shareholder at PNW Metal Recycling.Last year he was awarded the ISRI (ReMA) Young Executive of the Year and he was recently elected as the Secretary/Treasurer of ReMA - congrats Sean!He has over 15 years of industry experience, an MBA in Finance, and is an all-round great guy.In today's episode we talk about:Combining data and gut feelBeing boots on the groundManaging key person riskLeading by exampleFinancing growthAnd much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's episode, I'm joined by Atilla Widnell.Attila is the Founder and Managing Director at Navigate Commodities.Navigate Commodities monitors commodity supply chains in real time through the use of satellites. This means they know what size stockpiles are in any yard at any time.They can monitor production at steel mills, analyse metal flow in specific regions, and so much more.In the show, we talk about why this info is helpful, how to stay ahead of the curve, how to use this info to make better decisions. Is this even legal? And so much more.In today's episode we talk about:Using data to drive decision-makingEmbracing technological changeWhy satelite data is so powerfulStaying ahead of the curveIf this data is legalAnd much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's episode, I'm joined by Osama Nadeem.Osama is the Director of Ferrous at Better Deals, a large broker in Pakistan. Better Deals are a very well respected agent, and I personally have dealt with Osama for almost 15 years.In today's episode we talk about:Doing what it takes to ship on timeOptimising your trading strategyWhy greed is dangerousWhy we offer firmAnd much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's episode, Born Scrappy host Stu Kagan and his wife and business partner Lisa join John Sacco for a candid convo about their latest recycled metals venture, Buddy.Buddy is a relationship-led recycled materials marketplace built for scrappies, by scrappies. And it launched recently at ISRI 2024, where this episode was recorded.In today's episode we talk about:Starting over in a new countryBuilding a metal recycling coMaking hard decisionsDealing with setbacksThe Buddy launchAnd so much more!If you liked this episode, you can hear more from John Sacco on Pile of Scrap wherever you get your podcasts.YouTube - @SierraInternationalMachinerySpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4zlieQqEd8AUlMe0NpteZo?si=a24ac961e9514a78Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=1473656821To find out more about John Sacco:https://sierraintl.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sacco-8a8a1b10To find out more about Buddy:www.tradebuddy.ioWHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's episode, I'm joined by Jim Skipsey.Jim is the Senior Vice President of Cormet Trading and was previously with CMC and the Commercial Director at Alpert and Alpert.In today's episode we talk about:How to find out who the legitimate players areThe biggest bull market we've ever seenWhy scrap will always find its wayThe kiss of death in this gameWhy having patience is keyAnd so much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

Join me for a fireside chat with SA Recycling's George Adams & Sierra Recycling's John Sacco live from ISRI 2024!In this episode we chat about:Cleaning up our act Why you lose $ when you stockpile Our biggest challenge as an industryWhen to collaborate with competitorsWhy there will be scrap shortages in the futureWHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's episode, I'm joined by Jay Robinovitz.Jay is the CEO of Alter Trading and was definitely born scrappy! He has been in the scrap business all his life and is retiring at the end of this month. His experience in the industry is second to none and he is an incredible storyteller.In today's episode we talk about:Losing $5m as the ship leaves the dockFocusing on the little thingsNot wasting a recessionThe best equipmentTurning inventoryAnd so much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's special sustainability masterclass, I interview Robin Wiener.Robin is the president of ISRI and has been in the industry for 34 years, so she's seen it all. Together with ISRI and other industry players, Robin is a driving force shaping the sustainability narrative and practices for the recycled materials industry. There's no one more equipped to have this conversation with than Robin.In today's episode we talk about:Documenting sustainabilityCarbon emissions trackingWhat we can do todayISRI 2024 ExpoAnd so much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's episode, I am joined by Bob Stein. Bob was previously the Senior Vice President of Non-Ferrous at Alter Trading.He was also the President of the Non-Ferrous Division at the BIR and he is a great storyteller!In todays episode we talk about:How to feel better about a big lossBuying against the marketChoosing who to sell toTaking back your timeAnd so much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's episode, I chat to Jason Glei and Brianna Gianti to get the inside scoop on ISRI 2024!Jason is is the VP of Marketing at ISRI and Brianna is their VP of Memberships.If you want to make the most of ISRI this year, you're not going to want to miss this!In todays episode we talk about:The craziest sights at an ISRI eventWhat's new at this year's expoWhat talks not to missPrivate partiesWhat to packAnd much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In today's episode, I chat to Amy Bird. Amy is the CEO at Countrywide metals and has been in the scrap game for all her life.She's also the founder of “Women in scrap”. This woman was Born Scrappy!!In todays episode we talk about:Why customer experience is everything.Driving everybody mad with data.The Importance Of relationships.Getting back up again.And so much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In this episode, I'm joined by Jawed Ahmed. Jawed is the Chairman of Al Qaryan International.The Al Qaryan group have their physical sites in Saudi Arabia and their trading office is based in Dubai.  They are a huge player on the global scene.In the episode, we chat about:Deciding on the plan and being prepared for the challengesHow to make our industry more attractive to new recruitsWhy KYC is not just a box-ticking exerciseLooking for the opportunitiesAnd so much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In this episode, I'm joined by Harry Seale. Harry is the CEO at Atlas Commodities and he's a board member of both the BIR and BMRA.Atlas Commodities was recently awarded the seventh fastest growing private company in the UK. And they're doing well over a million tons per year.In the episode, we chat about:Supercharging growth with capital partnersChallenging the status quoHow to win a big fishPaying to learnAnd so much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.I brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In this episode, I chat to George Adams. George is the CEO of SA Recycling and has been the driving force behind its incredible growth over the past 40 years, growing it from $10m to around $4b in annual revenue.SA Recycling is currently the largest scrap metal recycling business in the US, processing over 5 million tons of recycled metal every year with about 3,100 employees across 140 locations in 16 states.In this episode we chat about:A day in the life of George AdamsBuying the right equipmentIncentives & BonusesInventory controlAnd so much more!WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS?25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing...I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation.Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).I thought it was time that tech worked for our industry, so I took all of my experience as an operator and trader and leveraged that to build THE killer scrap app, Buddy. That's right - built for scrappies, by scrappies.Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 9 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion.COME SAY HI ON LINKEDINhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/MAKE BETTER TRADES WITH LESS EFFORTVisit www.tradebuddy.io to find out how...

Hi! I'm Stu Kagan, welcome to Born Scrappy. My goal is to spark more industry collaboration through sharing the experiences and learnings of industry greats through my podcast. So if you are a scrap metal exporter and you're ready to up your game by standing on the shoulders of giants - this one's for you! SEASON 1 / EPISODE 22FEATURING “GUEST” STU KAGANIn this episode, you'll find me on the other side of the microphone.  The person doing the interviewing and asking the questions will be my amazing wife and business partner, Lisa. So you'll get to meet her for the first time.In the episode, we chat about: ·         What to look out for when dealing with a new buyer·         Being firm but fair when trading·         When in doubt, get on a plane·         Having a bold vision·         And so much more! WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS? 25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing… I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation. Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).  Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion. COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/ 

In this episode, I'm joined by Michael Goldstein. Michael is the VP of Operations at Alter Trading and is destined to one day run this huge family metal recycling business. Mike has also become my best online mate that I've never met. So I expect this will be quite fun! In the episode, we chat about: ·         Why keeping your word is so important. ·         Buying and selling in the same market ·         The book you need to buy right now ·         And so much more! WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS? 25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing… I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation. Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).  Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion. COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In this episode, I'm joined by Dawhal Shah. Dawhal runs Metco Ventures and is the previous President of the Non-Ferrous Board of the BIR.  In the episode, we chat about: ·        How to get better prices with less volume than your competitors·        Losing a large deposit…and getting it back·        How a crisis helped form the MRAI·        Expected growth in India ·        And so much more! WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS? 25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing… I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation. Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).  Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion. COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In this episode, I'm joined by Sebastien Perron. Sebastian is the Vice President of Recycling Procurement at Wieland and has been involved in trading at Sims, Alpert and Alpert, and American Iron and Metals.In the episode, we chat about: ·        Why following your gut can create the best opportunities·        Working at the biggest companies in the industry·        The difficulties of post-acquisition integration·        How persistence can get you what you want·        And so much more! WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS? 25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing… I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation. Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).  Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion. COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In this episode, I'm joined by Anshul Gupta. Anshul owns and runs PGI, a leading ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycling and waste management company in the UAE.PGI is both a processor and a global trader of recycled metal, with operations across the Middle East, Far East, South East, Europe, UK and Africa. In this episode we chat about:·        Training your traders·        Collaborating with competitors·        Making sure there's always an exit clause·        Making the decision to expand during tough times·        Working with your buyers to get preferential pricing·        And so much more! WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS? 25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing… I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation. Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).  Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion. COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/  KEYWORDS:scrap metal, metal recycling, born scrappy, stu kagan, anshul gupta, PGI, PGI Group, scrap metal trading, BIR, ISRI  

In this episode, I'm joined by Zhenbin Han. Zhen is purchasing manager at renowned Chinese copper processor Jintian. Zhen got his bachelor's degree in civil engineering in China and his MBA in Germany, where he's lived for over 10 years now.  In this episode we chat about:·        Whether buyers prefer formula or spot pricing·        Adapting to new rules and regulations·        Dealing with buyers in a new market·        Why quality consistency is key·        And so much more! WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS? 25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing… I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation. Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).  Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion. COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In this episode, I'm joined by Siddarth Parolia. Sid has 20 years' experience in the industry. He has helped shape and grow the intergenerational Nihon Ispat, a prolific Indian non-ferrous brokerage. In this episode we chat about:·        Being picky with your counterparties·        Keeping your eyes and ears open·        Optimising your trading strategy·        The limitations of tech·        And so much more! WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS? 25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing… I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation. Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).  Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion. COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/

In this episode, I'm joined by Natalia Zholud. Natalia is in charge of global trading at the TRM Group, a non-ferrous trading company which has had some incredible growth over the past few years. Natalia also represents Eastern Europe on the Non-Ferrous Board of the BIR.   In this episode we chat about:·        What to do when your buyer stops receiving material from the country you're buying from ·        Why you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help·        Metal marketplaces in the future·        Independent mediation·        And so much more! WHO IS STU KAGAN ANYWAYS? 25 years in the metal recycling game and still learning and growing… I learnt from the best and worked my way up from yard labourer to Executive Director of Trading and Operations for the largest metal recycler in sub-Saharan Africa. Responsible for 4,500 employees, 85 sites, and the overall profitability of a multi-billion dollar operation. Brought my breadth and depth of knowledge to bear and co-founded the fastest growing, most-loved, and most awarded metal recycling company in New Zealand. No small feat in a country where people are outnumbered 4:1 by sheep (spoiler alert: sheep don't produce much metal waste).  Father of two crazy-awesome boys. Husband to Lisa. Under 8 rugby coach. YPO member. Lifelong learner. Mentee. Mentor. Chief dog walker. Committed Stoic. Undefeated dance-off champion. COME SAY HI ON LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/stukagan/