CARE Names 2021 Person and Recycler of the Year Award Winners
Dalton, GA, September 2, 2021-CARE has announced winners of the Person and Recycler of the Year Awards for both 2019 and 2020 in conjunction with the organization’s 19th Annual Conference, August 31 to September 1.
2019 Recycler of the Year: Circular Polymers
In 2018 industry veterans David Bender and Nick Fiore joined forces with financial executives Jeff Kupets and Mark Babich to form Circular Polymers. A rising star in the chemical recycling world, Circular Polymers’ disruptive technology transforms post- consumer discarded carpet into new polymer raw materials for use by multiple industries. Their newly expanded facility in Lincoln, California can process some 45 million pounds of carpet per year, with plans to expand further.
2020 Recycler of the Year: RISE Composite Technologies
Founded in 2017 by Doug Mancosh, Rise Composite Technologies has patented a manufacturing process, RISE Technology, that compresses carpet fibers and other synthetic materials into dense and durable wood replacement products, including RISE Siding and RISE Trim. In their state-of-the-art facility in Mankato, Minnesota, RISE participates in the circular economy by recycling and re-purposing expensive polymers used in carpet fibers and other industrial fibers that would otherwise be sent to landfill.
2019 Person of the Year: Chad Chaffin, Southeastern Recycling
“Chad has been a voice for the recycler community for many years. Since joining the CARE board, Chad has worked to support innovative relationships and programs to help move post-consumer carpet. Chad brings the intense focus and dedication of a race car driver, his former profession, to support the industry,” commented Bob Peoples, executive director of CARE.
2020 Person of the Year: Jeff Kupets, Circular Polymers
Jeff Kupets is chief financial officer of 2019 Recycler of the Year Circular Polymers. For eight years prior to co-founding Circular Polymers, Kupets was managing partner of Mustang Trading, an index options trading firm in Chicago. His leadership of the company included risk management, model evaluation and implementation, and regulatory compliance.
2020 Person of the Year, Special Recognition: Glenn Odom
Odom is a retired executive who has worked tirelessly in his state of South Carolina to facilitate recycling programs for years. Odom was a CARE board member for many years and upon retirement was asked to stay on as an advisor, a request that is not uncommon of these gentlemen. Odom brings a business person’s acumen and the passion of a true believer to his efforts.