Avis Recycling & Waste Equipment Division makes several leadership changes

Dave Kowaleski, the president and general manager of American Baler Company, will retire in June 2023. Kowaleski worked for 47 years at the company.

Avis Recycling & Waste Equipment Division is continuing to incorporate the three baler companies within the division. Concurrent with Dave's retirement, Avis has made several different organizational changes.

Nate Kuhl has been named general manager of American Baler and site leader of the Bellevue Ohio operations. Nate previously served as plant manager at American Baler and has been with the organization for 15 years. 

Roger Griffin, the president and general manager of International Baler Corporation (IBC), has been named to an expanded leadership role as a site leader at the Baxley Georgia operations while continuing in his leadership role for IBC. 

Jerry Lott has been named site leader of the Cordele Georgia operations. Jerry previously served as plant manager at Harris Cordele and has been with the organization for four years. 

Mary Johnson has been named director of inside sales and order administration. Mary previously served as general manager at Harris Baxley G.A. operations and has been with the organization for 30 years. 

All of the roles will report directly to DJ VanDeusen, president of Harris and the Recycling & Waste Equipment Division. The roles will support Mark Murphy, vice president of manufacturing and supply chain, and Gordon Hill, vice president of commercial operations, as they identify opportunities to leverage best practices and maximize capacity across the four operating locations. 

"While it's bittersweet to have Dave move on to a very well-deserved retirement, I am excited to have the team in place across our operating locations to ensure our customers benefit from the breadth of solutions that we have to offer and our ability to expand our capacity for reduced cycle times," says DJ VanDeusen. 

The three companies comprising the Recycling & Waste Equipment Division have been in business for 289 years combined, operate four manufacturing locations, and support one of the largest global installed base of balers for recyclables. The combined product offering of the division includes single-ram, horizontal, two-ram, ferrous, and specialty balers, scrap metal and automobile shear/baler/loggers, heavy-duty shredders, and high-volume waste and scrap compactors.