U-R-G On the Go
An informative podcast for the United Recyclers Group. Each week we will feature an entertaining guest that will share their knowledge and information with you, providing you with tips and tools to help you become a more profitable business.
U-R-G On the Go
Unlocking Auto Recycling Success at URG Team PRP Conference
The heartbeat of the auto recycling industry pulses through every conversation in this special edition of URG On the Go, recorded live from the vibrant URG Team PRP conference in Orlando. DJ Harrington welcomes old friends and industry leaders who share candid insights about their businesses, relationships, and commitment to advancing the industry.
Matthew of Honeycomb Converters reveals how their company represents the powerful marriage between American Iron and Metal (a $4 billion recycling powerhouse) and Phoenix Group Metals. With operations spanning North America, Honeycomb focuses on ethical catalytic converter processing—bringing integrity to a component with an unfortunately tarnished reputation. Matthew's emphasis on networking resonates throughout the episode: "In our business, it's all about that network—who you know, who you meet."
The conversation shifts to Bo Wroten, founder of Recyclers Cross Dock, who transformed a simple observation into a thriving transportation network for the industry. What began with just six Florida customers has expanded to 82 clients across 11 states. Bo's entrepreneurial success story demonstrates how recognizing an unaddressed need can create substantial business opportunities. Beyond his business achievements, Bo shares his passionate involvement with the URG Scholarship Foundation, which will award approximately $60,000 in scholarships this year to support both four-year and technical education for children and employees of URG member businesses.
Tom Andrade of Everett Auto Parts rounds out the episode with perspectives as both a successful recycler processing 30,000 vehicles annually and an incoming ARA leader. His hybrid operation employs about 100 people across multiple service areas, representing the diverse opportunities within modern auto recycling. Tom articulates why even the most accomplished recyclers continue attending industry events: "I think it's an internal drive to strive for more, to do better, and the conversations and people that you meet at these things—that's where most of the information comes from."
Listen now to experience the authentic connections and valuable insights that make the URG conference an essential gathering for forward-thinking recyclers. What connections could transform your business at the next industry event?
You know this is a special edition of the URG On the Go podcast and we're here in Orlando, florida, at the URG Team PRP conference One of the best ever. And my dearest friend from my hometown in Atlanta, matthew, how are you, my friend? First of all, you've got to tell, tell our listeners. We're almost at 9,000, we're shooting for 10, we got to hit 10, so Spotify and iTunes and everybody pitches in and helps us get that worldwide recognition right there tell everybody about the business, how we met, and let it go well.
Speaker 2:First and foremost, thank you, ej. It's a pleasure and just seeing you up on that stage earlier today, just so well received. Let it go Well. First and foremost. Thank you, dj, it's a pleasure.
Speaker 1:And just seeing you up on that stage earlier today, just so well deserved. That's very kind Very kind, so well deserved.
Speaker 2:You're such an inspiration, such a mentor, so thank you for having me sit down here and just talk for a few minutes. As you said, this turnout here at URG is great.
Speaker 1:Great.
Speaker 2:You know they just keep getting better and better every year. So happy to be here, happy to see all the great people, make the good connections, make new friends.
Speaker 1:Now, we met years ago. We did, and I'm going to say 15. Maybe it's got to be more than that we're getting very close to that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it's in that ballpark for sure. And instantly.
Speaker 1:We became friends. Then folks we rode, we rode around together one day in Atlanta, yeah, yeah, I was looking for locations and this guy. So tell us a little bit about your company.
Speaker 2:Well, that's good. Like you said, we got out on the road together. We get to talking the importance and value of networking. Well, in our business, it's all about that network. You know who, you know who you meet, and we've been fortunate over the years to be participating in this. Our company, now rebranded as Honeycomb, is a marriage between AIM, american Iron and Metal. They represent over $4 billion annually in the recycling industry.
Speaker 2:They operate almost 30 UPO locations as well as recycling yards across North America. And then Phoenix Group Metals. Phoenix Group Metals, founded by Jay Roby, started over 30 years ago at this point and taking that experience in that side of the recycling industry and combining it with AIM's 100-year experience, in the business has produced Honeycomb.
Speaker 2:This division specifically is focused on helping the recycler produce maximum returns for their catalytic converters and I know that's a dirty word for some people. Catalytic converters, I get it. It's got a bad rep, and for good reason, sadly, but there's a lot of people even here today that are vendors displaying why they want to make a difference and an impact to those that are looking to do their processing the right way. Yeah, so we want to be a leader in that yes, and but you've always been a leader in that well, thank you, I.
Speaker 1:I like to think so as well, but we want to make sure everybody believes it with their whole heart, just like I do yes, I remember one time when I talked to jay the air and we were doing training and he had invested almost a million dollars per location to make sure that they got the very best price for all of the catalytic converters and so forth. And that's where you guys, you are a reputable firm and you've got a bunch of good people how many locations do you have? Do you have a bunch, or?
Speaker 2:Yeah, we've got a good bit. Our footprint is all across North America, yes, you know. So we're being able to represent every region pretty thoroughly. Obviously, there are still pockets out there that we have solutions for. You know, there's no place out of our reach, so to speak. For there's no place out of our reach, so to speak, but one solution we realized many years ago.
Speaker 1:It's not one size fits all Right. But, matthew, if somebody who's our regular listener wants to get a hold of you, how can they get a hold of you and say we listened to you on the podcast and you're friends with DJ Harrington and folks. I'm going to give you my word Matthew is one of the most ethical and I'm really proud to know him because he's really a good family man and he's a good guy. So, matthew, how did they get a hold of you?
Speaker 2:Well, just looking at any bathroom stall for a good time. Call my number's there.
Speaker 1:Thank you, I had to go online Good night folks.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm sorry. Thank God this will be edited. Oh, come now, Come now. This is a good family show. No yeah. And also you can obviously find us online Honeycomb Converters, or you can reach out to me through LinkedIn. Matthew Stager, yeah, I have a very large network and I'm happy to share that network with those that I meet to help them pursue their goals. Just the same, Fantastic.
Speaker 2:So, feel free to connect with me online just as well. Shoot me a message, I'll do my best to respond, and you never know where those kind of relationships take us All right, spell your last name for them.
Speaker 1:Oh, how do you get it?
Speaker 2:I've going to start with the first name. Sadly, most people don't know that. Matthew's with two Ts. But I am not a Matt to be walked on. No, no, sir, I am a Matthew M-A-T-T-H-E-W Steger.
Speaker 1:S-T-E-G-E-R. You see why we're friends. Can you imagine riding around with us for a day in a car? I was just trying pay for your lunch, oh. So, you have no problem with getting a lunch out of Matthew.
Speaker 2:Hold on. How do we turn his mic off, guys?
Speaker 1:Oh, you've been a dear friend and I hope all our listeners will try to get all the honeycomb because you guys are good people.
Speaker 2:Thank, you and you come from good family. Thank you, thank you. No, we're in a great industry and we want to see that industry succeed.
Speaker 1:What I want to ask before we end this interview. You've been coming to these shows a long time. I've met you at ARA so many years and URG Now they've become URG team PRP. Yep, great what are some of the reasons you tell people to come to a convention like this.
Speaker 2:You know the plethora of information that you can gather at a show like this. Yeah, the camaraderie you know. Look, we may all be breathing down each other's necks to get some of the same business and the same marketing. That's one thing. But here you're getting experiences from people willing to share, because they're from coast to coast, they're from all walks of life and there's a lot of real, great, humble people here that have had good experiences, great successes in their lives, and they're putting together sessions and then having conversations that let you meditate on those successes to help you succeed. So that's why you need to come to shows like this. Yeah, to help you succeed. So that's why you need to come to shows like this, yeah, when Ron Sturges was up there, a billionaire.
Speaker 1:he's up there talking about, you know, being homeless. You know when his father died, when he was 17. And look at him today. It's fantastic.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But, Matthew, thank you so much for coming by the booth and seeing us on URG, on the Go podcast, we're going to take a fast commercial break and when we're back I have my dearest friend with me and get ready for my dear friend Bo-Bo. Hold tight.
Speaker 4:We'll be right back. Urg can help you streamline your business for maximum efficiency and increased profits. Access powerful software and unique tools. Receive top-level training with industry experts. Network with hundreds of recyclers. Employ e-commerce solutions to boost business. Receive support, resources and discounts Starting at just $150 a month. It's the smartest investment you will make for your business this year. Go to u-r-gcom and click on Become a Member. Your path to a profitable future is just a click away. That's u-r-gcom.
Speaker 1:Welcome back listeners. This is a special edition of URG On the Go podcast. We are here in Orlando, florida, and my dearest friend of all people just walked by, bo. How are you First of all introduce yourself and tell them a little bit about Recyclers? Cross Dog.
Speaker 3:I'm Bo Root and I established Recyclers Cross Dock in February. It was 10 years ago.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 3:And we provide a transportation network for the industry, for recyclers, to buy and sell parts to each other. We started out with six customers in Florida and now we've got 82 customers in about 11 states, so it's kind of grown. It was evidently a niche that needed to be there that nobody kind of thought of, except PRP had a transportation network and we just kind of copied that. I'm not that smart, I just saw what they were doing and saw what LKQ was doing and said hey I can do this.
Speaker 1:Well, I know for a fact that Bo and I met years ago when Bill Weaver was around doing the IT conventions, that's correct.
Speaker 1:And you were the emcee. You were the guy who did all the charity work with Bill Weaver, and I came along and then you and I became friends. Then, four or five years later, paul D'Adamo became part of our team and it was Bo, paulie D DJ and Bill Weaver. And I remember at the time, folks, I wear a doctor's outfit and I got a beautiful jacket from the towing association. I put the jacket on a chair, I came back from the men's room and that jacket was sold by Bo.
Speaker 3:At an auction. Well, we needed the money. You needed the money.
Speaker 1:And so I want to ask you about the URG Scholarship Foundation. You have done the auction for how many years now, you think?
Speaker 3:We started the foundation. I think it's's I can't remember, but it's been uh within the last 10 years. But we started, uh established it and it's grown and uh we started raising money for that. We have the golf tournament every year yes and the golf tournament, and then we have also have members will donate items like tonight for tonight. Yeah, and we'll have 10 or 20 items Big items.
Speaker 1:Tell our audience we're up to a good 9,000 listeners now, which is a real blessing. Tell them a little bit about golf, so maybe next year, if they're coming to URG which we want them to come Absolutely how can we get them involved in golf and be involved with the URG Scholarship Foundation?
Speaker 3:Okay, well, it's basically this year. We tried something new. You have a separate registration for the golf. Yeah, and it's excuse me, normally we have about 90 golfers. This year we had 125.
Speaker 1:Fantastic.
Speaker 3:So it was the best we've ever done and so we'll raise, probably with the auction and this, we'll probably raise $75,000 or $80,000. I believe today they're going to be awarding 15 scholarships.
Speaker 1:Fantastic.
Speaker 3:And totaling, I want to say, $60,000.
Speaker 1:$60,000, yes.
Speaker 3:And we do four-year schools as well as we're now doing technical schools. Yes, because tech is on doing technical schools yes. Because tech is on the way back.
Speaker 1:Yep, and there's a lot of people doing vocational schools, yes, and a lot of times people. We had a guy last year. He has a daughter and he said well, does she have to go into automotive? She wanted to go to beautician school. Well, that qualifies.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Anything. Anything for a vocational school that she could participate in.
Speaker 3:And it's. The scholarships are for the kids and or the workers of the automotive recyclers that are part of URG. So if you're part of URG and your kid's going to go to college somewhere, they can make application. They have to write an essay, they kind of have to earn it, but they can be involved and get anywhere from. I believe the top scholarship is $5,000 and the least is $1,500.
Speaker 1:Okay, now I have to ask you one thing. Before I, you were so kind to be here to sit down for the podcast. But what I want to ask do you remember years ago when somebody at ARA had a ring and we auctioned off the ring?
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 1:And the man who bought the ring offered it to the lady.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 1:Tell the story correctly.
Speaker 3:We had two people that really wanted the ring. Yes, and it went up, and it went up, and it went up and it was like over ten thousand dollars yes for this ring, and so the guy won. You know, I guess it was just one of those good old, as we like to say, pissing content.
Speaker 3:Yes but the guy would not let the woman have it, and so he bought it. Pissing contest, yes, but the guy would not let the woman have it, and so he bought it. And then he turned around and what did he do? Dj?
Speaker 1:He gave the ring to the lady who was bid second.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 1:And tears were filled by eyes and it was the most emotional event you know.
Speaker 3:And if I remember right, didn't she also pay? Yes, she did she paid, so we got twice the money.
Speaker 1:Twice the money for the same ring. Because, of his generosity. That's correct, and we have done some crazy stuff together, Folks. We auctioned off a guitar one night and Roger Schroeder was there and we kept saying now, Roger, you're not going to let someone else buy this. And we had a guy in the audience planted to raise the price. Now, Roger.
Speaker 3:Oh, we wouldn't do something like that.
Speaker 1:Oh yes, and I want all of our listeners to know, roger Schroeder from car-parkcom bought the guitar for his son, paul, and just a wonderful event, the whole thing. Before I let you go at URG, what's one of the weirdest things? We had Ron Sturgeon give away his places and we sold them a couple times. Yeah, yeah, a couple years ago when we were in New Orleans, right, right.
Speaker 3:We gave away a weekend at Ron Sturgeon's place.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 3:And I think that came with everything but access to his cars.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 3:He's got some valuable cars.
Speaker 1:He has some valuable automobiles.
Speaker 3:I don't, you know, I didn't ever do it at URG, but we did one year when I was first getting to know Bill Weaver, and I think that's why we became such fast friends.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 3:We were doing an event for ARA and Bill had promoted his because it was in Tampa.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 3:He had promoted his business and he had all these T-shirts made up. Weaver work.
Speaker 1:Oh, tell this story, yes.
Speaker 3:So, anyway, I get the idea. So everybody's going around with these T-shirts on and I said, Bill, you need to wear one of those tonight. And he said why? And I said because we're going to sell one for $1,000. And he said I don't know if we can do that. I said, dude, you've got a friend that will pay $1,000 for that shirt, right? He says, yeah, yeah. I said well, you just got to tell me who it is and we'll be sure that it brings $1,000. I said but the trick, and I didn't tell him, I didn't let him know. So, anyway, when we get ready and we announce what we're selling, and I said and we're going to sell it, and we're selling the shirt right off of Bill's back, and Bill had a belly, like I do.
Speaker 4:So I said we're going to take it.
Speaker 3:We're going to take that shirt off, so if you get it, you get to take it off with Bill, right here, in front of these 400 people, and Bill had a belly on him.
Speaker 1:He did a lot of beer drinking back in those days, so you're right.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and he took that. We sold that shirt and he took it off and he pranced around, but it was a $1,000 t-shirt.
Speaker 1:Well, I want all our listeners to know when you come to URG, our scholarship foundation helps everybody at four-year college. Please look into it. Every January there's an application on the website. You just go to u-r-gcom, hit scholarship and it tells you all about it. And tonight we'll be giving away 15, 16 scholarships and I think that's fantastic.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and every year we're trying to make it bigger and better. You know, it's like the World's Fair and it's continued to grow and we appreciate everybody that's participating.
Speaker 1:Well, I appreciate everything you do, buddy, and your friendship is dear to me.
Speaker 3:Well, we've been friends for a long time, a long time. Yes, and I've gotten more benefit out of it than you have. Well, you're a dear friend.
Speaker 1:I've got to tell my listeners, bo, I have one daughter, her name's Erin. She turned 17 years old and in Georgia you can get a car. So I tell Bo, could I come to the auction and get a car? Bo, at that time you ran auctions.
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, I was in the salvage auction business.
Speaker 1:Yes. So we went the day before listeners and I want you to know, we looked at 30-some cars. He kept saying now you don't overbid the car, this car here is going to go for this much, but not a nickel over, not a nickel over on this car. At the end of the day, we zero cars that was.
Speaker 3:It was an extremely successful sale for the auction yes because the cars brought way more money. I mean, some of the cars, I think, brought double what we marked yes, on the paper it was like hey, I don't know and celine dion sold a bulletproof mercedes at the same.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and we were blown away with that.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So my daughter Erin still talks about it, because when I mention your name she goes yeah, you and Bo came home with no car for me. I thought, well, now my daughter's 43 years old.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And you think how many years that's been.
Speaker 3:That's been a long years, so we've known each other a while.
Speaker 1:A long time, my friend. Yeah, that's been a long time, long years, so we've known each other a while, a long time, my friend.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much for being on the podcast. I appreciate you having me. Thank you.
Speaker 1:We have a gentleman that has just come in to the ARA leadership team and I cannot thank him enough. He's here at URG in Orlando, Florida. We're on the showroom floor, so, without further ado, let me introduce our listeners. Tom, tell us a little bit about you, your family, your business, where you're from and we'll go from there Sounds good.
Speaker 5:My name is Tom Andrade. I work for Everett Auto Parts in Brockton, Massachusetts. I have been part of the company since 1996. We're a hybrid yard. We process approximately 30,000 vehicles a year.
Speaker 1:Yep a ton.
Speaker 5:We have a full-service yard, self-service yard, scrap processing used cars, full-service tire center, aftermarket warehouse. We employ about 100 people.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 5:And we're headed on to our fourth generation now, where can they see that video?
Speaker 1:you know they videoed your place like in part one, part two, part three, jonathan Morrow was doing it correct. Where can they get that?
Speaker 5:a a ra YouTube video YouTube channel yes, YouTube channel.
Speaker 1:So if they go to ARA YouTube channel they'll find it. If you never got a chance to listen to Tom speak, he's phenomenal. Now you recently have committed for a long term to be part of the leadership team at ARA.
Speaker 5:I have. I have. I'm currently the secretary for the executive committee, which will ultimately lead into ARA presidency in 27 and 28. I chose to join now. Timing was probably not ideal, but again, it's probably never ideal.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 5:But there's such a good core group of people on that leadership team right now. Those are the people that I wanted to work with.
Speaker 1:Well, David Gold, the past president of ARA, is a dear friend of mine.
Speaker 5:Mine too.
Speaker 1:And yours too. I asked him who would you go hear speak and he said Tom Andre is who you need to go see. So I went to your class. I've been in your class three times, All three times. I've learned so much from you and you're amazing how much information you divulge, Because you know there's only a certain percentage of them are going to do what you do.
Speaker 5:I have no problem providing the information and giving back, problem providing the information and giving back, and I learned so much through ara, urg, peer groups, all of the all of the uh, the elder statesmen which I'm, you know, becoming yeah, you're becoming one I learned so much over the years. You know this is. This is my, my turn and my time to give back, and as far as the public speaking and the seminars that I do, you have no idea how much I appreciate someone like you giving me that compliment.
Speaker 1:You are a very gifted speaker and you've done a phenomenal job. And final question I want to ask you, Because these are segments we're putting on the podcast what causes a successful person like yourself to come to a URG? You know, in the dictionary if it says successful recycler, your picture would be there because you're one of the most successful in the United States.
Speaker 5:I think it's an internal drive to strive for more, to do better, and the conversations and the people that you meet at these things. That's where the most of the information comes from. You sit in sessions and you always take away items from every single session that you sit in and you come back and list all of those things out and prioritize them and implement as many as you can to make your facility a better place I saw rob rainwater yesterday and right away he had to tell me.
Speaker 1:He said can you believe? I drew next to opposite daylon zartman and daylon's doing a class here. And you listen, daylon Zartman has done Dubai, he's done so many places, but he comes back to URG because he never became famous until he came to URG. And so he says until four years ago, when he came here, he said nobody knew who I was and all of a sudden then he became the head speaker at the World Cup. I mean, just a phenomenal human. And he gives back to the association like you do. You really are a giver.
Speaker 5:And you.
Speaker 1:Well, and myself.
Speaker 5:There's only one cardiologist.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there's only one of me. Thank God, you're the only cardiologist. I want to have to see. Well, you have a beautiful place and I hope all our listeners will go to ARA University ARA YouTube channel and see what we're talking about. Tom, thank you so much for being on the program. Being on the program Until next time. This is DJ Harrington telling you have a safe, good time with your families. Love the ones you're with. See you next time on URG on the Go Podcast.