Wabash Alloys Growing Quietly Since 1953May 1998
| Diane Stout, Editor | May 1998 |
Please use this quick index to navigate this issue of the Business Chronicle.
Wabash Alloys Growing Quietly Since 1953
Board Member Spotlight - Omar Habayeb, Secondary Metal
Processing, Inc.
Legislative Report
Wabash Alloys Growing Quietly Since 1953
Wabash Alloys, L.L.C. is the worlds largest producer of recycled aluminum casting alloys. The business was originally started in 1953 in Wabash, Indiana where the company continues to be headquartered. Today the company owns and operates nine secondary aluminum plants throughout the United States. The other plants are located in Oak Creek, Wisconsin; Cleveland, Ohio; Marietta, Pennsylvania; Tipton, Indiana; Dickson, Tennessee; Russellville, Alabama; Benton, Arkansas; and Checotah, Oklahoma. In addition, the company operates a facility in Mississauga, Ontario that is owned by Connell Investment Partnership, Inc.Wabash Alloys recycles a very broad range of aluminum scrap. During the melting process, metal is alloyed to exacting customer specifications, for use in foundry die castings and steel deoxidation. More than half the product is shipped 'just in time' in liquid form inside specially designed cucibles. The principle customers of the Wabash plant are CMI, Wabash Cast; Chrysler; Honda; Ryobi; and Zollner Pistons. The Wabash plant employs about 350 people. Wabash also has a fleet of trucks and trailers in excess of 150 units to collect the scrap and deliver their product.
Chamber Member News
NORWEST INTRODUCES NEW PERSONAL BANKERNorwest Bank Wabash is pleased to announce that Janet Deal has joined the Norwest team as a Personal Banker. Mrs. Deal will be available to assist customers with all their financial service needs. Her office is located at the 841 N. Cass St. facility.
Janet brings several years of banking service experience, plus a background which includes extensive work as a volunteer with area hospitals to help children. Most recently she has had the privilege of filling the important role of a homemaker.
"Janet is going to be an asset to our team, with her desire to help the people of Wabash County reach their financial goals," stated Ed Bellows, Norwest President. He invites you to stop in the bank and let her help you. Janet may be reached at (219) 563-1116.
Norwest has offices in LaFontaine and Wabash, with Instant Cash machines located on South Hale Drive and at the Main Office on North Cass St. in Wabash.
WCH ANNOUNCES 1998 HEALTH & FITNESS FAIR
Wabash County Hospital will hold a Health & Fitness Fair at the Honeywell Center on Saturday May 16th from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Offerings will include: various health screenings; $5 cholesterol and $15 blood chemistry screens; over 30 community & hospital exhibitors; childrens activities & learning stations; health information & CPR instruction. Other events include: 2-mile fun walk for all ages; Karate demonstration; "See-In-The Dark & Through the Smoke" Fire Dept. helmet demonstration; K-9 demonstration and Ronald McDonald's Safety magic Show. For more information contact the WCH at (219) 563-3131 or 1-800-346-2110.
IUK ANNOUNCES FIRM TO DESIGN NEW SCIENCE BUILDINGIndiana University Kokomo announced BSA Design, Indianapolis, was awarded a contract to design IUK's proposed new $13 million science building.
During the 1997 Indiana General Assembly, IUK's science building received an upgrade from concept to design status. The upgrade allowed the assembly to approve $917,000 in planning and design funds for the building. In 1999, the university will ask the legislature to approve full funding for the science facility.
For more information on the IUK science building, contact Office of Media Relations at (765) 455-9414.
Board Member Spotlight
Omar Habayeb, Secondary Metal Processing, Inc.
Omar, as a Metal Buyer/Trader, works to establish new relationships with industries in surrounding areas to purchase generated scrap metal material from them. Before coming to Secondary Metal, he was director of Human Resources, Health & Safety for Robinson Industries.He graduated from Ball State University with a BS in Political Science/Speech Communication in 1993 and an MA in Professional Communication/Human Resources in 1994.
Omar is also involved in the Wabash Co. Jaycees, currently serving as Membership Vice President; Wabash Rotary Club, currently serving as Club Service Chairman; a Deacon at Wabash Christian Church; Fraternal Brotherhood of Elks, Wabash Personnel Association; Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries; and Society for Human Resource Management.
Committee Reports
Membership Committee
What is the propose of your chamber?
*To advance the economic, industrial, commercial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of the City of Wabash and its surrounding area.*To cultivate a spirit of cooperation, tolerance and helpfulness among the residents thereof.
*To encourage growth of existing industries and businesses while giving all proper assistance to any new firms or individuals seeking to locate in the area.
*To always promote the preservation of the free enterprise system of business and to encourage the improvement of functional and aesthetic values of the community area.
In general, to promote the civic, social, economic and cultural programs for all area citizens following those policies intended to accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number of people; to discover and correct abuses which prevent sound business, community growth and development.
How does your Chamber go about accomplishing its purpose? By providing opportunities and by sometimes acting as an "incubator organization".
As a member of the Wabash Area Chamber of Commerce their are many opportunities just waiting to be taken advantage of. Opportunities for business exposure through BBH and other sponsorships (Fund Raisers, etc.); networking opportunities at virtually all Chamber functions and activities; opportunities for discounted long distance rates through our association with AT&T; opportunities for business counseling through the Small Business Development Center; opportunities for listings in Business/Industrial Directories, Buyers Guide and even on the Internet; opportunities to work on legislative issues that affect your business and community; the opportunities go on.
However, opportunities do have a drawback. You've heard such adages as "You get out of it what you put into it," or "You reap what you sew," or even "What goes around comes around." In other words, if a little effort is not put forth to take advantage of the opportunities afforded Chamber members, not much is going to happen.
So, the next time you hear someone ask or you hear yourself asking ¿ ¿What has the Chamber done for my business lately, just remember, the road to opportunities is a two way one. So, merge into the traffic and become a participant. Who knows, maybe that road of opportunities will become the road to business success.
Now, if you are wondering what is meant by "incubator organization," here are some examples; Wabash County Economic Development Corporation; Hoosier Heartland Industrial Corridor, Inc.; Wabash County Convention and Visitors Bureau; Electric Light CityFest. That's right, all the aforementioned either had their beginning as a Chamber committee or were associated with the Chamber for a number of years before they were spun off to form separate entities.
What has the Chamber done for your community lately?
Think about it.
Legislative Report
UPDATE ON BOARD SUPPORTED H.R. 1010: Representatives Gary Condit (D-CA) and Rob Portman (R-OH)-the U.S. House sponsors of the Mandates Information Act(H.R. 1010)-revised this legislation to address concerns that the bill's requirements to increase congressional accountability for new mandates not be used to unduly delay floor consideration of legislation. Their efforts have resulted in a new but similar bill (H.R. 3534) called the Mandates Information Act of 1998.
H.R. 3534 is now the legislative vehicle for final House committee action. Floor consideration is expected to take place during the month of May.
The Chamber office has been in contact with Congressman Buyer's office in an effort to urge his cosponsorship of H.R. 3534. We will keep you updated on this issue.
Welcome New Members
(please add to your Buyer's Guide)Bob's Media Blasting
623 LaFontaine Avenue
mail: 254 S 500 W
Wabash, IN 46992
Phone: 219-569-9942Uses various materials (media) to blast items clean in a closed cabinet with air pressure. When clean, they can be primed and painted. Also does etching on glass, mirror and metal.
Vehicle Rentals of Wabash, LLC
633 N Cass Street
Wabash, IN 46992
Phone: 219-563-1565
Fax: 219-563-4031Vehicle rentals for commercial, insurance and consumer use.