"Our organization is challenged with approaching the multi-stakeholder dynamics of our industry, and producing long-term sustainable solutions for carpet recovery and recycling," said McSheehy. "CARE has set ambitious goals and objectives, and I hope to offer the leadership necessary to put credible mechanisms in place to reach our mission."

 

McSheehy has participated on CARE's board of directors since 2006, previously serving as vice chair and treasurer. He has 38 years of experience in the textile industry, and has been actively involved in carpet fiber recycling since 1993. He has worked with Bristol, Virginia-based Universal Fiber Systems LLC for more than 24 years, currently serving as vice president of innovation, sustainability and intellectual property.

 

At the conference, CARE also named its Person of the Year and Recycler of the Year.

 

Thomas Holland, a CARE board member and founder of Texas Carpet and Construction Recycling (TCR) was honored with the Person of the Year award.

 

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Corporate Floors, TCR was established in 2007 as the first carpet recycling company in Texas. The organization now has a 32,000-square-foot facility where it regularly sorts, bales and grinds carpet from dozens of companies. 

 

In 2013 alone, TCR diverted more than 1.6 million square-feet (equivalent to 803,856 pounds) of carpet from landfill. TCR also finds responsible end-of-life solutions for VCT, ceiling tiles and other post-construction materials.

 

In his role as a CARE Board member he has been a vocal advocate for the collector/sorter entrepreneur communicate, the backbone of carpet recycling industry. Thomas has worked tirelessly to find solutions to the challenges faced by the young industry. CARE Executive Director stated, "Thomas has brought a voice of reason and a sense of stability during turbulent times."

 

Meanwhile, Wellman Plastics Recycling (WPR), a CARE partner and one of North America's leading compounders and suppliers of engineering and thermoplastic resins was named the organziation’s Recycler of the Year. 

 

WPR currently collects more than 100 million pounds of post-consumer carpet per year and processes the material into nylon, polyester and polypropylene resin products. The company is also actively developing recycling solutions for non-nylon carpet, a challenging post-consumer material.

 

In addition to its landfill diversion efforts, WPR has restarted and invested in several key recycling facilities, and now employs more than 700 workers.

 

"This year's winners aren't just good stewards of the environment, they accept historical challenges for carpet recycling and respond with tangible solutions for our industry," said Bob Peoples, executive director of CARE. "Our organization is making huge strides forward because of the influence of individuals and organizations like Thomas Holland and Wellman Plastics Recycling."