Johnston celebrates arrival of Pick-n-Pull

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One of Johnston’s newest businesses – and employers – showed off its new digs last Wednesday morning inside the still expanding Industrial Park off Earth Green Avenue.

Pick-n-Pull, known as the world’s number one recycling business for automobiles and their parts, held a gathering hosted by Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena amid a large audience that included U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, U.S. Reps. James Langevin and David Cicilline and a host of Rhode Island’s business leaders.

“This is another great day for the town of Johnston,” Polisena told nearly 100 people standing or sitting outside the black, yellow and white building at 30 Green Earth Way. “We’re excited for another opening of a new business – that’s known worldwide – and more employment opportunities for the great residents of our town.”

Pick-n-Pull is a subsidiary of Portland, Ore.-based Schnitzer Steel, which Polisena told attendees “has been a doing business and has had a location in Providence for many, many years.”

The Johnston store is only the second location in Rhode Island, the first being in Cumberland. It’s only the company’s fourth store to be built in New England.

Last Wednesday morning’s meeting was so important that Tamara Lundgren, CEO of Schnitzer, came to Johnston to deliver the keynote address.

“I’m really thrilled to be here today at this fantastic new Pick-n-Pull in Johnston,” Lundgren vegan. “I’ll tell you, when you’re the CEO of a scrap metal company, looking out at a vista like this – with row after row of used cars and trucks – you feel like you’re in the parking lot before the Daytona 500 waiting to hear ‘Drivers, start your engines!’ Especially when you wonder what was – or wasn’t – her before.”

Two years ago, she noted, “this lot was about as empty as a place could be. But instead of 14 acres of dirt and trees, our Pick-n-Pull team saw boundless potential.”

Among the members of that team was Tom Klauer, president of Pick-n-Pull, who just celebrated his 25th anniversary with the company. Also included were Steve Heiskell, chief development officer; Brian McFadden, senior project manager; and Tom Novak, who is a senior manager of the development team.

“After scouting this fantastic location, our team decided to pay a surprise visit to Mayor Polisena,” she continued. “Most people would have scheduled an appointment – or event called first. But we were too excited to wait.”

Lundgren then thanked Polisena, who she said “couldn’t have been more receptive, enthusiastic or supportive. He saw an opportunity to enhance this community and he jumped into action. He was instrumental at every step of completing this project on time and responsibly.”

And that, Lundgren said in an enthusiastic tone of voice, “is no surprise when you look at his life-long record of public service and giving back. He’s one of a number of public officials who helped us get where we are today.”

Lundgren then issued thanks to the congressional delegation, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, Gov. Lincoln Chafee and Mike O’Connell of Rhode Island’s Resource Recovery for their help in making “our dream come true.”

She also noted that Schnitzer Steel has been doing business in Rhode Island for more than 40 years.

“We love it here – the sense of community and the spirit of pulling together and the satisfaction of a job well done,” she said. “Rhode Islanders have a proud tradition of valuing old-school work ethics – training and trade skills.”

Lundgren then announced that the “25 new jobs we are adding here today will provide sustainable employment and an opportunity to develop expertise in our innovative and growing recycling industry.”

Polisena, who emceed the morning’s celebration, then called upon Klauer, who explained just how Pick-n-Pull works and saves people lots and lots of money for used auto parts and even tires.

In short, Pick-n-Pull is an innovative self-service auto parts store where people actually take parts – such as bumpers – off vehicles that have been drained of any and all fluids and scrapped.

“We’re excited about the investment we’ve made in the Johnston Pick-n-Pull,” Klauer said. “We will work hard to be a trusted partner in the community where we will offer sustainable job opportunities, our strong commitment to the environment and our passion for giving back to the Johnston community.”

Pick-n-Pull, he noted, has a Racing to Stop Hunger Foundation that was established in 2010. It raised approximately $750,000 and generated over 2.3 million meals for local food backs in communities where the company operates.

“It seems like just yesterday that I was here looking at bare ground,” Klauer said. “I am so excited to see what we have built together. So, to follow on Tamara’s words, this would not be possible with the strong political support Pick-n-Pull received beginning with our first meeting with Mayor Polisena.”

Reed,Cicilline and Langevin also addressed attendees and offered praise for Polisena.

“My friend Joe makes the Energizer bunny look like he’s asleep,” Reed said with a smile. “He never stops working for this town. Congratulations on bringing one of the largest recyclers of vehicles in the industry to Johnston.”

Polisena then closed the celebration – after Klauer and Lundgren presented him a stainless steel shovel for his famed wall collection inside Town Hall – by saying, “I hereby proclaim Aug. 9 as Pick-n-Pull Day in Johnston.”

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