ISRI presents Brandi Harleaux with Young Executive of the Year Award

Photo courtesy of ISRI

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, has given its new Young Executive of the Year Award to Brandi Harleaux, who serves as the chief operations officer at Houston-based South Post Oak Recycling Center. Harleaux received the award during ISRI’s 2020 Virtual Awards Ceremony Oct. 21.

According to a news release from ISRI, the new award celebrates the dedication, accomplishments and business and community leadership of young professionals who work for ISRI member companies. ISRI says Harleaux was recognized for her commitment to advancing recycling and her work in her local community.

“Young executives are both the present and future of our industry,” says ISRI President Robin Wiener. “Brandi represents the best of ISRI and the recycling industry. She brings a plethora of professional and volunteer experience, a passion for the recycling industry and a desire to leave a lasting impact on everything she touches. ISRI is thrilled to recognize her as our inaugural Young Executive of the Year Award recipient.”

South Post Oak Recycling Center is a nonferrous and ferrous recycler that operates two facilities in Houston. Harleaux manages the company’s strategy and finances and leads a team that oversees operations, marketing, sales and customer relations. According to ISRI, Harleaux’s team has achieved up to 25 percent growth in the last two years.

Harleaux also volunteers for ISRI on a variety of roles, including an executive committee member, an at-large member of the ISRI board of directors, co-chair of ISRI’s Challenges & Opportunities Committee and the marketing and communications chair of ISRI’s Gulf Coast Chapter. In addition, Harleaux is on the board of the city of Houston Office of Business Opportunity, the Houston Metal Air Pollution Community Advisory Board and the Recycling Council of Texas.

“I truly feel honored and privileged to represent the young executives as the first award recipient,” Harleaux says. “My dad said when I joined our company and the trade association that the best way to learn about the industry was to get involved. That’s what I plan to continue doing—one day at a time. Connecting with both young executives and women in recycling to share perspective about my experience in this vast industry and learn about others is invaluable. I look forward to continuing to serve where I can, learn, grow and have an impact.”

In addition to her activity with ISRI and with multiple business, leadership and entrepreneurship groups, Harleaux volunteers with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and Lakewood Business Ministry Life Groups. Before becoming the second generation of family leadership at South Post Oak Recycling Center seven years ago, Harleaux was head of talent management and organizational development at Disney Interactive & Media Group. She also is a member of the Women’s Presidents Organization (WPO), Alum of the Goldman Sach’s 10,000 Small Businesses Program and a Leadership Fellow at St. George’s House Windsor Castle. Harleaux has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston, a master’s degree from California State University and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Recycling Today featured Harleaux on its Fresh Perspective podcast earlier this year where she shared her goals and vision for the recycling industry.